The Flag

INTRODUCTION

The Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS) is the Maritime Administration of Antigua and Barbuda and is responsible for the Ship Registry with its principal office located in St. Johns, Antigua and supported by two satellite offices in Germany – ADOMS Oldenburg and the ADOMS Inspection and Investigation Division (ADOMS IID), Elsfleth. The Maritime Administration operates within the regulatory dimension of the International Maritime Shipping Industry. These three offices work in close liaison and the time difference between Antigua and Germany results in an extended period each day when customers can reach an open office. This in conjunction with the 24 hour/day emergency telephone line enables customers to always have access to quality support including the issuance of documentation when necessary.

ADOMS also has various regional offices based in Dubai, Piraeus, Valetta, and Miami where registration agents are available to facilitate ship registration and associated services. These offices in Dubai, Piraeus, Valetta and Miami also maintain a 24-hour emergency support for the vessels registered through these locations to optimize customer interaction and communication.

Coupled with its customer service focus, ADOMS applies the most modern standards of safety with competitive fiscal and other incentives to meet the needs of ship and yacht owners seeking an effective registry option. Antigua and Barbuda has modern national legislation, covering all aspects of safety, security, seafarers’ welfare and the requirements for cleaner oceans.

The Headquarters, (St. John’s)

The headquarters, located in St. John’s Antigua, maintains the ship registry and is responsible for IMO representation, setting strategy, policy, legislation, and ship registration.

ADOMS Oldenburg

ADOMS Oldenburg provides direct services to customers located in Germany and is able to complete registrations, arrange to record mortgages, and provide certificates, exemptions and other critical documents quickly and efficiently. This office also manages the STCW certification process for Antigua and Barbuda ships, maintains the records of these, and issues endorsements and seafarer’s books.

ADOMS IID

ADOMS IID is responsible for the planning and arrangements for annual safety inspections and the investigation of marine casualties.

ADOMS Dubai, Piraeus, Valletta and Miami

ADOMS regional offices provide direct services to customers located in those regions and is able to assist in documentation to complete registrations, arrange to record mortgages, and provide certificates, exemptions and other critical documents quickly and efficiently. This office acts as Filing Agents for STCW services provided by Germany and St. John’s for the seafarer certification process for Antigua and Barbuda ships.

The Ship and Yacht Registry

Antigua & Barbuda operates a fully-fledged international registry and is consistently ranked among the top of the world’s merchant fleet.  Further, it is internationally well recognised by ship owners, international ship financing banks, port States, flag States and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The Antigua and Barbuda flag is recognized as a quality flag which is evidenced by our listing on the ’white’ list for the Paris Memoranda of Understanding on Port State Control (PMOU).

Antigua and Barbuda has worldwide coverage of over 200 inspectors for its commercial ships and has signed agreements with ten Recognized Organizations and Recognized Security Organizations, all of whom are International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) members, who act for and on behalf of the Administration to perform statutory surveys, inspections and issue statutory certificates on its behalf.

Additionally, agreements for delegated authority have also been signed between the Libero Hellenic Register, and the International Register of Ships and the International Yacht Bureau (IYB) for vessels under 500 GT and yachts.

Antigua & Barbuda continues to be on the IMO ‘white’ list of flag States for the STCW Convention to which it gives full and complete effect.