LU
DC
in London at 3.00 p.m. on 20th December T9737
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CONFIDENTIAL
REGISTRATION OF SHIPPING
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BERMUDA
هانا
Bermuda has throughout its history had a strong
maritime tradition. Since 1787 a British ships' registery has been operated in Bermuda, under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts, as extended to Bermuda, and under Bermuda's own shipping legislation, namely the Bermuda Merchant Shipping Act 1930.
2.
At present the gross registered tonnage of ships registered in Bermuda amounts to 1,129,122, A list of
the vessels is attached hereto.
3.* For a number of reasons, not least the stability of
the Bermuda Government, Bermuda has become established as a base for international finance, insurance and shipping opera- tions. The registry of ships in Bermuda has increased at an
accelerating pace in recent years and the Bermuda Government has reason to believe that very substantial additional tonnage, which is presently registered under non-British flags, would be registered in Bermuda if existing disadvantages are removed. However, if the present disadvantages are not removed the Bermuda Government considers that not only will the chances of attracting additional tonnage be remote, but it is possible that some of the ships at present under Bermuda registry may be transferred to other jurisdictions.
A further consideration is that if ships presently registered in countries. whose standards are much less strin- gent than those applicable to British ships, become registered under the high standards of Bermuda registry, this would make a significant contribution to high shipping safety standards.