Regulations on the Administration of Ship Registration of the PRC — Full English Translation (2014)

Promulgated by Decree No. 155 of the State Council on June 2, 1994; amended in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Amending Certain Administrative Regulations on July 29, 2014

Effective: January 1, 1995

Table of Contents

Chapter I — General Provisions

Article 1 — These Regulations are formulated for the purpose of strengthening the supervision and administration of ships by the State and safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of the parties concerned in ship registration.

Article 2 — The following ships shall be registered in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations:

(1) ships owned by Chinese citizens who have their domicile or principal place of business within the territory of the People’s Republic of China;

(2) ships owned by enterprise legal persons established in accordance with the laws of the People’s Republic of China whose principal place of business is located within the territory of the People’s Republic of China; provided, however, that where there is foreign capital contribution in the registered capital of such a legal person, the amount of capital contributed by the Chinese investor shall not be less than 50 percent;

(3) vessels used by the Government of the People’s Republic of China for public affairs and ships owned by institutional legal persons;

(4) other ships that the harbor superintendency administration of the People’s Republic of China deems necessary to be registered.

The registration of military vessels, fishing vessels and sport craft shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws and regulations.

Article 3 — A ship may fly the national flag of the People’s Republic of China and navigate only after it has been duly registered and has acquired the nationality of the People’s Republic of China; a ship that has not been registered shall not fly the national flag of the People’s Republic of China and navigate.

Article 4 — A ship shall not have dual nationality. No ship that is registered in a foreign country may acquire the nationality of the People’s Republic of China unless it has suspended or canceled its nationality of the country of original registration.

Article 5 — The acquisition, transfer and extinction of the ownership of a ship shall be registered with the ship registration authority; without registration, such acquisition, transfer or extinction shall not be invoked against a third party.

Where a ship is co-owned by two or more legal persons or individuals, the co-ownership shall be registered with the ship registration authority; without registration, it shall not be invoked against a third party.

Article 6 — The creation, transfer and extinction of a mortgage on a ship or of a bareboat charter shall be registered with the ship registration authority; without registration, they shall not be invoked against a third party.

Article 7 — Seafarers on board a ship of Chinese nationality who are required to hold certificates of competency must hold the corresponding certificates of competency of seafarers of the People’s Republic of China.

Article 8 — The harbor superintendency administration of the People’s Republic of China is the competent authority for ship registration.

The harbor superintendency administration of each port is the authority that specifically implements ship registration (hereinafter referred to as the ship registration authority), and the scope of its jurisdiction shall be determined by the harbor superintendency administration of the People’s Republic of China.

Article 9 — The port of registry of a ship is its port of registration.

The port of registry shall be selected by the shipowner at its discretion from nearby ports in accordance with the location of its domicile or principal place of business; provided that the shipowner shall not select two or more ports of registry.

Article 10 — A ship shall use only one name.

The name of a ship shall be verified and approved by the ship registration authority of its port of registry. The name of a ship shall not be identical with or homophonic to the name of a ship registered earlier.

Article 11 — The ship registration authority shall establish a ship register.

The ship registration authority shall allow interested persons to consult the ship register.

Article 12 — Where a ship owned by the State is operated and managed by a legal person authorized by the State that operates as an enterprise owned by the whole people, the provisions of these Regulations concerning the shipowner shall apply to such a legal person.

Chapter II — Registration of Ship Ownership

Article 13 — A shipowner that applies for registration of ship ownership shall submit to the ship registration authority of the port of registry documents sufficient to prove its lawful identity, and provide the originals and duplicates of the relevant technical data of the ship and the documentary evidence of acquisition of ship ownership.

An applicant for registration of ownership of a ship acquired by purchase shall provide the following documents:

(1) the purchase invoice or the contract for the sale of the ship and the documents for the delivery of the ship;

(2) the certificate of cancellation of the registration of ship ownership issued by the ship registration authority of the former port of registry;

(3) documentary evidence that no mortgage has been created on the ship, or documents indicating the consent of the mortgagee to the transfer of the mortgaged ship to another person.

An applicant for registration of ownership of a newly built ship shall provide the shipbuilding contract and the documents for the delivery of the ship. However, an applicant for registration of ownership of a ship under construction need only provide the shipbuilding contract; and an applicant for registration of ownership of a ship built and used by the shipowner itself shall provide documents sufficient to prove the acquisition of ownership.

An applicant for registration of ownership of a ship acquired by succession, gift, lawful auction or a court judgment shall provide documentary evidence of the acquisition of ship ownership that has corresponding legal effect.

Article 14 — The ship registration authority of the port of registry shall examine and verify an application for registration of ship ownership. Where the application conforms to the provisions of these Regulations, the authority shall, within seven days from the date of receipt of the application, issue a ship ownership registration certificate to the shipowner, grant a ship registration number, and record the following particulars in the ship register:

(1) the name and call sign of the ship;

(2) the port of registry, the registration number and the registration marks;

(3) the name and address of the shipowner and the name of its legal representative;

(4) the manner in which and the date on which the ship ownership was acquired;

(5) the date of registration of ship ownership;

(6) the name of the shipbuilder, the date of construction and the place of construction;

(7) the value of the ship, the material of the hull and the main technical data of the ship;

(8) the former name of the ship, the former port of registry and the date of cancellation or suspension of the former registration of the ship;

(9) where the ship is co-owned by several persons, the particulars of the co-ownership of the ship by the co-owners;

(10) where the shipowner does not actually use and control the ship, the name and address of the bareboat charterer or the operator of the ship and the name of its legal representative;

(11) where a mortgage has been created on the ship, the particulars of the creation of the mortgage on the ship.

The ship registration authority shall, within seven days from the date of receipt of an application that does not conform to the provisions of these Regulations, notify the shipowner in writing.

Chapter III — Ship Nationality

Article 15 — In addition to submitting the ship ownership registration certificate obtained in accordance with these Regulations, a shipowner that applies for the nationality of a ship shall, in accordance with the navigation zone of the ship, submit the following documents:

(1) for a ship navigating on international routes, the shipowner shall, in accordance with the type of the ship, submit the following valid technical certificates of the ship issued by the statutory ship survey institution:

a. the International Tonnage Certificate;

b. the International Load Line Certificate;

c. the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate;

d. the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate;

e. the Passenger Quota Certificate;

f. the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate;

g. the Cargo Ship Safety Radiotelegraphy Certificate;

h. the International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate;

i. the Ship Navigation Safety Certificate;

j. other relevant technical certificates.

(2) for a ship navigating on domestic routes, the shipowner shall, in accordance with the type of the ship, submit the ship survey certificate book and other valid technical certificates of the ship issued by the statutory ship survey institution.

Where a ship of foreign nationality is purchased from abroad, the shipowner shall, when applying for the nationality of the ship, also provide the certificate of cancellation of the original nationality issued by the ship registration authority of the former port of registry, or the certificate that the original nationality will be canceled immediately upon re-registration.

Where a ship is found upon examination to conform to the provisions of these Regulations, the ship registration authority of the port of registry shall approve the application and issue a ship nationality certificate.

Article 16 — With respect to a ship registered upon application in accordance with the provisions of Article 13 of these Regulations, the ship registration authority shall, upon approval, issue a ship nationality certificate. A ship nationality certificate shall be valid for a period of five years.

Article 17 — Where a newly built ship is sold abroad, the shipowner shall, by presenting the documentary evidence of the acquisition of ship ownership and the valid technical certificates of the ship, apply to the ship registration authority of the place of construction for a provisional ship nationality certificate.

Where a newly built ship is purchased from abroad, the shipowner shall, by presenting the documentary evidence of the acquisition of ship ownership and the valid technical certificates of the ship, apply to the embassy or consulate of the People’s Republic of China abroad for a provisional ship nationality certificate.

Where a ship is built at a different place within the territory and it is necessary to obtain a provisional ship nationality certificate, the shipowner shall, by presenting the shipbuilding contract, the documents for the delivery of the ship and the valid technical certificates of the ship, apply to the ship registration authority of the place of construction for a provisional ship nationality certificate.

Where a ship is built abroad, the shipowner shall, by presenting the shipbuilding contract, the documents for the delivery of the ship and the valid technical certificates of the ship, apply to the embassy or consulate of the People’s Republic of China abroad for a provisional ship nationality certificate.

Where a ship is chartered in from abroad under bareboat charter terms, the bareboat charterer shall, by presenting the bareboat charter contract and the certificate of suspension or cancellation of the original nationality issued by the ship registration authority of the former port of registry, or the certificate that the original nationality will be suspended or canceled immediately upon re-registration, apply to the ship registration authority for a provisional ship nationality certificate.

Where a ship is found upon examination to conform to the provisions of these Regulations, the ship registration authority or the embassy or consulate of the People’s Republic of China abroad shall approve the application and issue a provisional ship nationality certificate.

Article 18 — A provisional ship nationality certificate shall generally be valid for a period not exceeding one year.

With respect to a ship chartered in from abroad under bareboat charter terms, the term of the provisional ship nationality certificate may be determined in accordance with the term of the charter, but shall not exceed two years at the longest. Where the term of a bareboat charter contract exceeds two years, the charterer shall, within the term of validity of the certificate, apply to the ship registration authority of the port of registry for the renewal of the provisional ship nationality certificate.

Article 19 — A provisional ship nationality certificate and a ship nationality certificate shall have equal legal effect.

Chapter IV — Registration of Ship Mortgage

Article 20 — Where a mortgage is created on a ship of 20 gross tons or above, the mortgagee and the mortgagor shall apply to the ship registration authority of the port of registry for registration of the ship mortgage by presenting the following documents:

(1) a written application signed by both parties;

(2) the ship ownership registration certificate or the shipbuilding contract;

(3) the ship mortgage contract.

Where other mortgages have already been created on the ship, the relevant documentary evidence shall also be provided.

Where the co-owners of a ship create a mortgage on the co-owned ship, they shall also provide the documentary evidence of the consent of the co-owners holding two-thirds or more of the shares, or the documentary evidence of the consent of the co-owners holding the agreed shares.

Article 21 — Where an application is found upon examination to conform to the provisions of these Regulations, the ship registration authority of the port of registry shall, within seven days from the date of receipt of the application, record the particulars of the mortgagor, the mortgagee and the mortgage on the ship, as well as the date of registration of the mortgage, in the ship register and the ship ownership registration certificate, and issue a ship mortgage registration certificate to the mortgagee.

Article 22 — The registration of a ship mortgage shall include the following main particulars:

(1) the names and addresses of the mortgagee and the mortgagor;

(2) the name and nationality of the mortgaged ship, and the issuing authority and number of the ship ownership registration certificate;

(3) the amount of the claim secured, the interest rate and the term of satisfaction.

The ship registration authority shall allow the public to inquire about the state of registration of ship mortgages.

Article 23 — Where a ship mortgage is transferred, the mortgagee and the transferee shall apply to the ship registration authority of the port of registry for registration of the transfer of the mortgage by presenting the contract for the transfer of the ship mortgage.

Where the application is found upon examination to conform to the provisions of these Regulations, the ship registration authority of the port of registry shall record the transferee as the mortgagee in the ship register and the ship ownership registration certificate, issue a ship mortgage registration certificate to the transferee, and seal up the original ship mortgage registration certificate.

Before the registration of the transfer of a ship mortgage, the mortgagee shall notify the mortgagor.

Article 24 — Where two or more mortgages are created on the same ship, the ship registration authority shall register them in the order of the dates on which the applications for registration of the mortgages are made, and shall record the dates of registration in the ship register.

The date on which an application for registration is made shall be the date of registration; where the applications are made on the same day, the dates of registration shall be the same.

Chapter V — Registration of Bareboat Charter

Article 25 — In any of the following circumstances, the lessor and the lessee shall undergo registration of bareboat charter:

(1) where a ship of Chinese nationality is chartered to a domestic enterprise under bareboat charter terms;

(2) where a Chinese enterprise charters in a ship of foreign nationality under bareboat charter terms;

(3) where a ship of Chinese nationality is chartered abroad under bareboat charter terms.

Article 26 — Where a ship is chartered within the territory, the lessor and the lessee shall, before the commencement of the charter, apply to the ship registration authority of the port of registry for registration of bareboat charter by presenting the ship ownership registration certificate, the ship nationality certificate and the originals and duplicates of the bareboat charter contract.

Where the application is found upon examination to conform to the provisions of these Regulations, the ship registration authority of the port of registry shall record the particulars of the charter of the ship in the ship ownership registration certificate and the ship register respectively, and issue one bareboat charter registration certificate to each of the lessor and the lessee.

Article 27 — Where a ship is chartered abroad under bareboat charter terms, the lessor shall apply to the ship registration authority of the port of registry for registration of bareboat charter by presenting the documents specified in Article 26 of these Regulations.

Where the application is found upon examination to conform to the provisions of these Regulations, the ship registration authority of the port of registry shall, in accordance with the provisions of Article 42 of these Regulations, suspend or cancel the nationality of the ship and issue a bareboat charter registration certificate in duplicate.

Article 28 — Where a ship is chartered in from abroad under bareboat charter terms, the lessee shall determine the port of registry by reference to the provisions of Article 9 of these Regulations and shall, before the commencement of the charter, apply to the ship registration authority for registration of bareboat charter by presenting the following documents:

(1) the originals and duplicates of the bareboat charter contract;

(2) the valid technical certificates of the ship issued by the statutory ship survey institution;

(3) the certificate of suspension or cancellation of the nationality of the ship issued by the ship registration authority of the former port of registry, or the certificate that the nationality of the ship will be suspended or canceled immediately upon re-registration.

Where the application is found upon examination to conform to the provisions of these Regulations, the ship registration authority shall issue a bareboat charter registration certificate, issue a provisional ship nationality certificate in accordance with the provisions of Article 17 of these Regulations, and record the country of original registration in the ship register.

Article 29 — Where the term of a bareboat charter needs to be extended, the lessor and the lessee shall, 15 days before the expiry of the bareboat charter contract, apply to the ship registration authority for registration of the extension of the charter by presenting the bareboat charter registration certificate and the originals and duplicates of the contract for the renewal of the charter.

Article 30 — During the period of a bareboat charter, the lessee shall not apply for registration of a sub-charter of the ship under bareboat charter terms without the written consent of the lessor.

Chapter VI — Ship Marks and Company Flags

Article 31 — A ship shall bear the following marks:

(1) the name of the ship marked on both sides of the bow and on the stern;

(2) the port of registry marked below the name of the ship on the stern;

(3) the Chinese phonetic alphabet marked below the name of the ship and the port of registry;

(4) the draft marks marked on both sides of the bow and the stern;

(5) the load lines marked on both sides amidships.

Where a ship is restricted by its type or dimensions and cannot bear the marks at the positions specified in the preceding paragraph, the name of the ship and the port of registry shall be marked at a conspicuous position on the ship.

Article 32 — A shipowner that sets a funnel mark or a company flag for its ship may apply for registration with the ship registration authority of the port of registry, and shall provide the standard design drawings in accordance with the relevant provisions.

Article 33 — Ships of the same company shall use only one funnel mark and one company flag.

The funnel mark and the company flag shall be examined and approved by the ship registration authority of the port of registry.

The funnel mark and the company flag shall not be identical with or similar to funnel marks and company flags registered earlier.

Article 34 — The ship registration authority of the port of registry shall make a public announcement of funnel marks and company flags that have been approved for registration.

A funnel mark or company flag that has been registered shall be for the exclusive use of the applicant for registration, and shall not be used by other ships or companies.

Chapter VII — Registration of Alterations and Deregistration

Article 35 — Where the particulars of the registration of a ship are altered, the shipowner shall undergo registration of the alteration with the ship registration authority of the port of registry by presenting the relevant documentary evidence of the ship registration and the documents evidencing the alteration.

Article 36 — Where the port of registry of a ship is changed, the shipowner shall apply to the ship registration authority of the former port of registry for registration of the change of the port of registry by presenting the ship nationality certificate and the documents evidencing the change. Where the application is found upon examination to conform to the provisions of these Regulations, the ship registration authority of the former port of registry shall note the change in the endorsement column of the ship nationality certificate and transfer the relevant registration files of the ship to the ship registration authority of the new port of registry, and the shipowner shall then undergo registration with the ship registration authority of the new port of registry.

Article 37 — Where the particulars of the co-ownership of a ship are altered, the shipowner shall undergo registration of the relevant alteration with the ship registration authority of the port of registry by presenting the ship ownership registration certificate and the documentary evidence of the alteration of the co-ownership of the ship.

Article 38 — Where a ship mortgage contract is altered, the mortgagee and the mortgagor shall undergo registration of the alteration by presenting the ship ownership registration certificate, the ship mortgage registration certificate and the documentary evidence of the alteration of the ship mortgage contract.

Where the application is found upon examination to conform to the provisions of these Regulations, the ship registration authority of the port of registry shall note the particulars of the alteration of the ship mortgage contract in the ship ownership registration certificate, the ship mortgage registration certificate and the ship register.

Article 39 — Where the ownership of a ship is transferred, the former shipowner shall undergo deregistration with the ship registration authority of the port of registry by presenting the ship ownership registration certificate, the ship nationality certificate and other relevant documentary evidence.

Where the application is found upon examination to conform to the provisions of these Regulations, the ship registration authority of the port of registry shall cancel the registration of the ownership of the ship and the registrations related thereto in the ship register, take back the relevant registration certificates, and issue the corresponding certificate of deregistration of the ship to the shipowner. With respect to a ship sold abroad, the ship registration authority may, in light of the specific circumstances, issue a certificate of cancellation of nationality or a certificate that the nationality will be canceled immediately upon re-registration.

Article 40 — Where a ship is lost (including the dismantling and the sinking of the ship) or a ship is missing, the shipowner shall, within three months from the date on which the ship is lost (including the dismantling and the sinking of the ship) or missing, undergo deregistration with the ship registration authority of the port of registry by presenting the ship ownership registration certificate, the ship nationality certificate and the documentary evidence of the loss (including the dismantling and the sinking of the ship) or the missing of the ship. Upon examination and verification, the ship registration authority of the port of registry shall cancel the registration of the ship in the ship register, take back the relevant registration certificates, and issue a certificate of deregistration of the ship to the shipowner.

Article 41 — Where a ship mortgage contract is discharged, the mortgagee and the mortgagor shall undergo deregistration with the ship registration authority of the port of registry by presenting the ship ownership registration certificate, the ship mortgage registration certificate and the document signed by the mortgagee discharging the mortgage contract. Where the application is found upon examination to conform to the provisions of these Regulations, the ship registration authority of the port of registry shall cancel the record of the registration of the mortgage in the ship ownership registration certificate and the ship register.

Article 42 — With respect to a ship chartered abroad under bareboat charter terms, the lessor shall, in addition to undergoing registration of bareboat charter in accordance with the provisions of Article 27 of these Regulations, undergo registration of the suspension or cancellation of the nationality of the ship. The ship registration authority of the port of registry shall seal up the original ship nationality certificate and issue a certificate of suspension or cancellation of the nationality of the ship. Under special circumstances, the ship registration authority of the port of registry may issue a certificate that the nationality of the ship will be suspended or canceled immediately upon re-registration.

Article 43 — Upon the expiry of a bareboat charter contract or the termination of a bareboat charter relationship, the lessor shall, within 15 days from the date of expiry of the bareboat charter contract or termination of the bareboat charter relationship, undergo deregistration of the bareboat charter with the ship registration authority of the port of registry by presenting the ship ownership registration certificate, the bareboat charter contract or the documentary evidence of the termination of the bareboat charter relationship.

With respect to a ship chartered abroad under bareboat charter terms, the lessor shall also provide the certificate of cancellation of the nationality of the ship issued by the ship registration authority of the place where the lessee is located, or the certificate that the nationality of the ship will be canceled immediately upon re-registration.

Upon approval, the ship registration authority of the port of registry shall cancel the record of the registration of the bareboat charter in the ship ownership registration certificate and the ship register, and return the original ship nationality certificate.

Article 44 — With respect to a ship chartered in under bareboat charter terms, the lessee shall, within 15 days from the date of expiry of the bareboat charter contract or termination of the bareboat charter relationship, undergo deregistration with the ship registration authority of the port of registry by presenting the bareboat charter contract and the documentary evidence of the termination of the bareboat charter relationship.

With respect to a ship chartered in from abroad under bareboat charter terms, the provisional ship nationality certificate shall also be provided.

Upon approval, the ship registration authority of the port of registry shall cancel the registration of the bareboat charter in the ship register, take back the provisional ship nationality certificate, and issue a certificate of deregistration of the bareboat charter and a certificate of cancellation of the provisional ship nationality.

Chapter VIII — Renewal and Reissue of Ship Ownership Registration Certificates and Ship Nationality Certificates

Article 45 — Within one year before the expiry of a ship nationality certificate, the shipowner shall undergo the procedures for the renewal of the certificate with the ship registration authority of the port of registry by presenting the ship nationality certificate and the valid technical certificates of the ship.

Article 46 — Where a ship ownership registration certificate or a ship nationality certificate is defaced and cannot be used, the holder of the certificate shall apply to the ship registration authority of the port of registry for reissue.

Article 47 — Where a ship ownership registration certificate or a ship nationality certificate is lost, the holder of the certificate shall state the reasons in writing, attach the relevant documentary evidence, and apply to the ship registration authority of the port of registry for reissue.

The ship registration authority of the port of registry shall announce in the local newspaper the invalidation of the original certificate.

Article 48 — Where a shipowner discovers abroad that the ship nationality certificate is lost or defaced, the shipowner shall apply to the embassy or consulate of the People’s Republic of China abroad for a provisional ship nationality certificate, but shall, promptly after arriving at the first port in the home country, apply to the ship registration authority of the port of registry for the renewal of the ship nationality certificate.

Chapter IX — Legal Liability

Article 49 — Any person who counterfeits the nationality of the People’s Republic of China and navigates by flying the national flag of the People’s Republic of China shall have the ship confiscated by the ship registration authority in accordance with the law.

Where a ship of Chinese nationality counterfeits a foreign nationality and navigates by flying a foreign national flag, the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply.

Article 50 — Any person who conceals the fact of registration within or outside the territory, thereby resulting in dual nationality, shall have its ship nationality certificate revoked by the ship registration authority of the port of registry and shall be fined, in light of the circumstances, as follows:

(1) a ship of less than 500 gross tons shall be fined not less than 2,000 yuan but not more than 10,000 yuan;

(2) a ship of not less than 501 gross tons but not more than 10,000 gross tons shall be fined not less than 10,000 yuan but not more than 50,000 yuan;

(3) a ship of more than 10,001 gross tons shall be fined not less than 50,000 yuan but not more than 200,000 yuan.

Article 51 — Where any person, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, commits any of the following acts, the ship registration authority of the port of registry may, in light of the circumstances, give a warning, impose a fine of 50 percent of the amount specified in Article 50 of these Regulations in accordance with the tonnage of the ship, or even confiscate the ship registration certificate:

(1) concealing the true facts or practicing fraud in the procedures for registration;

(2) concealing the fact of registration, thereby resulting in duplicate registration;

(3) forging or altering a ship registration certificate.

Article 52 — Any person who fails to undergo registration of an alteration or deregistration in accordance with the provisions, or who uses an expired ship nationality certificate or provisional ship nationality certificate, shall be ordered by the ship registration authority of the port of registry to make up the relevant registration procedures; where the circumstances are serious, a fine of 10 percent of the amount specified in Article 50 of these Regulations may be imposed in accordance with the tonnage of the ship.

Article 53 — Any person who, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, uses a funnel mark or company flag registered by another person shall be ordered by the ship registration authority of the port of registry to make corrections; where the person refuses to make corrections, a fine of 10 percent of the amount specified in Article 50 of these Regulations may be imposed in accordance with the tonnage of the ship; where the circumstances are serious, the ship nationality certificate or the provisional ship nationality certificate may also be revoked.

Article 54 — Where a staff member of a ship registration authority abuses power, practices favoritism, neglects duty or is seriously derelict in duty, the staff member shall be given an administrative sanction by the unit to which he or she belongs or by a higher-level authority; where a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the law.

Article 55 — Any party that is dissatisfied with a specific administrative act of a ship registration authority may apply for reconsideration or bring an administrative lawsuit in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws and administrative regulations of the State.

Chapter X — Supplementary Provisions

Article 56 — For the purposes of these Regulations, the meanings of the following terms are:

(1) “ship” means all types of self-propelled and non-self-propelled vessels and other mobile devices on water, except lifeboats and life rafts equipped on ships and boats and rafts with a length of less than five meters;

(2) “fishing vessel” means a vessel engaged in fishery production and a vessel belonging to the aquatic products system that serves fishery production;

(3) “public affairs vessel” means a vessel used for the purpose of government administration.

Article 57 — Except for public affairs vessels, the ship registration authority shall collect ship registration fees in accordance with the relevant provisions. The rates for and the measures for the administration of ship registration fees shall be formulated by the finance department and the price administration department under the State Council jointly with the communications administration department under the State Council.

Article 58 — The formats of the ship register, ship nationality certificate, provisional ship nationality certificate, ship ownership registration certificate, ship mortgage registration certificate, bareboat charter registration certificate, application forms and other certificates shall be formulated uniformly by the harbor superintendency administration of the People’s Republic of China.

Article 59 — These Regulations shall come into force as of January 1, 1995.