KS Shipping Malta

KS Shipping Malta looks after the paperwork and practical work that sit behind owning or operating a vessel in Maltese waters. The business registers ships and yachts under the Maltese flag, acts as agent for vessels calling at Malta's ports, and offers a run of marine services that include underwater repairs and mooring ropes.

The office stands on Zabbar Road in Paola, a short drive from the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. It is listed in our courier and freight directory alongside other firms that move cargo and vessels.

Ship and yacht registration

Malta runs the largest ship register in the European Union and one of the largest in the world, and more than 6 per cent of the global merchant fleet is registered here. The Maltese flag also covers close to 800 superyachts. KS Shipping handles the technical and administrative side of registration, and can provide it round the clock when a deadline demands.

The registration work covers Maltese flagged ships, bareboat charter registrations, marine mortgages and other securities, discharges of mortgages, and assistance with registering or deleting vessels. The business also prepares statutory mortgage deeds, collateral deeds of covenants and legal opinions, runs searches of Malta registered vessels and ship owning companies, and deals with operational matters with the Malta Maritime Authority. Vessel arrests, sales and purchases, ship finance, chartering and leasing sit in the same portfolio.

The wider appeal of the Maltese flag includes efficient registration procedures, no trading restrictions and no limits on the nationality of the master, officers or crew. Oil rigs, platforms and barges can also be registered. If you are weighing up a purchase, a yacht broker such as 73 Marine may help on the sales side.

Shipping companies and corporate structures

Owners of large yachts often hold them through a company, so that the vessel is separate from personal assets and easier to manage. KS Corporate Services explains the options under Maltese law, including trusts and a Maltese shipping company, and can advise on where such a company should be based. A vessel may be registered in the name of a Maltese company or of an international owner, provided that owner appoints a resident agent with an address in Malta.

A Maltese shipping company registered under the Merchant Shipping Act may be able to apply for exemption from income tax on earnings from Malta flagged vessels, and low formation fees and no withholding taxes are among the attractions. This is a description of what is offered, not tax advice: your own adviser should confirm what applies to you. CLA Malta and our Malta corporate tax structure guide give wider background, and a local corporate services firm can handle incorporation.

Port agency, ship management and underwater work

The ship agency works around the clock for vessels calling at Malta's ports and offshore. Its services include dry docking and repair, emergency technical repairs in and out of port, bunkering and chandelling (supplying fuel and ship stores), and conveyances. Ship management is offered to ISM and ISPS standards, with onshore staff and crew assessed and trained through courses and seminars.

Underwater services are a distinct strength: professional inspections, hull cleaning, propeller polishing, and permanent or temporary underwater repairs. A clean hull and smooth propeller reduce the power needed to hold speed, which cuts fuel costs. It is also an agent for Water Weights, water filled proof load bags first designed in 1979 to test the safe working load of cranes, and the sole distributor in Malta for Folch Ropes, a manufacturer founded in 1942 whose marine ropes are certified by DNV/GL and OCIMF. Ropes for yachts and pleasure craft are included.

Why Malta and who runs the business

Malta makes a strong base for shipping: EU and Schengen membership, a stable economy, English as an official language with Italian widely spoken, and strong support for foreign investors through Malta Enterprise. Our guide to Malta and Vittoriosa guide show the harbour setting that shaped that maritime tradition.

Keith Murphy is the director and founder, leading a team of more than ten with over 20 years in the field. The nearby Hypogeum in Paola is a well known visitor attraction if you are in the area for meetings.

Starting an enquiry

Fees depend on the vessel and the task, so none are published. A good first message names the type of vessel, flag or intended flag, and the service you need, whether registration, agency, an inspection or ropes. Insurers such as ACCORD Insurance Brokers and the wider financial services sector in Malta may help with cover and finance.

Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to KS Shipping Malta for a direct reply.