Buying Spanish flagged boat and changing to SSR

[davethedog]

Hi all,

Hoping to look at a boat in the next few weeks that is Spanish flagged, if all good and as it appears from the phone calls and messages and pictures/videos we have made between ourselves and the broker we would likely purchase it.

The boat is currently Spanish flagged and we would want to change this to UK flagged, SSR part 3.

Anyone done this and how easy (likely difficult) was it?

Thanks

DTD

 

[Tranona]

It is up to the seller to remove it from the Spanish register and deliver the boat to you free of any encumbrances - although in reality it is the broker that handles this. in theory if you qualify as a UK resident according to the SSR rules then you can immediately go on line and register the boat, or even as I did before the boat was finally transferred to me. However if you are not resident (and it is not the same as tax residence) you will have to register on Part 1. The rules (and implementation) have been tightened recently and Part 3 is not intended for long term voyages but for UK based boats owned by UK residents making short trips outside UK territorial waters.

Part 1 is not as onerous as you might think for a boat that was on the Spanish register as it will likely come with sufficient evidence of title and there are nominated surveyors in Spain or the Canaries who can do the survey. Part 1 is a register of title as well as being totally acceptable wherever you go so well worth having in your situation.

 

[Whiterose]

If you are bringing it to UK then you have he VAT issue ..keeping it in Spain much better to be Part 1 registered ..however It is easier SSR very easy ..I have boat in Spain part 1 ..I am UK resident in all ways.Severalof my Spanish boat owning friends prefer to have their boats registered in another EU country.

 

[davethedog]

Would want to put the boat on SSR part 3, not part one, and keep her in Spain until end of this year and then likely head off to the carribean.

Going to message the boat owner tomorrow to get his opinion, as this would be a private sale and no broker involved.

 

[Tranona]

Would want to put the boat on SSR part 3, not part one, and keep her in Spain until end of this year and then likely head off to the carribean.

Going to message the boat owner tomorrow to get his opinion, as this would be a private sale and no broker involved.

Why do you want it on SSR - even if you qualify? If you are off to the Caribbean you will not qualify anyway as you have to be established in the UK. Not wanting to pick an argument but the SSR is simply not suitable for that sort of boat usage - even if it was used in that way in the past by people starting from the UK with an SSR registered boat and for some finding it difficult to renew when they are no longer resident.

If you are buying direct from the owner it is his responsibility to remove it from the register and provide you with the deregistration documents.