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Yacht Registration in UK

Great Britain is one of the most powerful and respected maritime state. The flag of the United Kingdom is very popular for yacht registration all over the world. A survey inspection is necessary to register a boat in the UK. For non-residents, a local representative from the UK is required. Registration is issued for 5 years and must be renewed thereafter. You can apply for a lifetime Radio License, MMSI and Call Sign.



Not all nationalities are eligible to register a yacht

under the British flag.

There are 4 types of boat registration in the UK:

Part 1

Commercial or
Pleasure Yachts

Part 2

Fishing Boats

Part 3

Small Vessels

Part 4

Charter

For private yachts up to 24 meters, Part 1 or Part 3 are possible for registration. Part 3 is rather simplified for British citizens who reside permanently in the UK. But even the British are more likely to choose Part 1, as this option provides more opportunities.

Registration of Pleasure Yachts
up to 24 Metres – Part 1

We specialize in the registration of private yachts up to 24 meters in the EU, Turkey, UAE. The yacht registration process in the UK is divided into steps below.

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1 Step: Question Form

Registration starts with a questionnaire that we ask you to fill out in order to understand the possibility of registering the yacht under the UK flag. In this form, it is necessary to tell what your passport is, what your yacht is, how old it is, where it is located, or whether it was registered before, etc. We will help you fill out the questionnaire.

If we see that it would be a problem to register in the UK, we’ll suggest other decent alternatives to you. If we see no difficulties, we can move on.

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2 Step: Documents Required from You

1. Documents confirming the ownership of the yacht, such as Bill of Sale, Sales Agreement, Invoice, for new boats – the Builder's Certificate. It is required to show the history of ownership of the boat over the past 5 years.

2. Yacht Documents: CE Certificate of the yacht, Yacht Manual, etc.

3. Deletion Certificate issued by previous yacht register, if the boat was registered earlier.

4. A completed application for obtaining a Radio License in which it is necessary to list all radio devices on your yacht, license or certificate of the radio operator, and information about the previous radio license (if there was one). We will help you fill out the application.

5. A copy of the passport of the yacht owner (page with photo) or ID card.

6. Proof of Address of the yacht owner. For example, Utility Bill for electricity, water or gas, which contains the full name and address of the yacht owner.

 

Those documents that are not in English should be translated into English and duly notarized.

 

7. Photos of the yacht:
- bow, stern, left or right side of the boat, its name,
- Photo of Hull Identification Number (HIN),
- Photo of the Engine Serial No.

3 Step: Tonnage Survey + Provisional Registration

To register Part 1, the yacht must undergo a survey for tonnage and measurement. This can be done by the surveyor approved by the UK nautical authorities.


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To complete the tonnage survey quickly and properly, it would be better to use a surveyor that we recommend. To do this, you need to agree on the date and time of the arrival of the specialist on your yacht. The tonnage survey is included in the registration price, but the departure of the surveyor is paid additionally. The surveyor's fee ranges from 500 to 1500 pounds per day, plus additional expenses for transfer, accommodation and meals. One day is enough for tonnage and measurement.

After the tonnage survey is conducted by our specialist, you get a provisional registration within 48 hours for a period of 3 months, which allows the yacht to go to sea.

Also, all forms for obtaining a permanent registration and radio license will be submitted to the UK Ship Register.

4 Step: Marking of the Vessel

At the beginning of registration, you’ll have to suggest 4 possible names for your yacht and choose the Port of Registry. London is usually chosen, but other ports can be considered as well – Manchester, Liverpool, etc., the choice is wide.

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When the name of the yacht and the Port of Registry are approved, the UK Ship Register gives the Carving and Marking Note.

To be granted the right to fly the British flag, it is necessary to duly affix the name of the boat, the port of registry, registration number, tonnage and so forth, on the hull of the yacht.

UK Ship Register mandates that vessel lettering be placed on designated hull areas, with specific size and color requirements.

We can recommend a company that specializes in vessel marking.

5 Step: Permanent Registration

Below is a list of services and documents that you will receive upon completion of registration:

1. UK Certificate of Registry valid for 5 years,
2. UK Certificate of Survey for Tonnage & Measurement,
3. Lifetime Radio Licence, Call Sign, MMSI,
4. Representative Person in the UK for 5 years. 

Permanent Registration is valid for 5 years. The registration should be renewed within the 6-month period prior to its expiry date.

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Yacht Ownership within the UK Company

The UK is currently implementing significant tightening of regulations in the field of company formation and maintenance. There is an active crackdown on mass registration addresses, automatic exchange of tax information between countries is being introduced, and data on ultimate beneficial owners is being disclosed.

You should carefully consider yacht ownership through a UK company, as there may be tax consequences both in the UK and in your country.

We recommend that you involve an auditor or a licensed accountant. The yacht must be properly registered as the property of the company, disclosed in the financial statements, all taxes and government fees must be paid.

Registration of a yacht with a UK company is possible only with strict compliance with the tax laws of your country. The tax authorities of your country should be aware of the existence of the UK company and its assets, including the yacht.

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commerce Registration

Commercial Yachts and Yachts Over 24 Meters

If your boat is longer than 24 meters, the ITC69 Tonnage Certificate is additionally needed.

If your boat is used for commercial purposes, Coding Certificate by the Surveyor is required, as well as any of business license.

Yachts for commercial use or yachts over 24 meters demand individual attention. The bigger the vessel, the more inquiries. Contact us, and we will review your case.

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More Information

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The British Merchant Navy is one of the top ten largest in the world, competing with Panama, Singapore, China, and the Marshall Islands.

The registration of British-flagged vessels is handled by the UK Ship Register (UKSR), which is part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Yachts registered in the UK do not have to physically visit the UK.

 

The ship radio license, MMSI and callsign are issued by OFCOM. The radio license is valid for a lifetime.

To register under Part 1, you must provide the ownership history of the vessel for the last 5 years. In other words, you must possess all certificates and documents confirming ownership of the yacht for the last 5 years.

If the yacht owner is not a resident of the UK, you’ll need a Representative Person, whose details are mentioned in the registration forms. In our situation, that is our UK partner who facilitates the registration process.

Registering a British flag is a complex process. But it's worth it! Just ask!

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Interesting Facts

After the famous Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Great Britain became the absolute naval hegemon and ships of other countries lowered their flags when they saw a British vessel.

The UK has a rich history of piracy. For example, the captain of the 'Black Pearl' in the movie 'Pirates of the Caribbean' was based on a real person – Francis Drake. He was a pirate, as well as a navigator, explorer and politician. Drake led the expedition to the Pacific coast of America, where he captured Spanish ships carrying gold and silver.

In the 18th-century England, there was a royal position – the Official Unlocker of Ocean Bottles. Only an appointed person was allowed to open and read bottle messages, as they could contain top secret or important information about state affairs. And those who dared to open the bottle on their own risked death.

Why do the British drive on the left? One theory suggests that this tradition originated from maritime rules, where a ship had to yield to another approaching from the right.


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Summary of UK Flag

Royal Naval Protection
No Need to Visit the UK
Valid in All Countries
of the World
Speed Registration for
Additional Payment
British Consular Support
International Prestige
and Reputation
Lifetime Radio License,
MMSI and Call Sign
Provisional Registration
in 48 Hours for 3 Months
24/7 Registration Services
Renewal is only
after 5 years
Registration
of Commercial Yachts
Advantageous Registration
for Yachts up to 24 Meters
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