Registration SSR?

JonWA

JonWA

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Just sold the last boat, which was on SSR, and new unregistered boat launches shortly.
Having relocated from England, both me and their boat will be based in Scotland for the foreseeable.
The only likely trip in short term outside UK will be to Ireland, other Northern Europe possibly next year, or year after.

So, I’m wondering if there’s any point in SSR at this stage, and whether its realistic that Irish ports might want to see registration, or whether I just carry copies of VAT invoices etc. At the moment registration is feeling like a piece of paper i don’t really need, any views? Does EU recognise it anyway in these post brexit days?
Thanks in advance.
 
Legal requirement under international law that you have a means of identifying your boat's nationality. That is what the SSR is for - so yes if you are going outside the UK you will need the SSR, but not if you stay in UK waters.
 
Tranona said:
Legal requirement under international law that you have a means of identifying your boat's nationality. That is what the SSR is for - so yes if you are going outside the UK you will need the SSR, but not if you stay in UK waters.
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If Scotland goes down the independence route you will probably have to re - register under some new authority before you can cross the border into England, and don't forget your passport.
 
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By not being on the register you preclude the opportunity of going to Southern Ireland or the continent. If you do register, it gives you the option of changing your mind about your destination.
 
Ireland is a definite possibility, I guess in the unlikely possibility of being asked to produce evidence, other than bill of sale, VAT receipt etc, I could get the boat registered. I just was thinking they might be just as likely to ask for Bill of sale etc and not accept SSR certificate as evidence of anything. I seem to recall I took all that paperwork with me last time I went to Eire based on suggestion that's what they might want to see. I guess main question being is SSR worth paper it's written on? I don't suppose it would hurt, other than the fee and time spent.

Yes, noted re independence debate, might wind up with even more paper plus a third passport to go with UK and Eire passports already in collection. That would be nice.
 
JonWA said:
Ireland is a definite possibility, I guess in the unlikely possibility of being asked to produce evidence, other than bill of sale, VAT receipt etc, I could get the boat registered. I just was thinking they might be just as likely to ask for Bill of sale etc and not accept SSR certificate as evidence of anything. I seem to recall I took all that paperwork with me last time I went to Eire based on suggestion that's what they might want to see. I guess main question being is SSR worth paper it's written on? I don't suppose it would hurt, other than the fee and time spent.

Yes, noted re independence debate, might wind up with even more paper plus a third passport to go with UK and Eire passports already in collection. That would be nice.
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There is no connection between BofS, VAT etc and a registration certificate. What makes you think the SSR will not be "accepted" when it is issued by the UK government for exactly that purpose. You are much more likely to be asked for registration than evidence of VAT as you will now be visiting a foreign country that is not in the least bit interested in UK VAT. It was only an issue when UK boats had free circulation within the EU if there was evidence that VAT had been paid, although in reality nobody cared or asked for it. Similarly the BoS is of no interest and the advice to carry it was based on the idea that if you were ever asked for VAT evidence the BoS would show that the boat was bought in the UK and any VAT issues were the responsibility of the UK HMRC.

Now we are out of the EU the only documents of any real interest from other countries are the registration certificate and in some countries evidence of insurance, licence for your VHF and VHF operators certificate
 
JonWA said:
I just was thinking they might be just as likely to ask for Bill of sale etc and not accept SSR certificate as evidence of anything.
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I can't imagine anyone asking, but I'd agree with your thoughts: If someone suspects your boat is not British then I don't see how an SSR helps, because your boat's status as a British Boat comes direct from your UK residency as its owner. (Residency, not nationality.) An SSR proves neither your residency, nor your ownership of the boat.

If you wanted proof of the nationality of your boat then Part 1 has to be the answer. Takes your residency out of the equation and pretty much proves ownership. (Although having tried to trace ownership of land I've discovered that proof you own something isn't as simple as I'd thought. I can sell my house or give my house away as a gift, no need to tell the land registry. Then it's registered as mine, but doesn't belong to me. I assume it's the same with boats.)
 
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Good point, although you do need BoS for registration, so there is connection. Looking at MCA (to be honest I assumed this was private or privatised), it does look helpful. I was just wondering, has anyone upon being asked for paperwork, produced SSR part 3 and had 'all good sir, on your way' response?
 
JonWA said:
Good point, although you do need BoS for registration, so there is connection. Looking at MCA (to be honest I assumed this was private or privatised), it does look helpful. I was just wondering, has anyone upon being asked for paperwork, produced SSR part 3 and had 'all good sir, on your way' response?
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Although they ask for a BoS it is not compulsory as the SSR is not a register of title, just a statement that the owner of the boat is resident in the UK and the boat has UK nationality. The SSR is universally accepted and has been for over 30 years and thousands upon thousands have been asked to show it (including me on many occasions) while travelling around the world - and particularly Europe where almost every marina will ask to see a registration document as will any customs officer. Have difficulty in understanding the reluctance if you intend visiting another country with your boat!
 
Sure, sounds sensible. Just wanted to check it wasn't a waste of time created for sake of bureaucracy and a few £. I did register last boat, think I'll get this one done too, based on feedback
 
JonWA said:
Good point, although you do need BoS for registration, so there is connection. Looking at MCA (to be honest I assumed this was private or privatised), it does look helpful. I was just wondering, has anyone upon being asked for paperwork, produced SSR part 3 and had 'all good sir, on your way' response?
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We've been boarded off several counties including Ireland and have been asked for passports, insurance and SSR. Never been asked for bill of sale or proof of VAT. As far as foreign officials are concerned, SSR is proof of ownership. VAT status now irrelevant as boat will come under TA rules.
 
Graham376 said:
We've been boarded off several counties including Ireland and have been asked for passports, insurance and SSR. Never been asked for bill of sale or proof of VAT. As far as foreign officials are concerned, SSR is proof of ownership. VAT status now irrelevant as boat will come under TA rules.
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That's helpful, thanks. I'll get on with SSR before a trip across the sea and keep the other docs at home. I must've read some misleading tripe somewhere about possibly needing to have those on board.
 
Graham376 said:
We've been boarded off several counties including Ireland and have been asked for passports, insurance and SSR. Never been asked for bill of sale or proof of VAT. As far as foreign officials are concerned, SSR is proof of ownership. VAT status now irrelevant as boat will come under TA rules.
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Generally the officials boarding yachts off the Irish coast, particularly in the the south and west, will be concerned with detecting drug smuggling, and will be comparing notes with the authorities in the boat's country of origin and port of departure. All the information they can glean will be put through the system to see if it raises any red flags.
 
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