The Swiss fleet now consists of 40 merchant vessels with a dead weight of 1 million tonnes. This is about one pro mille of global tonnage. It consists of bulk good freighters, container ships, multi-purpose freighters, asphalt and product tankers. These ships operate throughout the world as required. The fleet is run by six shipping companies who are required to have their headquarters in Switzerland. The shipping company management must periodically report to the representations abroad (embassies consulates), which approve the signing on and signing off of ship crews. The company owners provide weekly information about the current locations of Swiss ocean-going vessels.

The responsibilities of the SMNO for commercial vessels are as follows:

• Monitoring of compliance with the legal requirements by the shipping companies
• Issuance of the clearance certificate (vehicle licence for ships)
• Monitoring of compliance with regulations concerning construction, security, equipment and protection of the environment. Technical and administrative controls are carried out on company premises and aboard ship by recognised classification companies and by the Swiss Maritime Navigation Office
• Monitoring of compliance with labour regulations for the crew
• Issuance of the seaman's record book for Swiss crew members
• Issuance of endorsements of foreign identity papers and certificates in accordance with the International Convention of 1978 on Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STWC)
• Preparation of ratification documentation for international conventions concerning seafaring
• Reporting of offences committed on Swiss ships and decision-making on appeals against disciplinary measures
• Representing Switzerland in the relevant international organisations
• Collaborating in the drafting of technical and commercial regulations and international measures in the maritime sphere

Swiss Maritime Navigation Office SMNO
Elisabethenstrasse 33 
P.O. Box
CH-4010 Basel

Tel.: +41 (0)61 270 91 20, 
Field yachts: +41 (0)61 270 91 26
Fax: +41 (0)61 270 91 29
E-mail:  dv-ssa@eda.admin.ch
Internet:  www.smno.ch