British Registry - worthwhile?

MM5AHO

MM5AHO

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Got a note from MCA saying that British registry has expired and so ceased to be valid. But if we want to re-register we should do so.

What's any advantage of having a pleasure yacht registered as a British Ship?
Is it worthwhile to renew this?
 
Registration proves nationality. In short if your vessel is registered as a British ship it means that you sail under UK maritime law and not that of the country whose waters you happen to be sailing in.

I suppose if you are not going to venture outside of the UK it is irrelevant unless of course you want to raise finance against your boat then part one registration is proof of title.
 
If you are not raising finance against the boat, then SSR might achieve the same ends as proving registration on the British register.

I am waiting for my Part 1 to expire next year and then will go back to SSR. Saves the cost of re-registration and measurement for Pt 1
 
MM5AHO said:
Got a note from MCA saying that British registry has expired and so ceased to be valid. But if we want to re-register we should do so.

What's any advantage of having a pleasure yacht registered as a British Ship?
Is it worthwhile to renew this?
Click to expand...
There is plenty of information on Registers on both the RYA and MCA sites.

If you are going abroad it is essential to have the boat on one of the registers. Then the choice is which. If the boat is already on the Part 1 register it makes sense to continue the registration. Although the renewal is more (£50 every 5 years instead of £25) it give the additional advantage over Part 3 of being a record of ownership. This can be very useful when selling the boat as the potential purchaser can get a record of confirmed ownership. It also enables the raising of secured finance as a mortgage can be registered against the boat. If you do not renew this and you subsequently want to re register on Part 1 there is additional expense of getting it re measured.

On the other hand if the registration is on the Part 3 register, it is only confirming the nationality of the boat, not ownership. Perfectly adequate for travelling abroad.
 
MM5AHO said:
What's any advantage of having a pleasure yacht registered as a British Ship?
Is it worthwhile to renew this?
Click to expand...
Two types of registration.

Part I proved title, and enables mortgages against the value of the ship, and proves the ship's nationality.

Part III is accepted by other nations as proof of the ship's nationality, but proves nothing.

If you are going to travel outside the UK you'd be riskiing a fine if you didn't have one or the other, the risk depending on the country.

See http://www.jimbsail.info/drupal/going-foreign/docs-and-VAT for up to date information on these matters.
 
michaelchapman said:
You might consider registering it in Belgium.
Easy to do, and very few requirements.

A lot of French do that.
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That is a peculiar advice to a British resident/citizen. Belgium might be attractive for some burocratic Med countries, but you need not to get that far if you are resident in the UK.
 
haydude said:
That is a peculiar advice to a British resident/citizen. Belgium might be attractive for some burocratic Med countries, but you need not to get that far if you are resident in the UK.
Click to expand...

As a UK resident you can register there.
Has some advantages if you want to charter (less onerous than MCA coding).
 
stiknstring said:
If you are not raising finance against the boat, then SSR might achieve the same ends as proving registration on the British register.

I am waiting for my Part 1 to expire next year and then will go back to SSR. Saves the cost of re-registration and measurement for Pt 1
Click to expand...

You do not need to re-measure; you just need to complete the renewal form and pay £50.00 for five years registration.

IMO, for £10.00 per year Part 1 Registry should be maintained. All the hard and expensive work has already been done.

Should you sell the vessel the continuity of Part 1 registration may be important to some.
 
chinita said:
You do not need to re-measure; you just need to complete the renewal form and pay £50.00 for five years registration.

IMO, for £10.00 per year Part 1 Registry should be maintained. All the hard and expensive work has already been done.

Should you sell the vessel the continuity of Part 1 registration may be important to some.
Click to expand...

You do if the registration has lapsed, but not in straight renewal or change of ownership. Agree should keep it up if possible.
 
Do you get a reminder?

I registered the change of ownership, and it will be 5 years since I did so, I better check the Part I papers which are on the boat.
 
I have part1 registration.No quibbles internationaly.Port /customs officials are familiar with the form and goes very smoothly.I don't have to paint a number on my hull but do have a carved wooden plate on an interior bulkhead.That said I have met many yachts with ssr and they do not seem to have problems.It is certain that you need to produce one or other in every country/port when sailing internationaly.Insurance is also required in most places
 
Every overseas authority you seem to hear of accepts SSR. The only note of disapproval (a very passive one, in practice) comes from the MCA, which regards it as for "occasional trips overseas". Popping off to Greece for three years isn't their idea of an occasional trip.

Apart from the greater proofs afforded by Part 1, it also, according to the MCA, guarantees consular assistance. This is potentially a considerable benefit (if only you could trust the consular service to honour the promise).

FWIW my boat happened to be Part 1 when I bought her. I could see no reason to change. Renewal was straightforward.
 
Changing Country of Registration

A sort of related question?
I've had a look a a couple of boats in Belgium and Germany. If I bought one do I need to re-registered in UK or if I don't need to is it prudent to do so?
 
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