Before sailing for the first time in Chilean waters, you must complete a set of formalities with the Directorate General of Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine (Directemar). The three main ones are: vessel registration, a zarpe (departure clearance) before each trip, and the crew roll. This guide explains each one in detail.
What is Directemar? It is the Chilean Navy agency responsible for regulating and overseeing maritime, river and lake activity in Chilean territory. Every vessel navigating Chilean jurisdictional waters falls under its authority, whether recreational or commercial.
1. Vessel Registration
Registration is the official record that gives a vessel its legal identity in Chile. Without current registration, a vessel cannot legally sail in national waters. The process is carried out at the Port Authority (Capitanía de Puerto) closest to where the vessel will be based.
Documents required to register a new vessel
- Current national ID or passport (original and copy)
- If a company: incorporation documents + tax ID (RUT)
- Background check certificate (required at some ports)
- Purchase invoice or notarised purchase deed
- Shipyard or builder's certificate (if new build)
- Hull serial number (IMO or manufacturer's series)
- Engine certificate with serial number
- Hull plans (if required — depends on vessel size)
- Safety equipment list for the declared navigation zone
- Life jackets (1 per crew member + 10% extra)
- Current marine fire extinguisher
- Approved flares within expiry date
- Registered EPIRB (if applicable for zone)
- Engine registration certificate (SERNAPESCA where applicable)
- Fuel type and tank capacity
- Engine compartment extinguisher certificate
Once documents are submitted, a Port Authority inspector will carry out a technical inspection of the vessel afloat or at a boatyard. They will check hull condition, safety equipment, navigation lights, hull identification (name and registration number painted on), and general state.
Step-by-step process
- Get a provisional registration number — Contact the Port Authority to be assigned a registration number before the inspection. You'll need it to paint the name and number on the hull.
- Paint identification on the hull — The vessel's name and registration number must be painted on the hull in letters and numbers of the required size (minimum 15 cm high). The Port Authority specifies the exact format.
- Prepare safety equipment — Ensure all mandatory safety equipment is on board, current, and correct for the navigation zone you will declare. Check expiry dates on flares and extinguishers.
- Submit documents at the Port Authority — Bring all originals and copies. The officer reviews the file and schedules the technical inspection.
- Technical inspection — An inspector visits the vessel's location, checks the hull, buoyancy, safety systems and identification. If observations are noted, deadlines are given to address them.
- Pay registration fees — Once the inspection is approved, pay the registration dues at the treasury office. The amount depends on the vessel's length and tonnage.
- Collect the Registration Certificate — The Port Authority issues the Certificate of Registration (official document) and the Navigation Log (Rol de Matrícula). These documents must always be kept on board.
Registration costs (approximate)
| Length / Type | Registration fee (CLP approx.) | Annual renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 6 m (dinghy / small powerboat) | CLP 30,000 – 60,000 | CLP 15,000 – 25,000 |
| 6 – 12 m (sailboat / mid-size motorboat) | CLP 60,000 – 120,000 | CLP 25,000 – 50,000 |
| 12 – 20 m (yacht / offshore sailboat) | CLP 120,000 – 250,000 | CLP 50,000 – 100,000 |
| Over 20 m | CLP 250,000+ | Variable |
Registration validity: Registration is renewed annually (in some cases every 2 years for recreational vessels with a clean record). Renewal requires proving safety equipment is still current. MMSI registration: when registering your vessel you must also register your VHF DSC's MMSI with Directemar. Without registration, the MMSI transmits but SAR won't know who the distress signal belongs to.
2. The Zarpe (Departure Clearance)
The zarpe is the departure authorisation issued by the Port Authority before each trip outside the port's interior waters. It is mandatory for every registered vessel sailing away, whether for an afternoon or an ocean passage.
When is a zarpe required?
A zarpe is required for trips that involve leaving the port's jurisdictional waters or moving to another port. Short trips within the declared interior waters of the harbour don't always require a zarpe, but check with your local Port Authority to be sure.
Documents for the zarpe
- Current vessel Registration Certificate ·
- Completed crew roll (skipper + crew + passengers) ·
- Skipper's nautical licence valid for the declared navigation zone ·
- Verified safety equipment list ·
- Declaration of destination and estimated arrival date ·
Electronic zarpe is available on the Directemar portal (directemar.cl) for recreational vessels at most Chilean ports. The system allows requesting departure clearance up to 48 hours in advance and receiving it by email. Some remote port authority offices still use an in-person process.
3. The Crew Roll
The crew roll is the document that records everyone on board before sailing. It's similar to an aircraft's passenger list — in the event of an accident, it identifies who was on board and guides search and rescue operations.
The roll is updated at the Port Authority when requesting the zarpe. It must include the full name, national ID or passport number, date of birth and nationality of every person on board, including the skipper. Foreign crew members require a passport number.
Crew changes underway: if crew members join or leave the vessel at an intermediate port during the voyage, you must notify the local Port Authority and update the roll. This procedure at remote ports in southern Chile can be complicated — plan it in advance.
Registering a foreign-flagged boat in Chile
If you bought your vessel outside Chile, the Chilean registration process requires a prior step: customs clearance. You will need to pay duties and VAT on the CIF value (cost + insurance + freight) of the vessel. Then, with the customs documents plus the foreign title of ownership (apostilled or legalised), you begin the registration process at Directemar.
There is also the option of sailing under foreign registration in Chilean waters for limited periods (generally up to 90 days per year) under the "foreign vessel on recreational visit" scheme. But to be based in Chile permanently with your vessel, Chilean registration is required.
Renewal, transfer and cancellation of registration
Renewal: carried out annually at the original Port Authority. Requires proof that safety equipment is current and payment of applicable dues. An expired registration is equivalent to no registration — the vessel cannot sail.
Transfer (sale): when selling the vessel, buyer and seller must appear at the Port Authority to formalise the change of ownership, with a notarised purchase deed. Until the transfer is processed, the original owner retains legal responsibility.
Cancellation: if the vessel is lost, destroyed or permanently exported, the registration is cancelled at the Port Authority with supporting documents.