Online Ship, Boat Registration System goes live

November 06, 2026 (MLN): The online Ship and Boat Registration System has become operational, allowing vessel owners to file registration applications electronically without visiting government offices.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said in a statement on Friday that the ship and boat registration modules are now fully open for online applications after the necessary measures were completed, APP reported.

A meeting between officials of the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has been scheduled to discuss building an electronic payment mechanism into the system.

The minister said the move will modernize maritime administration by cutting paperwork, saving applicants time and money, improving transparency and helping maintain an updated national database of registered vessels.

The MMD, which functions under the ministry, is responsible for registering merchant ships, fishing boats, sailing vessels and harbour crafts under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance and related laws.

The ministry is also working on online payments for applicants. The minister said the facility is expected to go live within the next 15 days, letting applicants pay registration fees electronically through a single payment link.

He added that digital registration could also help build climate resilience in coastal areas by creating a centralized database of fishing vessels and their owners.

If linked with climate-risk mapping, cyclone early-warning systems and fisheries management, the database could help authorities identify vulnerable fishing communities, improve emergency response and enable timely evacuations during extreme weather events.

The minister described the initiative as part of the government’s wider push to digitalize maritime administration and improve public service delivery.

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