bureaucracy

[martinschulz]

I am afraid I am entangled in bureaucracy-problems the last months.
The Problem is:
I am german and own an englisch built small (24') yacht. The yacht was registered at the mca probably from the beginning. The owner before me obviously wasn't interessted in having the yacht registered (which is not obligatory over here) and didn't pay the fee to keep the ship registered and if one doesn't pay for 2 years the registry expires. The fee to have the Yacht registered again(of course with the original Name and Number – which is still known at the mca) is about 115 Pound. But that is still not the main problem. Although the mca has the data of the yacht still in there archives, they want a new "Application to register a british Ship" and a verification who owned the yacht the last 5 years as well as a new survey of the yacht by a registered surveyor.
The first two things I can handle, but the surveyor-thing gives me serious problems. Since I live in Germany my yacht is here as well. And I can't afford a surveyor to fly here to inspect my boat.
Has anybody an idea?
Is there a chance that the mca will except a a survey by a german surveyor?

 

[Twister_Ken]

>Is there a chance that the mca will except a a survey by a german surveyor?<

I'd be astonished if they didn't - it would almost cetainly be in contrvention of one European law or directive, if not more. The only problem would be to establish the competency of the surveyor. If you used someone registered with Germanischer Lloyd or similar, it shouldn't be a problem.

Problem is more likely to be that the yacht is owned by a German and kept in Germany. Why, therefore, should it be on the British Register?

 

[martinschulz]

Germanischer Lloyd

Well, of course I tried the "Germanischer Lloyd" on this matter. But they couldn't help me because they only do large merchant vessels, fishing vessels and vessels above 13metres.

The reason to have the Yacht registered in the UK is to fly the red duster as a tribute to the english heritage of the yacht.
Hey – the boat even has the registration number and tonnage embossed in its first deckhead beam.

 

[Chris_Stannard]

Try contacting the RYA who have lists of registered surveyors, you never know there may be one in Gemany or you might be able to meet one who is cuising in Holland.

Contacts are
email: cruising@rya.org.uk
Website: http://www.rya.org.uk/cruising.asp
The survey is to establish the tonnage of the yacht, not its seaworthiness.

Good luck

Chris Stannard

 

[Guest]

I'm not 100% certain but I think the majority owner of a British Registered ship or boat has to be either British or live in the UK.

If this is correct (and I stress that I may be 100% wrong) surveying becomes academic (i.e. as a German living in Germany you won't be able to register it as a British ship with you as the owner anyway).

Best regards (

Ian D

 

[martinschulz]

sovereignty

Nope - sorry Ian if I hurt any feelings of national pride in sovereignty (at least I am not proposing the metric system or the "Hitler-Euro" )
but I don't have to be a proper UK citizen, or live in the UK to have my ship registered in the UK. There are quite a few ships I know who are registered in Jersey (of course for tax reasons). All I have to care for is an address of a representative in the UK where the mca can sent legal documents if necessary.