Flying the Luxembourg flag
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Since the passing of the law on the creation of a public shipping register in 1990, Luxembourg has managed to develop an efficient register and an attractive business platform for businesses in the maritime sector.
Throughout the years, there has been a move towards the development of synergies between the logistics, the financial and the insurance sectors which has resulted in the integration of the maritime sector in the government's policy of economic diversification.
It is in this context that the Luxembourg Maritime Administration (Commissariat aux affaires maritimes - CAM) acts as a service provider and as the supervisory authority in the sector and for the accredited maritime companies operating out of Luxembourg. The Luxembourg Maritime Administration, without prejudice to the powers of other public administrations, shall ensure the application of the provisions as foreseen by law and follow up on the development of the international maritime law, in particular within the European Union.
Who is concerned
The following ships can be registered in the Luxembourg public shipping register:
- ships that are majority owned (over 50 %) by European Union nationals or by commercial companies having their registered office in an EU Member State;
- ships with bareboat-in registration and operated by the same persons provided that all, or at least a significant part of the management of the ship is carried out in Luxembourg.
How to proceed
- Accreditation of a maritime company
- Application for accreditation of a maritime manager
Maritime companies whose business purpose is the purchase, sale, chartering in or out, the management of seagoing vessels and all directly or indirectly related financial or commercial operations can obtain accreditation from the Minister of the Economy.
The company must, under the agreement, use the services of a designated natural or legal person who is to act as the maritime manager. Prior to commencing their duties, maritime managers must have been accredited by the Minister of the Economy.
In order to be accredited as a maritime manager, the person concerned must have their place of residence in Luxembourg and provide proof of professional experience and integrity.
Registration of ships
All floating craft that can be defined as ships can be registered in the public shipping register.
A ship is defined as any floating craft:
- a gross tonnage equal to or greater than 200;
- which has the capacity to be used for surface or underwater navigation;
- which is usually exposed to the risks of the sea; and
- which is operated or intended to be operated commercially.
Only the ships of less than 15 years of age can become subject to a first registration under the Luxembourg flag.
The ship must be classified by one of the following approved classification societies:
- American Bureau of Shipping;
- Bureau Veritas;
- DNV-GL;
- Korean Registry;
- Lloyd’s Register;
- NKK;
- RINA;
- China Classification Society;
- Croatian Register of Shipping.
Any vessel applying for registration under the Luxembourg flag must have been inspected by the maritime administration of an EU Member State or by an approved classification society.
Composition of the crew
The master of a ship flying the Luxembourg flag must be a national of a European Union Member State. In some cases, the Minister can grant an exemption to the nationality requirement.
All seafarers employed on a ship flying the Luxembourg flag must have a Luxembourg seaman's book.
All seafarers employed on a ship flying the Luxembourg flag must be covered by a social security scheme. This table can help you identify the social security scheme that applies.
Notwithstanding the capacities and/or functions of the seafarers on board the ship, the maritime company must ensure that the crew members on the Luxembourg flagged ship meet the requirements in terms of:
- health (medical certificate);
- training (including complementary training and refresher programmes);
- experience; and
- certification.
The master and all the officers must hold an endorsement of their certificate of proficiency issued by Luxembourg and present said document on request from a Port State Control Officer (PSCO) during the inspection.
Seamen who are responsible for preparing the meals must hold the Cook's certificate, which provides proof of the required training and qualification for said position.
All seafarer certificates and diplomas issued by a Member State of the European Union are also recognised by Luxembourg (certificates of competency/proficiency).
Certificates of competency/proficiency issued by third countries can also be recognised in Luxembourg if:
- the authorisation of endorsement was granted by the European Commission;
- a signed agreement of recognition of certificates has been entered into with the third country.
Certificates of competency/proficiency issued by a third country which is not on the list cannot be recognised.
Applications for a seaman's book or for recognition of a certificate of competency or proficiency must be submitted online via MyGuichet.lu.
Online services and forms
Online services
Who to contact
-
Luxembourg Maritime Administration (CAM)
- Address:
- 3-5, rue Auguste Lumière L-1950 Luxembourg Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 844 53
- Fax:
- (+352) 29 91 40
- Email address:
- cam@cam.etat.lu
- Website:
- http://www.maritime.lu
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
-
Circulars
on the Maritime.lu portal
-
Legislation
on the Maritime.lu portal
-
Social Security: applicable rules
on the Maritime.lu portal
-
STCW
on the Maritime.lu portal
Legal references
-
Directive (UE) 2022/993 du Parlement européen et du Conseil du 8 juin 2022
concernant le niveau minimal de formation des gens de mer
-
Loi modifiée du 9 novembre 1990
ayant pour objet la création d’un registre public maritime luxembourgeois
-
Loi du 17 juin 1994
modifiant et complétant la loi du 9 novembre 1990 ayant pour objet la création d’un registre public maritime luxembourgeois
-
Loi du 20 décembre 2024
portant modification 1° de la loi modifiée du 9 novembre 1990 ayant pour objet la création d’un registre public maritime luxembourgeois 2° du Code de la consommation 3° de la loi modifiée du 14 avril 1992 instituant un code disciplinaire et pénal pour la marine 4° de la loi du 23 septembre 1997 portant réglementation de la navigation de plaisance et portant modification de certaines autres dispositions légales 5° de la loi du 29 avril 2000 transposant la directive n° 92/29/CEE du Conseil du 31 mars 1992 concernant les prescriptions minimales de sécurité et de santé pour promouvoir une meilleure assistance médicale à bord des navires
-
Règlement grand-ducal modifié du 24 décembre 1990
concernant l’exécution de l’article 24 de la loi du 9 novembre 1990 ayant pour objet la création d’un registre public maritime luxembourgeois
-
Règlement grand-ducal du 16 mars 2012
concernant le respect des obligations de l’État du Pavillon
- International Convention and Code on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW)
