UK flagged boats with "foreign" owners?

[charles_reed]

I first learned in France, about 25 years ago, that larger red-ensigned power boats were more likely than not to have no English speakers aboard.
It's all part of the modern frontierless world where Google, Amazon, Dell and others collect all their profits in small states (like Luxembourg or Eire) and "avoid" their kleptocrat governments.
Now does the fault lie with those who seek to avoid taxes or those whose slovenly drafting leave these large, sinful, tax-avoiding portals.
And to think we used to have a frisson of outlawry when we indulged in transfer pricing?

Now when Scotland goes independent....

Just think of all those blue St Andrew crosses where not only do the owners not speak the Gaelic or the Lowland dialect but don't even have any uisqebaugh aboard. I've avoided the more common spelling as it has a criminal connotation.

 

[Bilgediver]

It may be that the boats are part I registered instead of SSR (part III).

Perhaps they comply with one or another of these.


http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/registering-your-pleasure-craft

 

[macd]

Anyone can register anything on the SSR...near Cape Sounion and you will see a harbour full of red ensigned superyachts with not a "limey" in sight.

Never let the facts get in the way of a good prejudice. SSR is limited to vessels of less than 24m, which would make it a bit of a squeeze for any 'superyacht'.

 

[BobPrell]

So . . . . . . what was it attracted you to her?

They're not Geordies are they? My Mrs was a Geordie and it was 3 years before we understood half of what we said to each other..
"Ah divva naw wha' yeer onaboot man, tak proper" was her usual comment...

 

[NOHOH]

I know I`ll be corrected if I`m wrong....but could it be that as it is up to the applicant to supply the boats details to register a boat on the SSR......then..if it is a boat of a fairly unusual design....i.e. not anything like an AWB ...then it would be possible to insert details...err...how should I put this.......that were economical with the truth.(unlike part 1 nobody checks them)......Lots of us know of a certain boat....easily approaching 14m...... a one-off design that was de-registered from one European country...re-named....and re-registered on the SSR...perhaps so that it would squeeze into a twelve metre berth?....(many marinas apparently just take what it says on the certificate as being true).

 

[charles_reed]

I know I`ll be corrected if I`m wrong....but could it be that as it is up to the applicant to supply the boats details to register a boat on the SSR......then..if it is a boat of a fairly unusual design....i.e. not anything like an AWB ...then it would be possible to insert details...err...how should I put this.......that were economical with the truth.(unlike part 1 nobody checks them)......Lots of us know of a certain boat....easily approaching 14m...... a one-off design that was de-registered from one European country...re-named....and re-registered on the SSR...perhaps so that it would squeeze into a twelve metre berth?....(many marinas apparently just take what it says on the certificate as being true).

A good lawyerly reply!!

 

[chinita]

I have posted this before but I know a 13m Cat which had three SSR Certificates. Which Certificate presented to the marina office depended on how far away they were berthed from that office.

 

[Downsman]

So . . . . . . what was it attracted you to her?

Don't know how old you are Bob,.. but she was Audrey Hepburns absolute double..but with a Geordie accent..

 

[BobPrell]

Your explanation fully and completely satisfactory.

 

[macd]

Don't know how old you are Bob,.. but she was Audrey Hepburns absolute double..but with a Geordie accent..

...which in turn begs the question of what she saw in you.
Don't tell me, you're Cary Grant's double

(Glad she doesn't look like Cushie Butterfield, by the way, bonny lass though she was.)

 

[Downsman]

...which in turn begs the question of what she saw in you.
Don't tell me, you're Cary Grant's double

Good question...probably charitable.. because like Audrey (UNICEF Ambassador) she took pity on the poor, lost, hungry and unwanted.
My ship was in Swan Hunters Yard being repaired and I was wandering around Newcastle Toon and fitted the above description..

 

[Zen Zero]

Well, my MAB (28ft), which is currently propped up against a eucalyptus tree in Ionian Greece, habitually flies a red duster. The address on the SSR registration is the same as that on my driving licence and is where my dear old mum lives.

The meaning of "resident" in UK bureaucratics is not very clear; and please don't try to clarify it, I am happy to take advantage of the confusion.

In the meantime, being a British registered boat, She and those on board must comply to British maritime regulations, and not those of the country where we are resident, in our case Italy, where among the numerous other restrictions which are more or less surmountable, there is one that effectively prohibits a boat as old (no CE mark) and as small (under 10m) as ours from venturing more than 6 miles from the coast.

So, yes, the red one is a very convenient flag to fly, particularly in the Med.

If you see a manky auld wooden boat with a red ensign in an Ionian port or anchorage and want to have a conversation with us, we'll be happy to reply in English, French, Portuguese or Italian!

Kalimera! (is about all the Greek we've so far managed to master)

 

[Firefly211]

Well I'm the opposite of these as I'm English (ok British) but I fly the Swedish flag as my boat is registered in Sweden where I now live and not in the UK... I do however have the Red Ensign flying from below the port side spreader, as captain I'm allowed to do so..

Same here, British with a German flag! But is sort of stealth mode if I want to get an all over tan

 

[wazza]

Like you I'm English, But I fly a Norwegian Flag! and like you I can flag the 'red-duster' from the port spreader. But if I do I alway get asked if I've just crossed from Shetland, so I dont bother any more, only sometimes if I have UK guests onboard!

Sod that, I have to fly the ensign.. People should understand that it's the captain (or owners) nationality... Maybe the Swedes are right, the Norwegians are a bit thick ;-)