Dept. of Marine Services & Merchant Shipping (ADOMS)

Based at the corner of Popeshead and Dickenson Bay Streets in St. John's, the Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping — known internationally as ADOMS — serves as the Maritime Administration of Antigua and Barbuda. Established in 1986, it provides the support of a quality registry to a demanding clientele operating in an internationally competitive and dynamic industry, offering competitive fiscal and other incentives to meet the needs of shipowners while applying modern standards of safety and efficiency. ADOMS represents a cohesive body underpinned by modern national legislation that enforces international requirements across the full range of ship activities. Antigua and Barbuda ranks within the top twenty international ship registries worldwide and holds a particularly strong position in the ranking of merchant ship registries — a testament to the administration's commitment to quality and continuous development. The administration operates from three offices: the principal office in St. John's, Antigua, and two branch offices in Oldenburg and Bremerhaven, Germany. Together these locations allow ADOMS to provide technical services and client support across multiple time zones. An expansion of its global presence is also underway, with additional regional offices being established in key maritime hubs to further enhance service delivery. In 2009 the Government of Antigua and Barbuda mandated ADOMS to diversify its product range, and in November 2011 the Antigua and Barbuda Mega Yacht Registry was formally launched — complementing the already successful commercial ship registry and broadening the services available to the international maritime community. Beyond registration, ADOMS administers seafarer certification and endorsements, surveys and inspections, casualty investigations, port State control inspections, maritime security, and domestic vessel services covering the licensing and regulation of small pleasure craft and commercial vessels operating in Antiguan waters. Contact us today for further information on registration, certification or any of the department's maritime services.