Tuvalu Ship Registry

The Tuvalu Ship Registry is the body appointed by the government of Tuvalu to register ships under the Tuvalu flag.

The flag of Tuvalu.

Function

The ship registry was launched in 2004 and is located in Singapore and operated by Tuvalu Ship Registry Pte Ltd. The ship registry is managed on behalf of the Tuvalu Government by Sovereign Ventures (SV) Pte Ltd.[1][2]

The responsibilities of the Registry include:[3]

  • The registration and licensing of ships
  • The certification of seafarers
  • The inspection of vessels to ensure compliance with safety and environmental standards.

Vessels registered

Total: 245[4]

By type: bulk carrier 18, container ship 2, general cargo 36, oil tanker 27, other 162 (2017)[4]

Reflagging of Iranian vessels

Tuvalu entered the international spotlight in 2012 when ships that were sailing under the flag of Iran were registered in the Tuvalu Ship Registry. In response to the European boycott of Iranian oil exports over Iran's nuclear policy, a number of oil tankers changed to Tuvalu flags.[5] According to Radio Australia, this could lead to unforeseen consequences for the small nation.[6] The Iranian vessels were accepted by Tuvalu Ship Registry as they were earlier flagged under Malta and Cyprus flags which were well-known reputable flags. However, upon further understanding that the vessels were actually sanctioned by the US and EU, the Government of Tuvalu took swift action to instruct the Tuvalu Ship Registry to de-register all possible Iranian-linked vessels on 16 August 2012. The Iranian-linked vessels were de-registered by 21 September 2012 and press releases of the actions taken by the Tuvalu Ship Registry are posted on its website.[7][8][9][10][11][12] The Iranian vessels were later rumored to have gone to other flags such as Tanzania, Mongolia and others.

References
  1. Wu, S. Y. (2013). "The Tuvalu ship registry". Baltic and International Maritime Council Bulletin. 108 (4): 36–38.
  2. Conway, James M. (2015). "Entrepreneurship, Tuvalu, development and .tv: a response" (PDF). Island Studies Journal. 10 (2): 229–252. doi:10.24043/isj.329. S2CID 248650961.
  3. About Tuvalu Ship Registry. Tuvalu Ship Registry, 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012. Archived here.
  4. "The World Factbook (CIA)". 25 February 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  5. "Tuvalu signs up Iran's oil tankers". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  6. "Tuvalu could face problems with Iranian tankers flying its flag". 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  7. "Home". tvship.com.
  8. "Tuvalu Ship Registry - Press Release 16 August 2012" (PDF).
  9. "Tuvalu Ship Registry - Press Release 10 September 2012" (PDF).
  10. "Tuvalu Ship Registry - Press Release 21 September 2012" (PDF).
  11. "Tuvalu Ship Registry - Press Release 22 November 2012" (PDF).
  12. "Tuvalu Ship Registry - Press Release 26 November 2012" (PDF).


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