Sale and registration of a ship in Poland: Legal Guide

Last Updated: 03.08.2026

Sale of a Ship, Yacht or Sailboat in Poland

International sale forms are the normal starting point in ship, yacht and sailboat transactions worldwide. In Poland they remain a useful commercial framework, but they frequently require supplementation to produce legal effect in Poland. For transfers of vessels entered in the Polish registers Polish substantive and procedural requirements must be satisfied to ensure that title is transferred and that the change becomes effective and visible against third parties. This is particularly important where the transaction is connected with Polish boat registration, Polish yacht registration or a change of flag registration.

Before proceeding, it is essential to understand the two separate legal systems governing matters related to ships in Poland.

Polish Ship Register vs REJA24 – Which Registration System Applies?

Polish Ship Register

The Polish Ship Register (Rejestr Okrętowy), which is governed by the regulations of the Act of September 18, 2001, Maritime Code (Maritime Code), mainly applies to commercial vessels exceeding 24 meters in length.

REJA24

Meanwhile, a fully digital system known as REJA24, governed by the Act of April 12, 2018 on the registration of yachts and other vessels up to 24 meters in length (REJA24 Act) applies to specific categories of vessels up to 24 meters in length. According to the legal definition, this includes seagoing vessels used for sporting or recreational purposes (recreational and commercial yachts, including sailboats), as well as inland vessels used for sporting, recreational, or fishing purposes (recreational yachts, commercial yachts, and inland waterway fishing vessels).

Understanding which system applies to a given vessel is crucial, as the legal requirements regarding transfer of ownership, documentation and the registering authority are significantly different.

It is important to note that, both the Maritime Code and the REJA24 Act broadly classify all such vessels (from large commercial ships to small recreational yachts and sailboats) under the general legal term “vessel”. For clarity, all such assets will hereinafter be collectively referred to as vessels.

Transfer of Ownership of a Vessel in Poland

Vessels Over 24 Meters – Polish Ship Register Requirements

Under the Polish Maritime Code, any agreement transferring ownership of a vessel that is subject to registration must be executed in writing and include signatures that are notarized (Article 74).

An international sale form e.g. SALEFORM 2012 (Norwegian Shipbrokers’ Association’s international memorandum of agreement for the sale and purchase of ships) is typically used to record commercial terms, but it does not, by itself, satisfy the statutory form required for transfer of title where the vessel is entered in the Polish register.

For that reason, the standard market document is complemented by a transfer deed drafted and executed in a form compliant with Polish shipping law. This second instrument not only meets the statutory formalities but also serves as documentary confirmation that the obligations under the commercial sale agreement have been duly performed, completing the legal transfer of title under Polish law for these vessels.

Yachts, Sailboats and Boats Under 24 Meters – REJA24 Registration process

The requirement for notarized signatures applies only to large vessels (>24m).

For smaller vessels and yachts registered in the REJA24 system, in accordance with the REJA24 Act, standard commercial forms (e.g., a written sales contract, a donation agreement, or a VAT invoice) are legally sufficient to confirm ownership (Article 6). Under Polish law, notarization is not required for these recreational and small commercial vessels.

Required Documents for Ship and Yacht Registration in Poland

Document Package for Vessels Over 24 Meters

A registry-ready closing file ordinarily contains mostly the following items:

• a Polish-law transfer deed (ownership title transfer) executed with notarized signatures;
• the international sale form (commercial MOA) as the commercial basis of the deal;
• a Bill of Sale evidencing transfer of title;
• a Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance documenting physical handover and the agreed transfer date;
• an up-to-date certificate of class and a statement regarding encumbrances (mortgages or other registered charges);
• corporate documents of the buyer and seller (official extracts) bearing apostille and accompanied by sworn Polish translations (accordingly).

Cross-Border Vessel Sale and Polish Registration Formalities

Common friction points arise at the interface between foreign formalities and Polish registry practice: notarization abroad, apostille, sworn translation, and the physical shipment of originals. Our office coordinates notarial appointments, arranges apostilles, instructs sworn translators and confirms the form of documents with the registry in advance to reduce risk of delay.

Document Package for Vessels Over 24 Meters

A registry-ready file for small vessels and yachts ordinarily contains:

• a standard commercial document evidencing transfer of title (e.g., a Bill of Sale, purchase agreement, or VAT invoice);
• a certificate of deletion from the previous foreign registry (if the vessel was registered abroad);
• the original technical documentation, including the CE Declaration of Conformity or an authorized measurement document confirming dimensions, engine power, and design category;

Registration in the Polish Ship Register

Who Maintains the Polish Ship Register?

Entries for Polish-flagged vessels are maintained by the maritime chambers (seated in Szczecin and Gdańsk) operating with the regional courts. The register records ownership, operator (armator) details, vessel identifiers and encumbrances. The register is the instrument that gives third parties constructive notice of ownership and operator status; registration thus converts the commercial transfer into a public, enforceable fact. Because of this judicial structure, all registration matters – including ownership changes, name approvals and deletions – are conducted through a simplified court procedure rather than an administrative process, ensuring both legal certainty and procedural transparency.

Required Filings and Form of Documents

A complete application to change the registered owner (and, where requested, the registered operator and the vessel name) must typically include:

• the transfer deed with notarised signatures;
• the original certificate of permanent registry,
• the current certificate of class;
• where a name change is requested, an administrative decision approving the new name issued by the competent maritime office.

Time Limits, Fees and Practical Requirements

Several practical features of the Polish procedure are important for planning:

• Filing deadline: an application to register a change of ownership should be submitted within six weeks from the sale date. This interval allows time to complete closing formalities and to collect originals, but it is not indefinite.
• Form of submission: the maritime chamber generally requires originals or certified copies; it can request to inspect originals at any stage. Always treat originals as likely to be required.
• Official charge: the statutory fee for accepting an application is PLN 50. This is a modest administrative cost relative to the legal and operational significance of registration.
• Measurement certificate: in many cases the vessel’s measurement certificate is already held in the vessel file at the chamber; a new measurement certificate is necessary only if the vessel’s dimensions or structural characteristics have changed. We verify whether the ship’s measurements have changed before commencing any registry application.
• Address for service: foreign owners must provide a Polish address for service; our firm routinely acts as the correspondence address to avoid postal delays and to ensure prompt handling of administrative requests.

Post-filing outcome. Following acceptance and processing, the maritime chamber issues an updated certificate of permanent registry reflecting the new owner (and, where applicable, the new operator or new vessel name). Where a new name is adopted, the name-approval decision from the maritime office is submitted together with the registry application.

Registration in the REJA24 System

Who Handles REJA24 Applications?

Unlike the Polish Ship Register, REJA24 applications are processed by local administrative authorities (e.g.,Starosta) or authorized Polish sports associations (Polish Sailing Association, Polish Motorboat and Water Skiing Association).

Required Documents for REJA24 Registration

A complete administrative application submitted to the registering authority to register a vessel or change the registered owner must typically include:

• an application form submitted electronically directly via the REJA24 system (using a trusted profile or a qualified electronic signature) or in paper form;
• proof of ownership acquired during the commercial transaction (e.g., a VAT invoice or sales contract);
• a certificate of deletion from the previous register, if the vessel was previously registered;
• a CE Declaration of Conformity or other authorized document confirming the vessel’s technical parameters;
• a clear photograph of the manufacturer’s plate showing the hull identification number;
• proof of payment of the statutory administrative fee

REJA24 Registration Process, Fees and Practical Requirements

Several practical features of the REJA24 procedure are important for planning:

• Filing deadline: an owner is obligated to notify the registering authority about the acquisition of the vessel and submit the application within 30 days from the sale date.
• Form of submission: the application can be submitted either electronically (REJA24 portal) or in paper form. If the application is submitted electronically together with digital copies of the documents, the original documents must be presented to the registration authority before the physical registration document is collected.
• Official charge: the statutory administrative fee for accepting an application and issuing the registration document is a set amount of PLN 80.
• Security and verification: the system is integrated with the Schengen Information System (SIS). The authorities actively verify whether the vessel or its engine has been reported as stolen, misappropriated or sought as evidence in criminal proceedings.
• Translations: as a practical rule, any supporting documents drawn up in a foreign language must be submitted together with a certified translation into Polish. An exception to this rule is the CE Declaration of Conformity which, under Polish law, does not require translation.

Registry maintenance and other post-transfer changes

Our services cover the full spectrum of registry matters beyond initial owner change. These include:

In the case of vessels over 24 meters:

• entry or change of the operator (armator);
• administrative name changes and re-issuance of the registry certificate;
• registration or deletion of maritime mortgages and other encumbrances;
• deregistration (for example where a vessel changes flag).

Each registry action generally follows the same procedural pattern: a written application accompanied by notarised or certified supporting documents, submission to the competent maritime chamber and payment of the statutory fee. We manage these procedures from document preparation through filing and follow-up until the registry updates are formally confirmed.

In the case of vessels under 24 meters:

• entry or change of the operator (armator);
• administrative name changes and re-issuance of the registry certificate;
• deregistration.

Under Polish law, the legal instrument of a maritime mortgage applies exclusively to vessels entered in the Polish Ship Register, and therefore cannot be registered against smaller recreational vessels and yachts in the REJA24 system.

However, the Polish Maritime Code specifies that by submitting an application, owners of smaller vessels (under 24 meters) may voluntarily choose to register their vessel in the Polish Ship Register (Article 23 §4). By entering this register, the owner receives a formal certificate of permanent registration and gains the ability to establish a maritime mortgage to secure bank financing.

Each registration process typically follows a simplified procedural scheme: the application is submitted electronically or in paper form to the registering authority along with standard supporting documents and after payment of statutory fee (e.g., 80 PLN for data changes requiring the issuance of a new document). We manage these procedures from document preparation through the submission of the application and subsequent steps, until the update is formally confirmed in the registry.

Legal Support for Ship, Yacht and Boat Registration in Poland

We act as a single point of responsibility for the legal part of the transaction. Our standard sequence of engagement is:

1. Pre-closing review: document audit, identification of formal gaps between the international sale form and Polish form requirements, and checklisting of originals to be produced.
2. Document preparation: drafting of appropriate transfer documents (a Polish-law transfer deed, a standard Bill of Sale) and bilingual powers of attorney.
3. Formalization: coordination of notarization, apostilles (where required) and sworn translations; verification of corporate authority documentation.
4. Execution and delivery coordination: overseeing signing, physical handover and matching of effective dates across documents.
5. Registry filing: assembling the registry file, submitting the application to the competent registering authority (the maritime chamber, or the local administrative authorities/authorized sports association) and responding to registry queries.
6. Completion: obtaining the updated certificate of permanent registry or the Watercraft Registration Certificate and, where applicable, confirmation of name change or operator entry.

Case study: cross-border acquisition and Polish registry update of a commercial vessel

We advised a foreign maritime investor on the acquisition of a commercial vessel entered in the Polish Ship Register. The transaction required coordination between international sale documentation, Polish statutory form requirements and the procedural practice of the competent maritime chamber.

A key issue was that the vessel remained connected with the Polish register after closing, which meant that the transfer could not be handled solely on the basis of standard international sale documentation. The ownership transfer, registry update and related corporate documentation had to be structured in a manner compliant with the Polish Maritime Code and acceptable for Polish registry purposes.

Our support included preparing Polish-law transfer documentation, coordinating bilingual powers of attorney, arranging notarisation and apostille formalities, and ensuring that foreign corporate documents were supported by sworn Polish translations. We also handled the registry filings concerning the change of owner and, where required, related updates to the vessel’s registered data.

At a later stage, we assisted with the vessel’s deregistration from the Polish register in connection with the client’s wider flag-state and operational plans. This included coordinating the required applications, addressing registry queries and obtaining confirmation of the vessel’s registry status, including the absence of registered encumbrances.

FAQ – Boat and Yacht Registration in Poland