Revised Annual Registration Fees for Offshore Fishing and Fishing-Support Vessels
| CIRCULAR | Circular No. 023 (Amended) |
| SUBJECT | Revised Annual Registration Fees for Offshore Fishing and Fishing-Support Vessels |
| FROM | Office of the Maritime Administrator, Vanuatu International Shipping Registry |
| TO | All recognized Special Agents, owners, operators and managers 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. 023 |
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-REP-006 – Statutory Reporting, Performance Review, Audit and Government Access Policy; VISR-QMS-POL-REC-005 – Document and Records Control, Retention and IMSAS Evidence Management Policy.
1. Applicable annual registration fees
The following annual registration fees, effective from 1 October 2025 and continued by this amended Circular, apply to offshore fishing and fishing-support vessels unless a later published fee schedule or written lawful decision applies:
- Trawlers, purse seiners and longliners over 1,000 GRT: USD 56,400 per vessel per year.
- Fishing vessels from 500 to 1,000 GRT, inclusive, of any type: USD 27,400 per vessel per year.
- Fishing vessels under 500 GRT, of any type: USD 14,800 per vessel per year.
- Reefer carriers serving the fishing fleet: USD 4,200 per vessel per year.
2. Scope of fees
• The above amounts are annual registration fees only. Annual tonnage tax, inspections, certificates, seafarer documents, Fisheries Department charges, penalties and other services remain separately payable where applicable.
• Classification is based on the vessel's current certified gross tonnage and operational type. Misstatement may result in reassessment and recovery of the difference.
• Fees are invoiced and paid only through official VISR channels. No agent may publish or promise a different rate without written authorization.
3. Pro-rating, changes and waiver
• Any pro-rating, transitional treatment, fleet arrangement, reduction or waiver requires a written decision by the Maritime Administrator or other authorized decision-maker.
• A change of vessel type, tonnage, use, ownership or operating status must be reported and may result in reassessment from the effective date of the change.
• Payment arrangements or waivers must be documented and recorded in accordance with Circular No. 009 and the statutory reporting policy.
4. Non-payment
Failure to pay may result in late charges, service restrictions, suspension, withholding of good-standing or deletion documents and other consequences available under law and Circular No. 009.
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: admin@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. 023 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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