Madeira’s International Shipping Register grows in 2012

At the end of 2012, 233 vessels were registered in the International Shipping Register of Madeira (MAR).

The stable growth of the number of vessels in the past years shows MAR’s ability to attract international shipping companies, particularly at a time of great crisis in the maritime sector, contributing simultaneously to increase the size of the Portuguese merchant fleet, both in terms of number of vessels and tonnage.

Moreover, the fact that MAR is among the international registers of the highest quality, having been included in the White List of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding, due to adequate measures to ensure an efficient surveillance of all vessels registered, sends an important message to shipowners, namely those who demand quality and competitive conditions for the registration of their vessels.

Origin and type of vessels

A wide range of vessels are registered in MAR, including general cargo vessels, oil rig platforms, passenger vessels, Ro-Ro/ferries, bulk carriers, chemical, oil tankers, amongst others.

From the list of vessels registered in the end of 2012, 147 were commercial vessels, 51 pleasure yachts and the remaining 36 were commercial yachts.

The total amount of the gross tonnage (GT) registered in MAR is 1,474,312, which is another indication of the contribution of the International Shipping Register of Madeira for the reinforcement of Portugal’s prestige among international maritime institutions.

The majority of commercial vessels registered in MAR originate from competitive and dynamic European economies in the maritime sector, such as Italy, Spain, Germany, Norway and France.