Foreign flagged boats in Portuguese waters

Hello All, Just joined the forum. I Captain/Co-Own a 2005 Sunseeker 82 that is commercially coded under the MCA and operating under the UK Flag. Just finishing off a season running from Southampton (Ocean Village) before wintering the yacht in Plymouth over the winter. Next spring we will be basing the yacht either in Vilamoura (If we can get a berth) or Portimao for the charter season.
We have signed a contract with a local charter company based in Vilamoura and will be operating under their charter licence. I have a VAT paid certificate for the yacht but will probably pursue the T2L as a safety net.
Although coded under the MCA I have been told that prior to commercial operations in Portugal they will need to carry out a hull inspection and a few other slightly different regulations.
 
CHESS said:
Hello All, Just joined the forum. I Captain/Co-Own a 2005 Sunseeker 82 that is commercially coded under the MCA and operating under the UK Flag. Just finishing off a season running from Southampton (Ocean Village) before wintering the yacht in Plymouth over the winter. Next spring we will be basing the yacht either in Vilamoura (If we can get a berth) or Portimao for the charter season.
We have signed a contract with a local charter company based in Vilamoura and will be operating under their charter licence. I have a VAT paid certificate for the yacht but will probably pursue the T2L as a safety net.
Although coded under the MCA I have been told that prior to commercial operations in Portugal they will need to carry out a hull inspection and a few other slightly different regulations.
Click to expand...
Yes, you will be running a business there. As you arranged a charter licence, you won't need to set up a company there but all the formalities that apply to local charterers apply to you: safety, surveys, taxes. Same as a British chain opening a restaurant in Portimao.
 
I think they are working on stopping that.Having had a yacht in Spain for several years I decided to sell and many years later bought and sailed a yacht in the UK,now sold,the Spanish loved their forms and inspections and lists of stuff there again historically maritime matters have always been under control from Madrid...........hence the disaster of the Armarda??
 
CHESS said:
Next spring we will be basing the yacht either in Vilamoura (If we can get a berth) or Portimao for the charter season.
We have signed a contract with a local charter company based in Vilamoura and will be operating under their charter licence. I have a VAT paid certificate for the yacht but will probably pursue the T2L as a safety net.
Click to expand...

If you don't arrive until next year, the boat will have lost its EU VAT status and will have to leave for a short period after 18 months and you will of course be limited to 90 days in 180.

T2L will be obsolete next year as UK goods won't be in free movement and UK VAT advise that any issued before 31/12 will most likely be invalid afterwards.

Don't know what the coding rules are but have conflicting information. A guy with a UK coded 44ft Trader powerboat was refused permission to operate but another with a UK coded yacht does RYA courses. Maybe the difference is where they advertise for customers and whether the yacht skipper is under the radar. As you will not be an EU resident or citizen next year and the boat won't be EU registered or VAT paid, suggest you do some homework as it could be difficult.
 
Does anyone know what the additional requirements are or an MCA Coded commercial motor yacht to be accepted by the Portuguese authorities? I have heard it is just a few extra flares but would be good to know while I still have the yacht in the UKso I can prepare for their specific commercial survey next year.
 
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