Bareboat registration is allowed both if the ship is foreign and registered in Malta and also if the ship is Maltese and chartered under a foreign flag. A bareboat charter registered in Malta enjoys the same rights and privileges as any other ship registered in Malta. This registration shall be effective for the duration of the bareboat charter or until the expiry date of the underlying registration, whichever is the shorter, not exceeding two years. However an extension may be obtained.

The requirement and the costs are similar to those applicable for normal registration, except that:

- Ship is bareboat chartered to a body corporate, entity or such other person qualified to own a Maltese ship;
- Ship would not become a Maltese ship, and is registered in a compatible registry; and
- Ship must not be registered in another bareboat registry.

In the case of bareboat charter registration the following documents will be required:

- Application for registration by the charterer or an authorised representative;
- Declaration of bareboat charter accompanied by the charter agreement;
- Transcript or an extract of the underlying registration;
- Copy of the ship’s International Tonnage Certificate; and
- Consent in writing of the underlying registry, owners or mortgagees.