Procedure
Governing: CISN 01/2024 §8 and form CISR 504; MSN 051 §3; BSN 2025-015 §§6–8; BVI MC 01/2024; Gibraltar GSF-01. Builds on: L2.2.
Who files, and where
| Flag | Channel | Who may apply |
|---|---|---|
| Cayman | Form CISR 504 (Rev 01/2021) by email to caymanregistry@cishipping.com; George Town, Southampton, Fort Lauderdale and France offices also listed | Applicant signs the declarations personally; the form names an entity responsible for payment |
| Isle of Man | MAVIS, mandatory since 1 May 2019 (TAN 002-19); account via seafarers@gov.im | Owner/operator or manning agent; individuals not normally accepted |
| Bermuda | BOSS portal; email only "rare", for managers without BOSS access | Shipowner, ship manager or contracted crew manager only (§6(1)) |
| BVI | SeafarerHQ (bvi.seafarerhq.com), launched Feb 2024 | Individual seafarers create a profile; authorised companies can also apply |
| Gibraltar | Form GSF-01 (rev 01/09/2026) by email to maritime.seafarers@gibraltar.gov.gi | Form covers new and revalidation applications |
What to send
| Document | Cayman | IoM | Bermuda (email route) | Gibraltar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoC | All pages | Copy with STCW endorsement | Copy incl. national STCW endorsement | Certified copies |
| GMDSS certificate | Deck | Deck | If separate | Relevant posts |
| Passport | Yes | Not required | Passport or national ID | Yes |
| Medical | Yes, ≥3 months left | Not required | Not listed | Yes, ≥3 months left |
| Photo / signature | JPEG 100 KB–2 MB; black ink inside borders | JPEG photo and signature | On page 3 of form | Photos |
| Tanker CoPs | If applicable | If applicable | If applicable | – |
| English | Applicant's declaration | – | Owner's signed statement | Evidence required |
Cayman caps the whole email at 5 MB, wants copies not originals, and needs a home address rather than one "care of" an agent. Incomplete applications "can lead to lengthy delays" (CISN §8.4).
Paying
- Cayman: invoice emailed to the paying entity after processing; online payment preferred.
- BVI: the payment tab opens once the application is approved; after payment you print the CRA yourself.
- IoM: fees under the Fees Order (Lesson 4.2), invoiced to the account holder.
CAUTION — "I'll just sort it myself" On the Isle of Man and Bermuda you cannot. If your manager is not set up on MAVIS or BOSS, fix that first. On Bermuda a crew manager also needs a documented link, signed by the ship manager, to be set up.
TIP — Fraud checks are real VISMA's Marine Circular 02/2026 reports fraudulent passports, certificates and Boatmaster Licences submitted to it; QR codes must verify against official records. Send clean scans of genuine documents.