Yacht Registration
When purchasing a yacht or indeed any type of vessel it can be slightly daunting. We here at Killybegs Marine Surveyors are here to professionally advise you on all aspects of the journey and to make it a Stress-free experience as much as possible for you. Below we have highlighted some important aspects you should consider before making that all important investment and one of those many aspects is the registration of it, and we here at KMS are affiliated with Yacht Registration Holland, who are the European market leader in Yacht registration and we can offer our clients the options of registering in 5 different countries to include, Poland, Greece, United Kingdom, Holland, and Gibraltar. The process is quite simple, you decide which country you want to register with and then we send you an email with a link for you to input your details and then we take it from there. All the bureaucratic hassle and paperwork is handled by us, and you receive your registration in a timely manner. Please pay particular attention to the heading of Register your yacht/vessel at the bottom of the page.
Things you should consider prior to purchasing a Vessel.
Be certain and decide what kind of yacht/vessel you want: There are many different kinds of yachts and motor vessels out there, and each vessel has their own unique qualities. For example, with a motor yacht you will get much more space as opposed to a yacht and is often faster, however a sailing yacht will give you that natural feel in the water without the engine noise and can be raced competitively if need be. It is important to do some research and look at it from all angles and consider what you intend to use your vessel for prior to making that all important decision.
Be aware of what you needs are: Part of ascertaining what type of yacht/vessel you want to purchase is assessing your needs. For example, ask yourself, is it just a family activity that you want it for, will it be just day trips, or possibly long passages. How many passengers do you plan on having on-board if any? Will those passengers be sleeping there? Do you want to travel with the boat and consider the routes you wish to travel and the weather you may encounter? These are all things that need to be considered. Also, if you plan to have a crew, keep in mind how many people you think you will be a part of your crew.
Purchasing a new or used yacht / vessel: Another thing to consider when making that all important decision on buying any kind of vessel is whether you want to buy a new boat or a used one. Depending to its size, a new yacht / vessel can take a few years to build; new yachts / vessels are less likely to have any issues when you receive them but are significantly as you would expect are much more expensive than a used one. On the other side of the coin, even though used boats are much less expensive than newer boats, when you purchase used, it can be hard to know exactly what you are purchasing, as the boat may have hidden problems/issues that are not easy to spot to an untrained eye and with the aforesaid this is where we at Killybegs Marine Surveyors can assist you in a comprehensive pre-purchase survey and alternatively if you are considering a fully customized or semi-customized design, then we will also accompany you to shipyards and advise and liaise with the shipyard throughout the build and again make sure all the paperwork and contracts are in place and fit for purpose.
Seek out a broker: A yacht broker for the want of a better phrase is a bit like a real estate agent; they will have multiple options at their fingertips. Seeking out a yacht broker is particularly useful if you are in the market for a boat on the upper end of the spectrum. Yacht brokers have the ability to find you more online listings and in turn send you yacht brochures from manufacturers for you to review.
Be prepared to spend more: When you are on the market for a yacht/vessel, you need to be prepared and expect to spend a bit more. The production of yachts/vessels, that are built in a factory, can have a starting price of €100,000 and can go to upwards to €5 million depending on what you are after. Semi-custom yachts generally have an eye watering price tag of around the €20 million range; and a fully custom yacht can reach the €80million. So, the advice here is, whichever way you go, owning a yacht is a big investment, so be prepared to spend a lot to get the boat of your dreams.
Sea trail & test before you sign: Before you sign on the dotted line for your yacht/vessel, it is prudent that you have taken it on a sea trail to make sure that you like it and if your not confident or sure of what you are looking for then we will accommodate you and attend the sea trails and make our assessment and present our findings to you at the end. Usually taking a yacht/vessel out on a sea trail is done at your own expense, but it can money well spent.
Engage a Marine Surveyor: As previously mentioned it is a wise and well spent decision to engage the services of a marine surveyor, who will survey and scrutinise the vessel all over and provide you with a comprehensive report at the end of it. Surveyors have the experience and the knowledge to look for the pit falls and the signs that the untrained eye will miss. We here at Killybegs Marine Surveyors engage in the entire process from the all-important pre-purchase survey to the equal important process of registering your vessel.
Register your yacht/vessel: It is vitally important for a yacht/vessel owner to understand the benefits of having their vessel registered. All too often people go out buy a yacht and then sail off into the sunset and into different waters and jurisdictions only to find themselves wrapped up in paperwork and all too often having their vessel detained by the flag authorities and this is why it is so important to register your yacht/vessel. For example, if you were the owner of a pleasure craft in Ireland or the UK, registration of your vessel is not currently compulsory unless your vessel is subject to a marine mortgage, or unless you intend to sail in international waters and then there is a legal requirement for vessel registration under international law.
Nevertheless, many boat owners still elect to register their boats for a number of good reasons. Regardless of whether you intend to sail in international waters or not, one of the main benefits of registering your boat is to legally prove its ownership and nationality. Registration gives you certainty over your legal rights and obligations as a boat owner and establishes which jurisdiction’s laws will apply. Given that vessels are movable and valuable assets that can incur liabilities to others (especially at sea), this is important.
No matter where your boat is registered, you will be legally obliged to comply with the law of this country including controls and regulations relating to construction, safe navigation, reduction, and control of marine pollution, manning of vessels and training of crew, and investigations involving casualties and marine disasters. However, you will also be able to claim protection under this law in the event, for example, of a collision or maritime disaster, no matter where you are in the world.