ABSTRACT
In the majority of shipbuilding projects, the vessel’s name has not been chosen by the buyer at the time the contract is signed. Both in the contract itself and in correspondence between the parties during the construction period, the newbuilding will accordingly be identified by reference to a hull or project number given to her by the builder. In those countries in which it is possible to register ownership interests in a newbuilding under construction, the hull number will form a vital element of the register entry. The contract and specifications will normally require that the society’s rules and requirements be strictly observed throughout the course of the vessel’s construction and that the agreed notation be obtained prior to delivery. In contractual terms, responsibility for ensuring that the vessel’s construction and outfitting comply with the agreed regulatory requirements will almost invariably rest with the builder.
