Poignard
Well-Known Member
No. When the UK was an EU Member State boats were bought and sold easily . I know at least two people who re-flagged boats they bought in France.
Re-flagging under the Irish Registry
- Thread starter Poignard
- Start date
Irish Rover
Well-Known Member
I have to say I agree with GHA. I believe there will be plenty of UK flagged boats in the EU after 01/01/21 and I can't see there being any great hassle from the national authorities in France or elsewhere. It would be advisable to have something to prove your VAT paid status and your actual presence in the EU on 01/01/21 but beyond that I think the cost and trouble of getting on the Irish register is not really worth it - much and all as I'd delight in seeing lots of our tricolours all over Europe. In my experience most people buying a boat re-register to their own flag so as long as your boat is EU VAT paid selling in France should be no problem.
Irish Rover
Well-Known Member
The following eligible to register in Ireland
����
| c) an Irish citizen; | ||
| (d) a national of another Member State or an EEA state; | ||
| (e) a body corporate established under and subject to the law of another Member State or an EEA state; | ||
| (f) an Irish body corporate; and | ||
| (g) a non EEA state national residing in the State, except that such person may not register a fishing boat on the Register. |
GHA
Well-Known Member
You're only going to sell to someone who wants a boat which is registered in Ireland?
Poignard
Well-Known Member
"Who is entitled to register a ship under this Act, ie a “qualified person”?
- The Government
- A Minister of State (Irish);
- A national of an EU Member State;
- A body corporate of an EU Member State having its principal place of business in a Member State;
- A citizen or body corporate of a “Reciprocating State”, currently -
- The United Kingdom and Colonies (SI. 263/1955),
- New Zealand & Pakistan (SI. 184/1958 & SI 189/1968),
- Canada (SI. 299/1961)."
Poignard
Well-Known Member
No, I can sell her to anyone anywhere, and always have been able to, but a boat registered in an EU Member State must be a more attractive proposition to a potential buyer in another Member State than one registered in a 'third country'.
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It'd be a way to make the import duties less ambiguous.
Irish Rover
Well-Known Member
As I've said already I really don't think it's worth the hassle. Most buyers will want their own country flag and most EU states have much more user friendly registration systems than Ireland.
GHA
Well-Known Member
Poignard
Well-Known Member
I was wrong about that SI. It was revoked by the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014. I don't know why and I am trying to find out whether it was replaced by a later SI containing a "Reciprocating State" clause
Poignard
Well-Known Member
On the contrary, it is because I don't know the future and behaviour of the people in our Government at all well that I am looking into re-flagging!You seem to know the future and behaviour of people extremely well.....
GHA
Well-Known Member
On the contrary, it is because I don't know the future and behaviour of the people in our Government at all well that I am looking into re-flagging!
So lots of hassle based on pure guesswork...
Your boat, your call
Poignard
Well-Known Member
There is no hassle if I pay someone to do it for me.
So lots of hassle based on pure guesswork...
Your boat, your call
The hassle, if there is to be any hassle, comes if they don't!
Which leads me neatly back to the OP, in which I asked if anyone had dealt with the particular firm I mentioned. A question that remains unanswered!
However, I have had many very helpful answers to questions I didn't ask; including some that I perhaps ought to have asked!
But that's OK because one of the beauties of this forum is getting the views of others, and having things brought to one's attention that might have been overlooked.
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Not to English speakers. Most of them are in foreignish, and some EU states require local qualifications for crew on their flag.
As I understand it, Ireland's leisure quals are very similar to the RYA's system.
Irish Rover
Well-Known Member
I think the wheel is hard to port here or, in other words, we're going around in circles. My point was in reply to Poignard who was talking about selling his boat to another person in an EU member state and I said they'd most likely want their own country flag. Surely most people can speak their native language?
By the way to the best of my knowledge Ireland doesn't have any formal qualification requirements for operating a private leisure boat. You do however require a ships radio licence assuming you have a vhf and the procedure for obtaining one is a good bit more complicated thaan in the UK.
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
If your main objective is to keep the boat EU registered and the boat is currently in France, why not register the boat in France?
What's to be gained by registering in Ireland vs French registry?
Sounds to me like the Irish tonnage survey can only be arranged in Ireland.
As the boat is in France (and we can't go anywhere), surely this complicates things even more.
Irish Rover
Well-Known Member
Not so. Can be done anywhere in the world as long as there is an approved surveyor available. I had mine done in Turkey.
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
I stand corrected.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
That is a very good point.
The immediate attractions of registering in Ireland are:
- We share a common language. My French is not much better than 'get by' standard, and I would have to employ a translator if i did the paperwork myself, or an agent if I didn't.
- Should any question of law arise, Irish law more closely resembles our law than does French law.
- There is, as far as I know, no reciprocity arrangement existing between the French and British Registries as regards persons qualified to register vessels.
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
Well, if I have not missed anything in previous posts, it was your intention to use an agent in Ireland...
True, but the legal system in most continental EU countries is based on Napolionc Law - just like in France.
And if you are looking to sell in Europe...
Info here: Immatriculation d'un bateau de plaisance (pour la navigation en mer)
I am not arguing in favour of French registration - don't see how I could since I did not register in France myself.
However, being a kind of lazy I always look for the easiest solution.
Since you own a French based boat, French registration seemed like the most obvious route to me.
Good luck with your endeavours - whichever route you go down.
