Decree-Law No. 51/96 of 26 December 1996 establishing the Cape Verde International Shipping Register (CVR).

This Decree-Law establishes the Cape Verde International Shipping Register (CVR). It provides for the administration and services of the Register as well as the legal aspects pertaining to vessels, such as tax regimes, inspection, classification of vessels, crew, labour conditions and marking of registered vessels. The text consists of 33 articles divided into 8 chapters: International Shipping Register of Cape Verde (Chap. I); Exercise of activities (II); Acts of purchase, sale, lease, mortgage, etc., of vessels (III); Registration of vessels (IV); Technical conditions for vessels (V); Hiring of crew and working conditions (VI); Tax regime (VII); Final and transitional provisions (VIII). Chapter II prescribes conditions for registration of vessels as a national entity or foreign entity in the CVR. National entity is defined in article 2 as an entity whose main activity or registered office is in Cape Verde. Foreign entity is an entity regularly established or created outside of Cape Verde, whose main activity or registered office is in a foreign country. The first chapter also defines: entity , ship owner , operator and vessel . Foreign entities desiring to register vessels of which they are the owners (or the charterers) must have a local administration, delegation, office, or any other form of representation, by which they guarantee full representation to the local authorities or third parties. The administrative members of an entity may have a different nationality or residence other than Cape Verdean. The CVR shall verify: the registering of commercial, fishing and recreational vessels; the technical conditions of vessels in accordance with international agreements, etc. (art. 5). CVR- registered vessels will fly the flag of Cape Verde (art. 6), and may not benefit from support or protective measures, such as those reserved to Cape Verdean ships registered in the conventional Register.