Starboard integrates vessel information from S&P Global Market Intelligence to improve vessel identification and provide details of off-water vessel relationships including companies and ownership.
Detailed vessel information shown in Starboard includes vessel type, dimensions, previous vessel names, registration, P&I, communication, and special vessel features.
Detailed company information shown in Starboard includes company relationships, addresses, and fleet information.
S&P Global Market Intelligence manages the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) ship and companies identification schemes on behalf of the IMO and is the sole authority with responsibility for assigning and validating these numbers.
IMO ship identification
The Ship Identification Number Scheme introduced by the IMO in 1987 (mandatory from 1996) is a universal public reference for ships. The scheme assigns an IMO number to most ships of 100 GT and above.
These IMO numbers are generally issued at the order stage for a ship and the number is never reassigned.
IMO company and registered owner identification
The Company and Registered Owner Scheme was introduced in 2004 (mandatory from 2009) as a measure to enhance maritime safety, security and environmental protection, and to facilitate the prevention of maritime fraud. The scheme assigns an IMO number to most companies and registered owners managing ships of 100 GT and above.
If there are changes to a company:
The number stays the same when a company changes its name, or if its ships are transferred to another flag
If companies are merged the largest company's IMO number will be used. The smaller company's IMO is frozen
If a company no longer manages ships the number is frozen but if at a future date the company renews ship management the same number will be used
The numbers are never reassigned and the history of companies and registered owners is maintained as part of S&P Global's database
Definitions of Owner and Manager Information
The structures used to own, manage, and operate vessels can be complex, often including multiple companies split between different countries. This information is managed by S&P Global under the following headings:
Registered owner
Legal title of ownership of the vessel that appears on the ship's registration documents. It may be an owner/manager or a wholly-owned subsidiary in a larger shipping group.
Operator
Company responsible for the commercial decisions concerning the employment of a ship, who decides how and where that asset is employed. The direct beneficiary of the profits from the operations of the ship.
Ship manager
The company designated by the ship owner or charterer to be responsible for the day to day commercial running of the ship and the best contact for the ship regarding commercial matters.
Including post fixture responsibilities, such as laytime, demurrage, insurance and charter clauses. This company may be an owner related company, or a third-party manager, whose purpose is primarily the management of ships for their ship-owning clients.
In some circumstances a ship may be owned by a financial organisation who has no operational involvement whatever. The lessee company, or one of its subsidiary companies, may be deemed to be the commercial manager of the ship.
Technical manager
The company designated by the ship owner or operator or ship manager to be specifically responsible for the technical operation and technical superintendancy of a ship. This company may also be responsible for purchases regarding the fleet, such as repairs, spares, re-engining, surveys, dry-docking, etc.
DOC holder
Company stated on a Document of Compliance (DOC) certificate. This company is responsible for implementing the Safety Management System under the International Maritime Organisation's International Safety Management Code (ISM).
Bareboat owner
The company indicated on the charter party agreement which charters the ship on either a bareboat or demise charter.
Two examples showing some of the different ownership and management structures.
References
S&P Global. (n.d.). IMO Ship and Company Number Scheme. Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/mi/products/imo-ship-company.html