Small Ship Register

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steveeasy

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Hi,
My new boat came with a whole host of history and logs etc. amongst this was a blue certificate of British registary and certificates of registration with the last one expiring on 16th september 2012. Is this the small ships registration ?. the vessel number is 361681.

Is this something I need to update, and if so, would anyone possibly let me know how to do this or what is involved.

Any advice appreciated.
Steveeasy
 
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That is Part 1 registration which from what you say has lapsed. The number is the "official" number and you should find a plate somewhere, usually on the main bulkhead with the number and tonnage. If you want to register on Part 1 then you will need record of title for the last 5 years and probably back to when it lapsed. You may well have to also pay for another survey. The only advantage of using this register is that it is a register of your legal title. If you just want to be able to prove the flag state of your boat when you go abroad then use the basic Part 3 register, known as the SSR
 
Thank you for all your advice. Ive used the link above and I think Part 3 registration change of owner will suffice.

Many Thanks
Steveeasy
 
I found that I changing the ownership of an existing SSR is slightly more complex than registering a new one. I have just been through this with Swift.

I completed the online application but then needed to submit a bill of sale so that they could contact the previous owner to confirm. They ideally wanted to know get the previous registered owner(s) approval but that was harder as neither I nor the person I bought the boat from knew who that was and it was 10 years and probably 3 owners ago. Basically, the history had been lost. Eventually, they agreed to register Swift to me but it took a few emails back and forth. To be fair the people were really helpful and I am pleased they took the time to check things properly.

I would say that its worthwhile to get this sorted over the winter as it does mean that when you some to sell the boat, the next owner wont have a long and complicated history to try to unpick. Also should you decide to summer in Europe, you wont be under time pressure to get your SSR registered to you.
 
LadyInBed said:
You only need to register if you intend to sail to other countries, if you just sail in uk waters you don't need to register.
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Being registered does seem to matter to insurance companies. Without one I was quoted a cruising ground of 10NM offshore but with one I was offered the usual Bergen to Brest (cannot remember the exact) and 250NM off. I am talking 3rd party only.
 
Agree with Philm, I feel with recent changes to the process of registry it may become more important to be able to 'prove' ownership.

I have just renewed my SSR registration, no longer as simple as previously. First you have to 'claim your vessel' despite being previously registered to me, this needed copies of bill of sale and copy of passport.

Once checked and agreed by MCA ? An e mail is recieved and you are then allowed to renew your registration and receive an unofficial looking certicate which you can print.
 
SaltyC said:
… An e mail is recieved and you are then allowed to renew your registration and receive an unofficial looking certicate which you can print.
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Like the one I received electronically, printed off in full colour and laminated and was then accused of not having the original one by a Moroccan immigration officer…. He’d noticed the signature was a printed version.
 
PhillM said:
Being registered does seem to matter to insurance companies. Without one I was quoted a cruising ground of 10NM offshore but with one I was offered the usual Bergen to Brest (cannot remember the exact) and 250NM off. I am talking 3rd party only.
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Obviously.
Having SSR infers that you intend to sail cross channel. With no SSR why would you want to pay an extra insurance premium to be insured to sail from Bergen to Brest when you only intend to sail Solent to Falmouth?
 
Just received a letter reminding me that the SSR registration of my boat is coming up for renewal, but I now have to create an on-line account and supply

Proof of identity
My certificate of registry
Either the Bill of Sale or a Declaration of Ownership.

As The boat is already registered in my name and it is purely a renewal same boat name, same owner name and same address this all seems a bit excessive, and they want to charge me £35 for thé re-registration.
 
Praxinoscope said:
Just received a letter reminding me that the SSR registration of my boat is coming up for renewal, but I now have to create an on-line account and supply

Proof of identity
My certificate of registry
Either the Bill of Sale or a Declaration of Ownership.

As The boat is already registered in my name and it is purely a renewal same boat name, same owner name and same address this all seems a bit excessive, and they want to charge me £35 for thé re-registration.
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Ring 02039085200 and try to speak to Paul. He is very helpful.
 
Praxinoscope said:
Just received a letter reminding me that the SSR registration of my boat is coming up for renewal, but I now have to create an on-line account and supply

Proof of identity
My certificate of registry
Either the Bill of Sale or a Declaration of Ownership.

As The boat is already registered in my name and it is purely a renewal same boat name, same owner name and same address this all seems a bit excessive, and they want to charge me £35 for thé re-registration.
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Aaah forgot to say certificate of registry.

Be aware, they give you quite a long period of notice and unlike car tax your new registration will be from date of application not from the date of expiry of old one.

Not a great financial hit but just frustrating financial money grabbing by the public sector.
 
SaltyC said:
Aaah forgot to say certificate of registry.

Be aware, they give you quite a long period of notice and unlike car tax your new registration will be from date of application not from the date of expiry of old one.

Not a great financial hit but just frustrating financial money grabbing by the public sector.
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Thanks this change of date of expiry hadn’t occurred to me, I will put the renewal in the ‘Things to do file ‘ and complete it closer to the current expiry date.
 
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