A non-EU national may elect to register a vessel under the Malta Flag through a Malta entity. Maltese shipping companies owning a vessel can elect to be regulated by the Merchant Shipping (Shipping Organisations – Private Companies) Regulations, 2004, (the ‘MSR’) instead of the Companies Act. The MSR does not require the need of having a Maltese-resident shareholder and Maltese directors. Foundations and trusts may also be constituted as shipping organisation.

The formation and incorporation of a shipping company in Malta occurs by the filing of a duly executed Memorandum and Articles of Association and affecting the relative registration fee.

The Memorandum and articles of association may cater for the appointment of a special attorney of the Company. This will provide the advantage of facilitating the communication and document processing with the authorities, in particular with Transport Malta when the process of the vessel registration commences.