The Maltese Merchant Shipping Act, 1973 provides for both bareboat charter registration of foreign ships under Malta Flag (Bareboat-in) and also for the bareboat charter registration of Maltese ship out to a foreign registry. The principal eligibility criteria for bareboat charter registration is the compatibility of the two ship registries. Issues relating to title over the vessel and mortgages continue to be governed by the underlying registry, whilst matters connected with the operation and management of the vessel are regulated by the bareboat charter registry.