Flag document und flag attestation:
Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie
Sachgebiet S 11
Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 78
20359 Hamburg

Anette Claudia Scholz
Phone: +49 40 31 90-7133
Fax: +49 40 31 90-5003

Jacqueline Seidel
Phone: +49 40 3190-7155
Fax: +49 40 3190-5003

Jasmin Lohse
Phone: +49 40 40 31 90-7134
Fax: +49 40 31 90-5003


Flag certificates
Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie
Sachgebiet S 11
Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 78
20359 Hamburg

Sabine Wohlgemuth-Zeuch
Phone: +49 40 31 90 71 36
Fax: +49 40 31 90 5003

Elfi Groth
Phone: +49 40 31 90 71 35
Fax: +49 40 31 90 5003

Webcode for this Content: 18554681

Flag documents

The BSH administrates the German Flag Register and provides the shipping industry with documents of evidence of the authorization to carry the Federal Flag. All sea-going vessels receiving such a document are recorded in the Flag Register.

The authorization to fly the Federal Flag can be proven with one of the following documents:

  • Flag Document
    Yard trials or conveyance voyages to another port (in accordance with FlRG– Flaggenrechtsgesetz, section 10: application form) as well as for temporarily flagged-in foreign ships (in accordance with FlRG, section 11: application form for owners)
  • Flag Attestation
    Ships operated by the government (upon free-text application);
    exception: Flag Attestations for sea-going ships of the Federal Armed Forces are issued by the Federal Ministry of Defence
  • Flag Certificate
    Is available for sea-going vessels of up to 15 m hull length (recreational craft); read more about the Flag Certificate
  • Certificate of Registry
    not issued by BSH but by the shipping registers of sea-going ships: for merchant ships and any other sea-going ships