Any problems with Channel Islands regitered boats?

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dinwood

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We've bought a boat registered in Guernsey and have been worried by what we've read in various pilot books regarding entering EU countries. The books say that Guernsey is outside the EU and entering each new country is more hassle than with a UK registered boat. The Guernsey registrar says the boat is on part 1 of the British ships registry and nobody in the EU should ask for any extra formality.
Do any of you know the real score?
 
I once crewed on a Guernsey registered boat in Holland.
There were no specific problems but most harbourmaster's ears pricked up & took special interest in checking paperwork was in order. This was not something I've experienced with UK registerd yachts.
I guess you might expect a bit more interest from the authorities so make sure all your paperwork is correct and up to date.
 
Never had any problems in France or the UK with my boat. They may take extra notice in the Med area.
Guernsey have retained the blue book, a positive advantage, the office is on the quay in St P P and very helpful. If I ever had a new boat I would register it Part 1 in Guernsey.
 
I would have thought you would need to be a Guernsey resident to register a yacht there? It would seem from the above that I am wrong.

You certainly need to be a UK resident to register a yacht here on Part I.
 
There's VAT of course. Are you basing her in Guernsey or in UK/EU?

If she's UK/EU VAT paid then this won't be problem provided you carry the usual evidence.

If she isn't UK/EU VAT paid, you'll have to be careful not to import her into UK or EU by accident, or you'll have to stump up the VAT. If you are going to import her into the EU, you may want to choose the country that give you the best deal VAT-rate wise.

E & OE. Not qualified to give legal advice!
 
just take it off Part 1 > You own it !
There is no requirement to be so registered, though for EU travel some registration would be advisable. You could put it on SSR for about £25, I think.
 
Friend of mine has a Guernsey registered boat.

He sailed it from Swansea to Turkey last year. Only problem was in Greek Waters. They would only give him a 30 day visa. He had to get the boat out of Greek waters then.

But its easy enough to re-register.

All other EU countries and Morocco were no problem.

If you want to talk to him direct, pm me.
 
Thanks for all your comments. I was told that it would cost £75 altogether to de-register in Guernsey (which SSR require) then to re-register on the SSR. Guernsey were adament that it is British registered therefore no UE country can ask for additional formalities, as long as it has arrived from another EU country. The guy who could only get a 30day visa in Greece has a different experience! I assume he didn't sail straight from Guernsey to Greece?
I think I'm going to remove the work Guernsey from the transom and hope for the best.
 
[ QUOTE ]
just take it off Part 1 > You own it !
There is no requirement to be so registered, though for EU travel some registration would be advisable. You could put it on SSR for about £25, I think.

[/ QUOTE ]

Might be no requirement to be registered in the UK but there certainly is elsewhere in the EU. You would be fined by the French if you arrived in an uinregistered boat.

Not much point taking Guernsey off the transom - you have to fly the Guernsey flag anyway.
 
A boat registered in Guernsey can be VAT Paid or VAT unpaid.

If the boat is non Vat paid and the owner is not an EU resident no problem ( except that after a long time in that EU country 18months ? VAT may be due, take the boat out of the EU then return) .

If the boat is VAT paid irrespective of the owners domicile no problem .

Perhaps i have missed something ?

The problem is with the owners status.

I understand that If the boat is not VAT paid and the owner is not ordinarily domiciled outside the EU if he then enters an EU port he will be liable for VAT.

I understand that the exception is very old boats Pre VAT introduction which are assumed to be VAT Paid.

In theory a Guernsey registered boat should not Fly A Guernsey flag outside the Channel Islands but they all do, they should fly the ordinary red duster.
 
Just ensure that the port of registry displayed on her stern is a recognised British mainland port. Customs cutters patrol the coast and do visit marinas and will take an interest if your vessel shows a Channel Island port.

j
 
Unless it has been de registered it is Part 1 Registered in Guernsey and is obliged to show Guernsey as the port of registry.

I Understand that if the boat is not VAT Paid and the owner is ordinarialy domiciled in the EU he/she is liable to pay VAT on the boat in the first EU port they arrive in or where the boat is based.

If the boat is not VAT paid and the Owner is ordinarily an EU resident you can paint what port of registry on the transom you want but you will not have the VAT paid invoice to back it up and will be liable to pay VAT.
 
A bit of confusion on this thread I feel. Guernsey is a British Port of Registry, which means you fly the Red Ensign. In 15 years no-one in the UK has shown the slightest interest in my Guernsey registration. Guernsey is a member of the REG - Red Ensign Group and regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. I would not be tempted to remove the port of registry, this would cause interest and bracket you with groups with far darker intentions.
As I said before if you go down to the Med things may be different. Partly because they are less familiar with the concept of Guernsey as a Crown Dependency, partly because they may have never heard of the place and partly because of Dell Boy types trying to evade the payment of VAT. If your VAT documents are in good order I would not worry.
If it were me I would be very keen to keep up Part 1 registration, it establishes a clear boat history and would be almost vital when it comes to selling a boat of your type into the best market.
 
Yes, for movement into other states the port of registry is irrelevant. However, if the boat is "put on the market" in the EU then it must have a CE mark (ie comply with the RCD) and pay VAT and duty if it is brought in from outside the EU. Read the guidance on the RYA site on the subject.
 
Re: Any problems with Channel Islands registered boats?

Sounds like we've done this to death, so thanks for all your input.
For completeness: we're VAT paid, British part 1 registered (albeit in Guernsey), we fly the red ensign and are UK citizens with no current plans of selling the boat. We're going to remove "Guernsey" from the stern and await developments as we enter each new country!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Friend of mine has a Guernsey registered boat.

He sailed it from Swansea to Turkey last year. Only problem was in Greek Waters. They would only give him a 30 day visa. He had to get the boat out of Greek waters then.

But its easy enough to re-register.

All other EU countries and Morocco were no problem.

If you want to talk to him direct, pm me.

[/ QUOTE ]

The fact the Greeks were probably wrong is of course no help in practice /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif But maybe Mr Greek got confused with the immigration status of the indigenous Channel Island folk not having the right to work or live in the EU (stamped in our passports - "British Citizen - 2nd Class").


The main "downside" to be being registered in the CI is probably want to make sure your VAT paperwork is in order. For some reason folk in these parts have reputational issues on the tax front /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif But being a Brit based Brit should make this less of an issue......plus I think Gsy Reg gets you 10 years, plus a blue book /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif - even if a crappy flag /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Mine is registered in the UK mainland /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
Re: Any problems with Channel Islands registered boats?

You have no need to remove Guernsey from the transom. You have to have it there because that is your port of registry! Not sure why you are so bothered. You may get additional attention in French ports near CI because they are looking for non-VAT paid boats trying to take up permanent residence in France without paying VAT! Again the issue in Greece is more likely to be to do with the status of the crew - or a misunderstanding, common in Greece. Your registration status is largely irrelevant for things to do with free movement in the EU.
 
Re: Any problems with Channel Islands registered boats?

There are no problems with Guernsey registered boats in the Mediterranean. We have been sailing here for over a decade without difficulties.

As a matter of fact the UK register itself is the largest yachting 'flag of convenience' and you certainly do not have to be a resident of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to own a UK registered ship.
 
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