Which term describes the owner who holds the legal title to the vessel?

Which term describes the owner who holds the legal title to the vessel?

• A. Head Owner
• B. Disponent Owner
• C. Charterer
• D. Broker

Answer: (A)

The owner who holds legal title to the vessel is the head owner. In shipping practice, the head owner is the person or company listed as the legal owner of the ship, responsible for registration, title, and long‑term ownership liabilities. The disponent owner, by contrast, is the party that operates the vessel under a charter and may control daily navigation and voyage operations, but the legal title remains with the head owner. The charterer is the party who enters the charter agreement to use the vessel, and the broker is simply an intermediary. So the term describing the owner with the legal title is the head owner.

The owner who holds legal title to the vessel is the head owner. In shipping practice, the head owner is the person or company listed as the legal owner of the ship, responsible for registration, title, and long‑term ownership liabilities. The disponent owner, by contrast, is the party that operates the vessel under a charter and may control daily navigation and voyage operations, but the legal title remains with the head owner. The charterer is the party who enters the charter agreement to use the vessel, and the broker is simply an intermediary. So the term describing the owner with the legal title is the head owner.