Yacht registration quandary

[exotica]

Hello from a new forum member.

I'm looking for some information about registration of a yacht. I'm doing it for a friend who has a very large sailing yacht and very bad English.

I've googled my way into bewilderment, but from what I can see, this is the situation:

1. If you want to sail on the high seas, you must be registered.
2. Registry is like title for property or land
3. Registry helps in the event of sale.

What I want to know is this: where is the cheapest, most tax-advantageous place i the world to register a large wooden schooner, 14 berth, wooden, more details can be supplied if required.

He is thinking of offering charters in the Caribbean this winter, so we had considered the Caymans, Panama, and the BVI.

Any advice, info, contacts or questions very much gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Steve Clayton]

In order to "register" then it is appropriate to know the history, previous ownership, when built, when bought, VAT status, any debts (claims) on the boat etc.
I guess you will get a lot of good advice here - I watch with interest.

You mention charter; rules and regs in this arena will depend upon/under which flag the boat is registered.

Oh; and welcome

 

[swampthing]

Try Small Ships Registry

 

[Abigail]

It is usual that a boat is registered in the country of which its owner is a national - so if the owner is british you would register the boat in the UK. In that case you can register a yacht under the full Louds registration, often called Part 1(of the Shipping Register). I;ve never done this, but have friends who have, and it;s a lot fo paperwork etc. It does prove title.

Alternative, most leisure yachts are registered under 'part III', a rather more casual affair which satisfies most marinas etc but does not prove title.

I ahve no idea whether a yacht in commercial use would need Part I but I wouldn;t be surprised. If your friend is not British he will need to investigate the registration in his country of origin.

Generally, I believe international maritime law requires a vessel that is used on the high seas or in territorial waters outsides those of its country of registration to be registered. (ie if you live in the UK and are British and never leave the UK waters, I suspect nobody requires you to be registered. Other countries do require registration eg US, France, Spain, Portugal.)

So as Steve-Clayton says, there are lots of questions but start with the owner's nationality

 

[BlueSkyNick]

we've just re-registered out boat, and its not a lot of paperwork really. Two forms downloaded from the website, then copies of the usual stuff that owners should have, ie Bill of Sale, Builders certificate, etc.

the lady on the helpline number is quite helpful too.

 

[roly_voya]

The advice given is good for registering a pleasure Yacht however 14 berths used for charter under a UK flag is not a pleasure yacht it is a commercial ship and things get more complex and regulated. I think you should seek professional advice in your own country as the costs and buisness implications (insurence, liability etc) could be significant. You also need to look at licence requirements and quolifications for the opporators and crew for the waters you intend to charter in.

Normally you would register in the same country that the charter operating company is registered in regardless of the nationality of the owner so if you form a UK company you get Uk registration. In the UK the code of practice for comercial charter is quite strict and can be expensive to comply with. There are some countries which allow less strict registration and standards (flags of convienience) but I would not be happy to go on a charter boat if I knew the owners had used foriegn registration to aviod the the safety codes of their own country!!

 

[davidrainsbury]

Have a look at the Knowledge Base section on www.rya.org.uk
They have all the information you need in a very understandable format. You may have to joined the RYA to get all the legal stuff you want but would find it well worth the subscription fee.

There are two ways of registering a yacht in the UK, both with the UK Registry of Shipping:
Part 1 Registration which has a higher requirement of proof of ownership and the vessel must have a unique name etc.
Small Ships Register (Part 3) which is much simpler and less expensive. The vessel is issued with her SSR Number rather than having a unique name. Both require some proof of ownership but if there is a Marine Mortgage on the Vessel it must be registered on the Part 1 list. There is a length limit on the SSR but not on the Part 1 list.

To operate as a charter yacht the vessel must be commercially certificated. This involves strict condition and safety surveys. The RYA site has all the information on the UK requirements for this but again you would have to join to access that part of their website. It could be a well spent 30 odd pounds.

 

[john_morris_uk]

What you say is true, but might not apply to this 'yacht'. We need to ask what nationality the owner is, here the boat has been registered before and where it is kept?

The RYA guidelines are for British nationals registering their boats. The Med has lots of 'yachts' flying Red Ensigns illegally. Why encourage any more round the world?

 

[exotica]

hello, and thanks for the responses. My friend, who is Turkish, had the boat built on the Black Sea of Turkey: he was the project manager and designer. He has owned it since it was a pile of wood and drawings in a shipyard.

I'll find out if he has it registered in Turkey, and what impact this has on future registration plans.

Many thanks to all so far, and I'll update as it happens.

I think the plan is to register in Turkey, complying with local regulations, then open a charter firm in the Caymans/BVI or Panama.