BG Verkehr / Dienststelle Schiffssicherheit
Brandstwiete 1
20457 Hamburg
Christian Bubenzer
Phone: +49 40 361 37-600
Fax: +49 40 361 37-735
Mail: christian.bubenzer@bg-verkehr.de
Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie
Referat S11
Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 78
20359 Hamburg
Susanne Dreisow
Phone: +49 40 31 90 71 10
Mail: susanne.dreisow@bsh.de
Changing to the German flag
Changing flag – as easy as possible
We want to convince you of the advantages of the German flag – find out more about seafaring under German flag.
The easy way – that is our aim as regards to changing to the German flag. Competent experts from our changing flag management are available to guide and support you. In the following, you will find all relevant information necessary for changing to the German flag – for example, our checklist for changing to the German flag. Go ahead and download our application form for changing to the German flag.
What does it mean: changing flag?
If a ship changes to the German flag, this is colloquially called „flagging in“. Flagging in comprises, among other things, the registration in the shipping register, the ship’s survey as well as the issuance of ship safety certificates and seafarer’s documents. A special case of flagging in is „re-flagging“, i.e. a ship which had already been under the German flag in the past, and then changed temporarily to a foreign flag, returns.