Offshore Fishing Vessels - Beneficial Ownership, IUU and Continuing Compliance
| CIRCULAR | Circular No. 013 (Amended) |
| SUBJECT | Offshore Fishing Vessels – Beneficial Ownership, IUU and Continuing Compliance |
| FROM | Office of the Maritime Administrator, Vanuatu International Shipping Registry |
| TO | All owners, operators, charterers, managers, masters and Special Agents of offshore fishing and fishing-support vessels |
| AMENDMENT DATE | 20 August 2026 |
| EFFECTIVE DATE | Upon publication |
| STATUS | Version 2.0 – Supersedes the prior version of Circular No. 013 |
Authority and legal status. This Circular is issued by the Maritime Administrator under the functions and powers conferred by the Maritime Act [CAP 131], as amended by the Maritime (Amendment) Act No. 21 of 2025, including section 10C where applicable, and any additional written authority lawfully applicable to the subject. It shall be read with applicable mandatory IMO instruments and controlled VISR policies. It does not convert a direct statutory power into a delegated power, transfer a function assigned by law to another State entity, or amend any valid appointment, concession or other governing instrument.
Related controlled policies: VISR-QMS-POL-GOV-001 – Governance, Statutory Authority, Responsibility and Strategic Performance Policy; VISR-QMS-POL-CI-002 – IMSAS Compliance, Internal Audit, Corrective Action and Continual Improvement Policy; VISR-QMS-POL-REC-005 – Document and Records Control, Retention and IMSAS Evidence Management Policy.
1. Purpose and continuing condition of registration
Registration of an offshore fishing or fishing-support vessel is conditional upon transparent ownership, lawful fisheries operations and continuing good standing. Approval at initial registration does not end the duty to disclose changes or permit continuing monitoring.
2. Beneficial ownership and control
• Disclose the complete legal and beneficial ownership chain, including natural persons exercising ultimate ownership or control, intermediate companies, nominees, trusts and voting arrangements.
• Disclose managers, operators, charterers, financiers, insurers, class, ROs, fisheries agents and persons controlling commercial operations.
• Notify VISR before any change of ownership, control, management, charter, name, call sign, class, insurer or operating area.
• Provide certified corporate records, identity documents, ownership charts and source-of-funds or source-of-wealth evidence when requested.
3. IUU and fisheries due diligence
• Declare all previous names, flags, registrations, licences, RFMO listings, detentions, sanctions, fisheries infringements and deletion history.
• Maintain valid Fisheries Department approval, IATF or other authorizations, RFMO good standing, VMS and reporting arrangements.
• Do not engage in unlicensed fishing, unauthorized transshipment, catch laundering, identity manipulation or support to an IUU-listed or suspected vessel.
• Screen buyers, charterers, carriers, ports, transshipment partners and service providers for IUU and sanctions risk.
4. Ongoing monitoring and action
VISR may require periodic declarations, updated ownership evidence, VMS or AIS data, fisheries records, inspections and interviews. False, incomplete or late disclosure may result in refusal, suspension, deletion and referral to competent authorities, whether or not an infringement has yet been formally established.
Compliance records and communications
All applications, approvals, notices, reports, evidence, decisions, acknowledgements and corrective-action records required by this Circular must be transmitted through an official VISR channel and retained in the controlled Registry file in accordance with the VISR records policy. Communications from unverified domains or persons without written authority must not be relied upon.
Official contact: compliance@register-vu.com. Urgent safety, casualty, sanctions or fraud matters must also be copied to info@register-vu.com and reported without delay.
Enforcement, reasons and reconsideration
Non-compliance may result in enhanced inspection, corrective-action requirements, service restrictions, suspension, administrative penalties, withdrawal or revocation of documents, or deletion from the Registry, to the extent authorized by law and the applicable written authority. Except where immediate protective action is necessary for safety, security, sanctions compliance, documentary integrity or preservation of evidence, an affected person will be notified of the material grounds and given a reasonable opportunity to respond. A request for reconsideration must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Maritime Administrator with supporting evidence within ten business days of the written decision, unless a shorter period is stated because of an urgent risk.
Supersession and effective application
This amended Circular supersedes the prior version of Circular No. 013 from the effective date stated above. Existing obligations, liabilities, investigations, fees and corrective actions arising under the prior version remain enforceable to the extent lawfully incurred and are to be administered under the clearer procedures stated in this amended version. If this Circular conflicts with a later Act, regulation or controlled VISR policy, the higher or later instrument prevails and the Circular shall be updated through document control.
| Saade Makhlouf Maritime Administrator of the Republic of Vanuatu Vanuatu International Shipping Registry |
Issued in Port Vila and New York 20 August 2026 |
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