Register a Yacht Under Maltese Flag (Need Advise

[Talestree]

Hello Colleagues,

Just wondering about boating in Malta and if anybody has any knowledge about registering it there. Are there any piculiarities and have you felt difference (advantages) from it?

 

[anajoy38]

Procedure seems to be not easy.

Boat registration for commercial purposes involves establishing a company in Malta as owner of the vessel. Boats are provisionally registered for six months under the Malta flag before all documentation is finalized.

The documents required for boat registration in Malta are:

- a power of attorney for vessel registration under the Maltese flag,
- an application form,
- a declaration of ownership for the Ship Registry,
- a builder’s certificate for new vessels,
- for vessels over 24 meters long: an international tonnage certificate (ITC 1969), an international load line certificate and a certificate of survey must be provided,
- for vessels under 24 meters long, a certificate of survey must be provided,
- a certificate of compliance for commercial vessels according to the Maltese Commercial Yacht Code of 2006,
- an application for safe manning certificate,
- a bill of sale for second hand boats.

All the above documents must be submitted with the Maltese Registrar of Ships that will issue the boat’s certificate of registry. See other details here.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Procedure seems to be not easy.

Boat registration for commercial purposes involves establishing a company in Malta as owner of the vessel. Boats are provisionally registered for six months under the Malta flag before all documentation is finalized.

The documents required for boat registration in Malta are:

- a power of attorney for vessel registration under the Maltese flag,
- an application form,
- a declaration of ownership for the Ship Registry,
- a builder’s certificate for new vessels,
- for vessels over 24 meters long: an international tonnage certificate (ITC 1969), an international load line certificate and a certificate of survey must be provided,
- for vessels under 24 meters long, a certificate of survey must be provided,
- a certificate of compliance for commercial vessels according to the Maltese Commercial Yacht Code of 2006,
- an application for safe manning certificate,
- a bill of sale for second hand boats.

All the above documents must be submitted with the Maltese Registrar of Ships that will issue the boat’s certificate of registry. See other details here.

I think the above only apply to commercial vessel .
The OP could try contacting.
Anchor corporation
Email: info@anchor.com.mt
Tel:
+356 21 238 239

 

[macd]

I think the above only apply to commercial vessel .

That may very well be the case, Vic. In the link anajoy38 provides, there's a clear distinction between pleasure and commercial yachts. Only the latter seem to be subject to this:
"In order to register a commercial yacht under the Malta Flag, the yacht is subject to a pre-registration survey and it is required to meet certain standards and comply with the Commercial Yacht Code..."

 

[maxy]

Malta (and Greece & Cyprus) have some VAT problems coming their way:

https://www.icij.org/blog/2018/03/europe-cracks-luxury-yacht-tax-dodge-citing-paradise-papers/

 

[KellysEye]

Registering a boat in Malta is often for tax purpose we now somebody who did: https://www.quintoninternational.com/5-reasons-register-yacht-malta-ill-spell/

 

[Talestree]

Malta (and Greece & Cyprus) have some VAT problems coming their way:

https://www.icij.org/blog/2018/03/europe-cracks-luxury-yacht-tax-dodge-citing-paradise-papers/

Strange, because usually lower VAT is one of the benefits, mentioned when you search this topic on the web. Like here: https://www.integritas-trustees.com...-ideal-to-register-yachts-and-private-vessels

 

[Tranona]

Strange, because usually lower VAT is one of the benefits, mentioned when you search this topic on the web. Like here: https://www.integritas-trustees.com...-ideal-to-register-yachts-and-private-vessels

That is correct, but the number of people who can take advantage of the lower rates is very limited. Malta is competing with several other states which offer concessions on VAT, mainly to owners of very large and expensive boats and who are buying new.

As this offends the EU, but is not in the main illegal in the states that have such laws there are always rumblings about unfairness. Inevitably events like the Paradise papers will expose the type of wealthy people who are in a position to take advantage of such schemes.