IMO approves new guidelines on ship registration

IMO Legal Committee approves first international guidelines to deter maritime fraud and misuse of flags.

IMO's Legal Committee met from 13 to 17 April 2026 at IMO headquarters in London.

The International Maritime Organization’s Legal Committee has approved a new set of guidelines to improve transparency and due diligence in ship registration, as well as prevent fraudulent registrations and misuse of flags.

The guidelines help to close a key regulatory gap for the maritime industry, given there is currently no binding international framework to regulate the registration of ships.

The newly approved Guidelines will assist new and existing flag State ship registries by providing practical measures to strengthen verification and due diligence, ensure accurate ownership records, and improve oversight of registration procedures.