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United Kingdom
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Key definition
Priority definition

What does Priority mean? Priority describes the order in which competing proprietary rights and security interests take effect against an asset and the sequence in which secured creditors are paid on enforcement or insolvency. It is a cross‑context concept informed by statute and case law (for example, land registration legislation, companies legislation on registration of charges, and equitable rules on notice). In practice, priority is usually set by time and method of perfection: creation and registration of mortgages/standard securities over land (e.g. under the Land Registration Act 2002 in England and Wales and the 2012 Scottish legislation), registration of company charges (at Companies House under...

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UK Ship Register: ship mortgage registration, priority rules and priority notices; comparison with Companies House and consequences of failure to register

Practice notes
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Registration can have an important effect on the priority of competing security interests

In broad terms, two registration frameworks exist:

  • recording against the secured asset; and
  • recording against the person granting the security

This Practice Note deals with the former, where the collateral is a ship on the UK register. It provides a concise overview of the statutory regime for ship mortgages and then sets out how registration influences the ranking of competing security interests over vessels.

For guidance on how filing against other asset classes affects priority, see the following Practice Notes:

  • Effect of registering security at hm land registry or the Land Charges Department on priority of security interests
  • Effect of registering security on the UK Register of Aircraft Mortgages on priority of security interests
  • Effect of registering security at the IP registries on priority of security interests

Note that most security interests created by a company incorporated and registered under the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006) require registration at companies house to be effective...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

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I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...

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