Yacht Registration Firms - Experiences?

[Laser310]

I am hoping to complete a boat purchase over the next few weeks - I have Identified several boats of interest.., and want to have a plan for registration and insurance in place.

The boat will cruise European coastal waters: Baltic to Med.

I am planning to obtain a UK Part 1 registration, with the boat owned by a UK LTD. This is because, while I am a UK citizen, I am not a UK resident.

I see several firms that will do all the paper work for the LTD and the registration, as well as maintain the LTD.

Does anyone here have experience with any of these?

 

[Tranona]

You don't need one of those. You can deal direct with the registry (or the broker can) all you need is a "representative" address in the UK for contact. The biggest challenge is getting the inspection and tonnage survey so it makes sense to have the survey done by an MCA approved surveyor so you only pay the additional cost of the measurement, not a separate visit and survey.

Speak to the registry for advice.

 

[KompetentKrew]

I am planning to obtain a UK Part 1 registration, with the boat owned by a UK LTD. This is because, while I am a UK citizen, I am not a UK resident.

SSR requires you to be UK resident, but part 1 does not.

In similar circumstances to yourself, I went with part 1 in my own name and did it myself. There was a bit of paperwork, but it wasn't too bad.

I got my part 1 survey from the RYA - I think it was a bit cheaper that way than going direct to the same surveyor.

 

[Laser310]

In similar circumstances to yourself, I went with part 1 in my own name and did it myself. There was a bit of paperwork, but it wasn't too bad.

Do you mean that you did the paperwork for the LTD company yourself?

Or, do you mean that you did not use an LTD?

I have been told that a non-resident _must_ use an LTD company.

 

[Tranona]

No. A company is one way of owning the boat, but not necessary. Instead of guessing or relying on us just call the registry who will tell you the options.

 

[Laser310]

No. A company is one way of owning the boat, but not necessary. Instead of guessing or relying on us just call the registry who will tell you the options.

for part 1 it says this:

If none of the qualified owners are resident in the UK, a representative must be appointed who is either of the following:

* an individual resident in the UK

* a company incorporated in one of the EEA countries with a place of business in the UK

so I think it is necessary for me to have the boat owned by a company

Eligibility criteria for UK registered ship

 

[Tranona]

No you simply need an appointed representative. If you do not have anybody that you know in the UK such as a friend or relative who has an address you can use for communications then by all means appoint one of the companies who will act as a postbox or a solicitor. It is only a point of contact, Nothing onerous involved and no need to go to the expense of forming a limited company to own the boat which in turn may give you hassle when entering other states.

As I suggested speak to the registry

 

[KompetentKrew]

Do you mean that you did the paperwork for the LTD company yourself?

Or, do you mean that you did not use an LTD?

I have been told that a non-resident _must_ use an LTD company.

When I said "part 1 in my own name" I meant the boat is registered to me personally without a limited company.

I just use Ghostmail for my address.

 

[Refueler]

I had a problem a while back when SSR refused to renew as I was no longer resident in UK. Even adding my Son as Co-Owner made no difference.
I had long chat with SSR people and they advised Part 1.

Spoke to Part 1 and they said ... OK ...

Survey to determine 'tonnage'
Nominate my son's address

there are other items required - but that's the main parts of interest to cover OP's ...

They never mentioned actually having 'own' address .. just to appoint one ... I asked if I could use my 'Summer Holiday Home' .. as they said - if there is a physical address and someone could pick up mail there ... then yes.

In the end I chose not to go Part 1 ... instead took Lifetime Registry with Latvian Shipping ... a one time payment / inspection ...

 

[Laser310]

just use Ghostmail for my address.

and can you use the Ghostmail physical address as the address on your insurance policy?

say, with Pantaenius?

or, is something more official required?

 

[KompetentKrew]

and can you use the Ghostmail physical address as the address on your insurance policy?

say, with Pantaenius?

or, is something more official required?

The insurer will stipulate a coverage area - you're only insured within that area, and if you move to another zone you may have to pay a higher rate. I doubt they care about the address to which they send mail, only about where the boat is.

Also, Part 1 registration is considered total proof of ownership - like the Land Registry, it is absolute. Hence the tonnage inspection - no significant measuring was done by the surveyor who did me, and I think it's widely recognised that the real point is to have an official who checks the boat exists. You're committing a crime if you fail to attach the tonnage plate.

As reassurance, I can confirm I'm with Pants. Also, in practice, Pants charge about the same price for all the European areas, you just have to inform them and they'll charge a small fee when you move to a new one.

 

[Laser310]

As reassurance, I can confirm I'm with Pants.

and just so i am 100% clear; the ghostmail address is the address you used to get your policy from pants, and is the address on the policy document - right?

i would like to get a policy from their UK office, on a UK registered boat, but i am not a "legal" resident of the UK.., nor of any country where they have an office.

 

[Mistroma]

The insurer will stipulate a coverage area - you're only insured within that area, and if you move to another zone you may have to pay a higher rate. I doubt they care about the address to which they send mail, only about where the boat is.

Also, Part 1 registration is considered total proof of ownership - like the Land Registry, it is absolute. Hence the tonnage inspection - no significant measuring was done by the surveyor who did me, and I think it's widely recognised that the real point is to have an official who checks the boat exists. You're committing a crime if you fail to attach the tonnage plate.

As reassurance, I can confirm I'm with Pants. Also, in practice, Pants charge about the same price for all the European areas, you just have to inform them and they'll charge a small fee when you move to a new one.

Yes, we went with RYA to get the surveyor to call. I told my wife it wouldn't be much of a survey, more proof that the boat actually existed and was described (not a 1/10th scale model ).

The surveyor admitted as much, said he'd already surveyed the same model recently and no need to waste time measuring again. I expect he actually meant "I've got the manufacturer's specifications". Pretty much confirmed when he suddenly decided to measure bilge to headlining as he'd forgotten that (and probably not readily available from published specs.). We did the paperwork ourselves and it's not exactly challenging.

Our insurers have never sent us anything in the mail. We give them our UK address and tell then to email everything as we are cruising. No really a big surprise as the insurance says we are insured for "continuous cruising". We have a real UK address but I don't imagine there'd be a problem if we used a friend's address.

 

[vyv_cox]

My boat has always been Part 1 registered but on renewing now that I live in France I needed to name a UK representative. My son's UK business address was perfectly OK. The certificate arrives by email so it seems doubtful that the UK contact will ever be used.

 

[Refueler]

My boat has always been Part 1 registered but on renewing now that I live in France I needed to name a UK representative. My son's UK business address was perfectly OK. The certificate arrives by email so it seems doubtful that the UK contact will ever be used.

When I was discussing with SSR and later Part 1 people - they mentioned same about UK repr.

What I found strange was that Part 1 allowed for this - but SSR (Part 3) said no. If anyone named for SSR is not UK resident - then its not allowed. Did not matter how many actual UK residents named on application... the one non-res without REAL UK address and items such as Util's bills to prove it - defaults it out.

 

[Tranona]

Part 1 and the SSR are totally different. SSR was specifically introduced for private yachts owned by UK residents as a quick and cheap way to get the Flag State requirement for international travel. Part 1 as you know is essentially an open register of title designed mainly for commercial shipping which private yacht owners can also use.

Different registers, different rules.

 

[Refueler]

Part 1 and the SSR are totally different. SSR was specifically introduced for private yachts owned by UK residents as a quick and cheap way to get the Flag State requirement for international travel. Part 1 as you know is essentially an open register of title designed mainly for commercial shipping which private yacht owners can also use.

Different registers, different rules.

We all know that ... so why post what we know ?

I was highlighting a personal experience.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

For Part 1 I used my sister as my nominated contact. For insurance I would never use a fake or ghost address as it would probably invalidate it.

 

[Tranona]

We all know that ... so why post what we know ?

I was highlighting a personal experience.

I know - but i was responding to your second sentence - why were you surprised? - i thought every one knew that they are 2 different regiisters with different rules. Presumably you did not as you seemed surprised when you found out.

If you did know why bother to post - your personal experience adds nothing to the OPs question.

 

[Refueler]

I know - but i was responding to your second sentence - why were you surprised? - i thought every one knew that they are 2 different regiisters with different rules. Presumably you did not as you seemed surprised when you found out.

If you did know why bother to post - your personal experience adds nothing to the OPs question.

The variances in English Language .... my post is that strange matter of English where its written or spoken as a question - but in itself answers itself.
Plus that given the seriousness of Part 1 - that it allows for non-res persons to be named as 'co-owners'.

In fact I do not agree with your last sentence ... as all matters to do with registration are valid as we do not know what path OP will finally take.