Sailing under the Belgian flag, a thing of the past!

[Lorrendraaier]

On 17 July 2018 legislation was formally published that changes will be made with regard to registering pleasure crafts in Belgium.

Up to now EU citizens with a passport from any of the EU states, or EU based companies, could register their yacht in Belgium.

As from 1 January 2019 only pleasure crafts owned for at least 50% by a Belgian resident can have their yacht registered in Belgium, or boats owned by companies registered in Belgium.

That means that boats owned for 51%+ by non-Belgian passport holder, will no longer be able to register their pleasure craft in the Belgian ships registrar after 1 January 2019.

Having read the text of this new legislation meticulously, it is pretty clear that foreign owned boats that are registered in the Belgian ships registrar, will not be able to extend their registration either, after the standard 5 years.

 

[RichardS]

That's a bummer if you want a Belgian flagged boat.

But does it mean that I'll no longer be able to put mayonnaise on my Wallonian Fries when onboard?

Richard

 

[Gwylan]

I think the Billy Goats Gruff will be along in a minute to deal with this.

 

[DownWest]

Point here is, quite a few other nationals have reged their boats in Belgium to avoid the more stringient rules in their own countries. ..eerm, France?

 

[Champagne Murphy]

I think the Billy Goats Gruff will be along in a minute to deal with this.

Made oi laarf. Excellent

 

[westhinder]

Point here is, quite a few other nationals have reged their boats in Belgium to avoid the more stringient rules in their own countries. ..eerm, France?

Quite a few in Spain too

 

[jordanbasset]

Belgium together with Holland seemed the favourite countries for Italians to register their boats

 

[sailaboutvic]

Belgium together with Holland seemed the favourite countries for Italians to register their boats

Ah the question is will I be able to reg under Dutch if need be ?

 

[jwilson]

Belgium together with Holland seemed the favourite countries for Italians to register their boats

We ( https://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/ ) have sold quite a few UK boats to Italian residents, none have ever re-registered the boats in Italy. Belgium definitely the most common.

 

[macd]

Ah the question is will I be able to reg under Dutch if need be ?

Dunno in general, but there was a recent thread concerning a type of "Dutch registration", sometimes peddled on-line. Official Dutch sources have stated emphatically that this does not entitle a boat to be considered Dutch-flagged.

 

[Lorrendraaier]

Dunno in general, but there was a recent thread concerning a type of "Dutch registration", sometimes peddled on-line. Official Dutch sources have stated emphatically that this does not entitle a boat to be considered Dutch-flagged.

There are basically two types of registrations in the Netherlands.
1. the unofficial registration (proof of ownership) which is called the International Certificate of Pleasure crafts (ICP). Since July of this year this unofficial registration is no longer interesting to foreigners as they are not permitted to sail under the Dutch flag any more.

2. the official registration in the Dutch ships registrar, which gives the vessel the Dutch nationality. This is open for all EU passport-holders and under certain circumstances also non-EU passport-holders.

 

[Heckler]

Point here is, quite a few other nationals have reged their boats in Belgium to avoid the more stringient rules in their own countries. ..eerm, France?

erm Spain?

 

[LadyInBed]

erm Spain?

And Portugal, I saw quite a few Belgian flags last year.

 

[jordanbasset]

Ah the question is will I be able to reg under Dutch if need be ?

With Chrissie I would think so

 

[Lorrendraaier]

With regard to nationalities, there are no restrictions. Any EU and EFTA national/company can register their vessel in the Netherlands ships registrar.

The procedure is also fairly simple. All that is required is :
- copy ID CARD/passport verified by your own notary (original)
- copy of the sales/purchase contract (copy)
- withdrawal certificate, if previously registered (copy)

No surveys, technical inspections or tonnage certificate is required. The Certificate of Registry is valid until the vessel is transferred to a new owner or removed from the registrar and is not subject to periodical renewals.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

With regard to nationalities, there are no restrictions. Any EU and EFTA national/company can register their vessel in the Netherlands ships registrar.

The procedure is also fairly simple. All that is required is :
- copy ID CARD/passport verified by your own notary (original)
- copy of the sales/purchase contract (copy)
- withdrawal certificate, if previously registered (copy)

No surveys, technical inspections or tonnage certificate is required. The Certificate of Registry is valid until the vessel is transferred to a new owner or removed from the registrar and is not subject to periodical renewals.

What happens if I want to simply change the registration (Flag) but intend to keep the boat? There would be no "copy of sales/purchase contract". Would I need to de-register and would that not leave me 'stateless'?

p.s. Present registration is Malta and I am an EU citizen (Maltese).

 

[Mikedefieslife]

Doesn't registering in another country also mean having to get a ships a radio licence from that country and then reprogramming the VHF too? Sounds like a fair bit of hassle, especially somewhere where you may not be able to speak the language.

 

[Lorrendraaier]

The copy of the sales/purchase contract is considered proof of actual ownership. So if you would change flags, the copy of the contract is still required. As the vessel is presently registered in the Maltese ships registrar, a certificate of withdrawal is also required.

Once your vessel is registered in the ships registrar of the Netherlands, a certificate of withdrawal has to be delivered within 30 days. That means that the original certificate of withdrawal has to be in possession of the agency that manages the ships registrar.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

That is very useful to know, including the time allowance for presenting the de-registration certificate.
Thank You for your help.

 

[RupertW]

Doesn't registering in another country also mean having to get a ships a radio licence from that country and then reprogramming the VHF too? Sounds like a fair bit of hassle, especially somewhere where you may not be able to speak the language.

No, we registered in Croatia (for about 30 seconds) to pay VAT, then back to SSR - or to be accurate as the SSR is so slack we kept the SSR continuously through the process. There were a lot of requirements (e.g. Survival suits for every person the RCD would allow on board - 14 in our case, and much much more plus a surgery), but not VHF licence.