Registry: Qualified Owners

Manx registered ships are British ships but under the separate jurisdiction of the Isle of Man Ship Registry. As British ships, the Merchant Shipping Act requires that the owner must be a "Qualified Owner" . To qualify as a British ship and a qualified owner the majority interest in the ship, that is, at least 33 out of 64 shares must be held by one of the following:

• A company incorporated in the Isle of Man and having its principal place of business in the Isle of Man (there are no nationality requirements for ownership of such companies).
• A company incorporated in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, or any British Dependent Territory (Table 1) and having its principal place of business in any such territory.
• A company incorporated in a member state of the European Union or in a European Economic Area Country (Table 2) and having its principal place of business in any such country (the company may be incorporated in any of the above territories or member states and have its principal place of business in any other of the above territories or member states).
• A company incorporated in Other Relevant Countries as detailed in Table 3.
• A Limited Partnership established and registered in the Isle of Man in accordance with the Partnership Act 1909 and the International Business Act 1994, and in certain prescribed countries as detailed in Registry Advice Notice No. 2 (also listed in Table 3).
• A British citizen, a British Dependent Territories citizen (see Table 1), a British overseas citizen, a British subject under the British Nationality Act 1981, or a British National (Overseas).
• A citizen of a member state of the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) Countries (Table 2).

The remaining minority interest (not more than 31 out of 64 shares) may be held by any other person.