Bahamas Flag Vessels
1,127 vessels registered under the Bahamas flag
Bahamas Maritime Fleet Overview
Bahamas has 1,127 registered vessels tracked on MarineRadar. The fleet primarily consists of Cargo (453), Tanker (193), Passenger (138), Other (97) and Unknown (29). Track all Bahamas-flagged ships with live AIS positions and real-time maritime data.
About the Bahamas Flag
Registry Authority
The Bahamas flag is administered by the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA), an independent statutory body with offices in Nassau, London, New York, Hong Kong, and Greece. Established in its current form in 1995, the BMA flag is among the world's top ten registries by gross tonnage, with around 1,500 vessels.
Why Ships Register in the Bahamas
The Bahamas combines open-registry economics with a strong common-law legal framework inherited from the United Kingdom. Shipping income is tax-free, registration is straightforward, and the BMA has built a particular reputation for cruise-ship and large-yacht regulation — many of the world's largest cruise vessels first registered in the Bahamas. The flag holds Paris MOU and US Qualship 21 white-list status.
Notable Operators
Royal Caribbean International, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and a substantial share of Norwegian Cruise Line tonnage fly the Bahamas flag. The BMA is also the registry of choice for many of the world's largest superyachts above 500 GT.
Trade Routes
Bahamas-flagged cruise ships dominate Caribbean itineraries from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, and Galveston, plus Mediterranean and Northern European seasonal deployments. Bahamas-flagged tankers and bulkers, while a smaller share of the fleet, run typical deep-sea routes including Atlantic and Indian Ocean trades.
Track every Bahamas-flagged vessel from your phone
Filter 1,127 Bahamas ships by type, watch their journeys, and get alerts on the move.