ITB certificate

[captaindan]

Hi gents

so I have been to espanoila to look at a boat and it has the ITB certificate dated valid till 2016. Now the other boats i have looked at in spain do not have this certificate even though they are in spain but they are on the med not northern spain. Now does anyone know weather this certificate is required by law or is a voulantary thing or does not apply in the med but does maybe in galicia northern spain as i find it strange that the first couple of boats i looked at didnt have this. any information on this would be greatly appreciated

thanks

Danny

 

[pan]

I have never heard of this, what 'flag' is it registered under? Is there any extended description for the initials ITB?

 

[captaindan]

sorry, I am a div

the boat is Portuguese registered flag but is kept in northern Spain I do not have any wording for the abbreviation but when looking through the paperwork the broker said this was a compulsory certificate which every five years has to be renewed which had a long list of things that had been tested on it. I will call him tomorrow and get some more info.
I am now wondering if it is compulsory for a Portuguese flagged registered boat as that would make a bit more sense

 

[Tranona]

Yes. Portuguese registry requires a compulsory 5 year survey. Not relevant if you are changing to UK registration.

 

[captaindan]

ok so it is Portuguese laws and not spanish law in your opinions would you still get a boat survey (I am going to get one but am having trouble finding a surveyor in the area any help will be appreciated). carried out on it or would you think that its sufficient enough

 

[Tranona]

Your decision. The two surveys have different purposes. You need to check what the "official" one actually checks. You have no comeback if it is wrong unlike a survey you commission. A lot can happen to a boat in the three years since its last survey, so perhaps you just take that as useful history rather than base your purchase decision on it.

 

[captaindan]

well this is exactly what i thought might have to get someone from uk to look as im struggling to find even a spanish survey company at the moment. I cant believe that in the south of Spain they are ten a penny and in the north they are don't even exist lol

 

[Tranona]

If the boat has any real value then perhaps worth flying a surveyor out from UK and having your contract with him under UK law.