Digital ship registry is coming

In 2020, Denmark expects to become the world’s first digitalised register of shipping, reducing administrative burdens for shipowners.

The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) is developing the new digital Danish Register of Shipping and plans for this to be operational before the end of 2020 to provide easier and faster access to shipping data and lower costs for business.

When this is running, all reporting and registration of ships will occur digitally, minimising the need for paper and reducing processing time.

DMA deputy director general Charlotte Ahrendt Steen says this paperless-register will benefit all stakeholders.

“We are making the move to digital registration with our new register of shipping,” she said. “This will definitely reduce the administrative burden for those companies that have their ships registered under the Danish flag.”

She thinks this is the future for ship registry and the digitalisation of global shipping.

“As an extension of our transition to digital ship and seafarer certificates, this is another contribution from the DMA to a digitalised maritime sector.”

A digital system will cut out much of the process and administration of current methods of ship registration.

Today’s ship registration includes extensive processes for the industry and is expensive for shipping companies, according to the DMA. Original legal documents with records of the ship’s ownership and value need to be circulated by courier or face-to-face meetings.

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