Marshall Islands
The world's largest ship register, paired with zero-tax corporate vehicles.
The Marshall Islands runs one of the largest ship registries in the world and a corporate regime based on Delaware law, which makes its entities immediately familiar to US lawyers and lenders. Shipping finance, offshore vessels and maritime holding structures dominate its use.
Outside shipping, its zero-tax non-resident domestic corporations are used for holding and joint ventures, though banking must be arranged elsewhere.
Where Marshall Islands fits
- Ship registration
- Maritime holding
- US-style LLCs
Banking landscape
There is no meaningful local banking sector. Maritime clients bank with shipping-finance banks in Greece, Singapore, Norway and the UAE. Corporate structures use Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland or payment institutions.
Tax & reporting
Non-resident domestic corporations pay no Marshall Islands income tax, capital gains tax, withholding tax or stamp duty on foreign-source activity. Ship registration fees and tonnage taxes replace income taxation for vessel owners. Annual maintenance costs are modest.
Substance & register visibility
Economic substance regulations apply to relevant activities, with reduced requirements for pure holding entities. Beneficial ownership is maintained by the registered agent. The corporate law is closely modelled on Delaware's, so US case law is persuasive, which lenders value.
When to pick this jurisdiction
Pick the Marshall Islands for vessel ownership and ship registration, for maritime finance structures where lenders expect a familiar flag, or for Delaware-style entities used in cross-border joint ventures.
Written up as a comparative shortlist.
Every Marshall Islands recommendation is delivered as a comparative memorandum — substance defensibility, banking access, treaty coverage, register visibility, cost to maintain and reputational risk — so the client can see the trade-offs before committing.
Considering Marshall Islands? Get a written comparison first.
Answer six questions and a director will come back with a shortlist, indicative costs and banking route.
Questions we hear on every Marshall Islands intake.
- Why is the Marshall Islands so popular for shipping?
- A large, well-run open registry with quality port-state control performance, Delaware-style corporate law, and universal acceptance by shipping-finance lenders.
- Can non-residents own vessels there?
- Yes. Foreign ownership is unrestricted, which is central to the registry's business model.
- Is banking available locally?
- No meaningful local banking. Structures bank in established maritime finance centres.
What we typically deliver in Marshall Islands
Yacht & Aircraft Registration
Flag, register and structure ownership of yachts and private aircraft.
StructuresOffshore & Onshore Company Formation
BVI, Cayman, UAE, Singapore, UK, Delaware and 55 more. Banking-ready entities with documented substance.
StructuresCorporate Structuring
Multi-jurisdictional holding groups, IP-routing structures, JV vehicles and re-domiciliations.
BankingInternational Banking
Warm introductions to 25+ active private and corporate banks — UK, EU, GCC, APAC, Caribbean, US.
More APAC jurisdictions & related insights
Every engagement begins with a twenty-minute director-led call. Fixed fees, in writing, before any work begins.