After Brexit changes for UK flagged vessels operating in German waters

Vessels flying a non-EU flag (except Norway) generally require a Cabotage Approval when operating in German waters.

After the Brexit this regulation also applies to UK flagged vessels operating in German waters.

Cabotage is the fee-based carriage of passengers or goods with a foreign-flagged vessel from one place to another within German territory using German coastal waters (12 nautical mile area).

Shipping companies do not require a Cabotage Approval if their ships

• carry goods or passengers to places outside coastal waters (12 nautical mile zone) – for example to offshore wind farms in an Exclusive Economic Area or

• do not carry goods or passengers for a fee, as for example is the case with assistance tugs in a port.

Vessels flying an EU flag are not required a Cabotage Approval.

The Cabotage Approval is often understood to be the same as the Certificate of Equivalence (CoE). However, they are actually two different documents with different purposes. Cabotage is about counteracting disadvantages for the freedom of economic activity of German shipping while the Certificate of Equivalence ensures a comparable degree of safety of all vessels operating in German maritime waters.

The Cabotage Approval is being issued by the German Authorties.