Ship Registration

The Marine Survey Office (MSO) is responsible for flag state regulatory control in Ireland, which is part of the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport. The MSO is responsible for the implementation of all national and international legislation in relation to safety of shipping and the prevention of pollution of the marine environment from ship-based sources. The General Register of Ships is maintained by the Mercantile Marine Office, part of the MSO. The Irish flag is white listed on the Paris MoU.

Exceptions may occur, however, as a general guideline in order to register a commercial ship in Ireland the owner or majority owner must be a national of an EU Member State or a body corporate established under and subject to the law of an EU Member State and having its principal place of business in an EU Member State. The registration of the vessel is also subject to meeting a number of prescribed standards and conditions. The registration of vessels in Ireland is subject to the Mercantile Marine Act 1955, as amended.

Recreational boating and watersports

The Irish Sailing Association (ISA) is the national governing body representing sailing, windsurfing, power boating and personal watercraft in Ireland. It advises on all aspects of boating safety and has a network of teaching establishments that offer training for leisure craft.

Inland waterways

Waterways Ireland is the agency responsible for the maintenance and development of inland navigable waterways in Ireland, mainly for recreational purposes. It is also responsible for the enforcement of the navigational rules or bye-laws applying to the waterways under its remit.