Regulatory Updates
Regulatory Updates
At AnchorPoint Consulting Services Consulting (APCS), monitors official notices issued by the Virgin Islands Shipping and Maritime Authority (VISMA) to assist clients in understanding regulatory developments that may affect vessel registration and ongoing compliance.
The summaries below are provided for informational purposes only. Official notices remain the authoritative source. Regulatory information is subject to change. Readers should refer to Virgin Islands Shipping & Maritime Authority (VISMA) for the most current position.
Official Notices
Virgin Islands Shipping & Maritime Authority (VISMA) unveils dual-pathway strategy to capture the BVI’s share of the trillion-dollar maritime market
Virgin Islands Shipping & Maritime Authority (VISMA) unveils dual-pathway strategy to capture the BVI’s share of the trillion-dollar maritime market
The Virgin Islands Shipping and Maritime Authority (VISMA) has outlined a dual-pathway growth strategy to expand beyond yacht registration into merchant vessel flagging, encouraging the local business community to position for new revenue across the global maritime market.
The plan, unveiled at VISMA’s Growth and Partnership Forum, highl
The Virgin Islands Shipping and Maritime Authority (VISMA) has outlined a dual-pathway growth strategy to expand beyond yacht registration into merchant vessel flagging, encouraging the local business community to position for new revenue across the global maritime market.
The plan, unveiled at VISMA’s Growth and Partnership Forum, highlights new revenue-generating opportunities for local service providers in a sector that moves most of the world’s trade.
VISMA publication date: November 18, 2025
Duty-Free Vessels in the BVI: a Simple Cost Win for Clients
Virgin Islands Shipping & Maritime Authority (VISMA) unveils dual-pathway strategy to capture the BVI’s share of the trillion-dollar maritime market
Choosing the right flag state can save yacht owners thousands in import duties. Recent legislative changes in the BVI created a clear exemption for qualifying “BVI vessels.” When a yacht is owned by a BVI company or a Virgin Islander and registered in the Virgin Islands, it is treated as duty-free for import. This simplifies transactions
Choosing the right flag state can save yacht owners thousands in import duties. Recent legislative changes in the BVI created a clear exemption for qualifying “BVI vessels.” When a yacht is owned by a BVI company or a Virgin Islander and registered in the Virgin Islands, it is treated as duty-free for import. This simplifies transactions and removes a cost line that often discouraged BVI ownership and flagging.
VISMA publication date: November 12, 2025
BVI Expands Vessel Registration Access under the Red Ensign Flag Administration
BVI Expands Vessel Registration Access under the Red Ensign Flag Administration
Vessel registration in the BVI is now open to individual and corporate entities from an expanded list of global jurisdictions. Previously, owners often had to form a BVI company, which limited flexibility for some international structures.
VISMA publication date: September 11, 2025
AnchorPoint Consulting Services Regulatory Insights
APCS Regulatory Insights
At AnchorPoint Consulting Services Consulting (APCS), publishes regulatory insights to help vessel owners, advisors, and industry professionals understand how developments within the British Virgin Islands maritime framework may affect vessel registration and compliance in practice. These insights reflect APCS's professional interpretation of publicly available information, legislative developments, and industry announcements. They are not official notices and are intended to support informed decision-making within the evolving BVI regulatory environment.
APCS Regulatory Insights
No BVI Company Requirement for Vessel Registration
Over the past few months, there’s been increased attention on the fact that a BVI company is no longer required for certain vessel registrations.
What’s important to understand is that this change removes one corporate step, not the regulatory framework itself.
Vessel eligibility, ownership documentation, statutory requirements, and co
Over the past few months, there’s been increased attention on the fact that a BVI company is no longer required for certain vessel registrations.
What’s important to understand is that this change removes one corporate step, not the regulatory framework itself.
Vessel eligibility, ownership documentation, statutory requirements, and compliance obligations still apply.
The difference now is not less regulation, but a more direct registration pathway, which makes accuracy, preparation, and process even more important. .
Virgin Islands Shipping & Maritime Authority (VISMA) 2026 digital transformation.
The British Virgin Islands vessel registry is moving toward a fully digital, paperless operating model.
As outlined by the Virgin Islands Shipping and Maritime Authority (VISMA), this direction includes:
• Digital issuance and endorsement of certificates
• Elimination of paper forms and wet signatures
• A customer portal for document ac
The British Virgin Islands vessel registry is moving toward a fully digital, paperless operating model.
As outlined by the Virgin Islands Shipping and Maritime Authority (VISMA), this direction includes:
• Digital issuance and endorsement of certificates
• Elimination of paper forms and wet signatures
• A customer portal for document access, submissions, invoicing, and service requests
• Online vessel registration workflows and fleet visibility for owners and agents
In practice, this shift signals greater transparency, faster processing, and clearer visibility across the registration and compliance lifecycle.
As the registry evolves technologically, the importance of structured regulatory support does not disappear, it becomes more important.
Digital systems still require:
• Accurate eligibility assessment
• Correct documentation at submission
• Ongoing compliance monitoring
• Continuity between owners, agents, and the registry
Technology reduces friction.
It does not replace regulatory responsibility.
At AnchorPoint Consulting Services, our role remains focused on helping vessel owners and advisors navigate the process correctly, even as the tools change.
The framework evolves.
The statutory obligations remain.
Expanded List of Eligible Jurisdictions
Expanded List of Eligible Jurisdictions
The British Virgin Islands Ship Registry has expanded the list of jurisdictions eligible to register vessels under the BVI flag.
Newly eligible jurisdictions include, among others, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, select EU member states, CARICOM countries, and certain OECS jurisdictions.
Eligibility remains subject to applica
The British Virgin Islands Ship Registry has expanded the list of jurisdictions eligible to register vessels under the BVI flag.
Newly eligible jurisdictions include, among others, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, select EU member states, CARICOM countries, and certain OECS jurisdictions.
Eligibility remains subject to applicable legislation, documentation requirements, and Registry approval.