Small Ships Registration. Do I need it?

[Derek ide]

My SSR registration has come up for renewal after five years. This now costs £72:00. I thought it was a nominal £15:00 when I first registered this boat.
Why do I need it? I have never been asked to show it in this country or in France pre-Brexit. It does not provide proof of ownership or so it says on my old certificate.

 

[HissyFit]

It gives you the right to fly the red ensign to identify you as a British craft, which is required of you by naval vessels in international waters. No registration, no permitted trips abroad and vessel seized if you are found without it. There were lots of presumably Dutch registered boats in trouble in the last year, as they had bought what was effectively a club membership that didn't give them the right to fly the Dutch flag.

 

[awol]

You can't wear a blue ensign without it (or Part 1).

 

[HissyFit]

You can't wear a blue ensign without it (or Part 1).

"He's" talking about SSR, which is red ensign under part 3.

 

[Tranona]

My SSR registration has come up for renewal after five years. This now costs £72:00. I thought it was a nominal £15:00 when I first registered this boat.
Why do I need it? I have never been asked to show it in this country or in France pre-Brexit. It does not provide proof of ownership or so it says on my old certificate.

It is a legal requirement have proof of state of registration in international waters and visiting other states. That is what the SSR is for. Not necessary if you do not leave UK territorial waters.

Never intended to be proof of ownership, that is what Part 1 registration is for - as well as proving state of registration.

 

[awol]

"He's" talking about SSR, which is red ensign under part 3.

And I'm talking about qualifying for a warrant to wear a blue ensign which amongst other requirements requires registration under Part1 or Part3.

 

[Poignard]

It gives you the right to fly the red ensign to identify you as a British craft, which is required of you by naval vessels in international waters. No registration, no permitted trips abroad and vessel seized if you are found without it. There were lots of presumably Dutch registered boats in trouble in the last year, as they had bought what was effectively a club membership that didn't give them the right to fly the Dutch flag.

I have heard of more than one case of a yacht flying an Irish ensign, its owner having joined Irish Cruising and thinking that effectively registered his yacht under the Irish flag.

 

[Tranona]

And I'm talking about qualifying for a warrant to wear a blue ensign which amongst other requirements requires registration under Part1 or Part3.

Correct - even in UK waters! And you must fly your club burgee when wearing the defaced ensign.

 

[Poignard]

Correct - even in UK waters! And you must fly your club burgee when wearing the defaced ensign.

Which is why I have given up flying my blue ensign.

The block for the flag halyard is too near the shroud and expensive burgees soon get shredded!

On the to-do list next time the mast is down!

 

[duncan99210]

Puzzled by the reference to £72 - according to the .gov website it‘s £35. So is the OP talking about Part 1 registration?

 

[Irish Rover]

I have heard of more than one case of a yacht flying an Irish ensign, its owner having joined Irish Cruising and thinking that effectively registered his yacht under the Irish flag.

There is no equivalent of SSR in İreland and the only way to register is the equivalent of UK part 1 but a little more complex as you have to deal with more than one organisation. The Irish Sailing Association used to issue a form of registration and officialdom turned a blind eye. That was stopped a few years ago although I believe they still issue amendments and deregistration certs.
SSR is a wonderful facility and cheap at £70 or half that price.

 

[awol]

Correct - even in UK waters! And you must fly your club burgee when wearing the defaced ensign.

Defaced? Just a plain blue for me but always with the relevant burgee.

 

[Sandy]

My SSR registration has come up for renewal after five years. This now costs £72:00. I thought it was a nominal £15:00 when I first registered this boat.
Why do I need it? I have never been asked to show it in this country or in France pre-Brexit. It does not provide proof of ownership or so it says on my old certificate.

No, not unless you are planning to go overseas.

I only paid £35 for my Part III renewal.

 

[PlanB]

You do not need it in UK, but are likely to be asked for it in France and Spain - and will need to show the original, not a copy.

 

[JumbleDuck]

It gives you the right to fly the red ensign to identify you as a British craft, which is required of you by naval vessels in international waters.

There is no need to have any form of registration to fly a red ensign legitimately. Going abroad is what you need a bit of paper for, as you say.

 

[awol]

I did not get an original when I renewed mine this year, just a web address. Mine is a laminated print out from that site.

 

[lustyd]

It seems to have gone digital now and the “certificate” is just a QR code leading to a web version of the doc, which has the QR code. Turtles all the way down. I did eventually get a paper copy through but it’s indistinguishable from the print I made.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

It's still £35 according to the government.