uk part 1 yacht registration

UK Part 1 registration

The  UK Part 1  Yacht Registration is the most prestigious yacht registration in the world with a Class AA rating given by almost all nautical authorities around the globe!

This is also the most suitable and lowest priced yacht registration available for commercial charter yachts worldwide!

This flag certificate will provide on your yacht the well-known and highly respected British nationality. It is available for both private and commercial pleasure yachts up to and even exceeding 24 meters long. This registration is normally only available for citizens and residents from the UK or EU citizens with a formal UK address and an available representative. However, based on our concept, it will be available for every yacht owner from any country all over the world!

We also offer an  “Ultra Speed”  process through which the yacht will be registred within 3 (!) working days from the moment a complete registration dossier, including the mandatory documents, is delivered to the UK authorities. This convenient service is provided at an extra cost. The normal process will take around  3 weeks .

How do we make this possible for you?

The process is fairly simple and straightforward. As the yacht owner is required to have a formal UK address and a representative, we first create a dormant (sleeping) UK Limited company in the name of the yacht owner, who will be listed as the only shareholder and director of the company. In this way, you are not depending on anybody else but yourself.

The company will not have any tax obligations and does not have a bank account!

We will perform all yearly formal filing obligations for the company, so the yacht owner has nothing to worry about. For this service, the owner will only need to pay a low fixed yearly fee, which is the only annual cost required for this type of yacht registration. This fee covers the company maintenance, the yearly filing of documents, and the mandatory UK address and representation.

Once the company has been set up, it is time for you as the yacht owner to sign the new bill of sale that will transfer ownership of the yacht from you to your new company, which will then be the formal owner of the yacht. We will provide you with the new bill of sale. You only have to sign it! That’s all!

Additionally, we also need you to provide the title evidence for the last 5 years. This means that you can show the British authorities who has owned the yacht for the last 5 years. For new build yachts, we also require the builder’s certificate.

One of the best benefits of the British UK Part 1 registration is that you can arrange for your own local surveyor to create the mandatory Certificate of Tonnage and Measurement. This surveyor has to come from the approved list, which you can download  here . This will help you avoid waiting times, lower your costs, and speed up the whole procedure!

In the case that your yacht is over 24.00 meters or will be used as a commercial pleasure yacht, the same surveyor will also be able to arrange for you the mandatory ITC69 and/or the Coding Certificate. Also, yacht owners will be excited to hear that these documents issued by the classification company do not have to be renewed every few years. They will be valid for as long as the owner maintains the yacht registration—even if that’s 20 years!

And finally the owner signs a  “power of attorney”  for us so that we are authorized to do everything necesary to succesfully complete the yacht registration in your name in an efficiënt way! As we are a professional yacht registration company, we have a fixed account manager with the UK authorities who knows us personally, so the registration process should be completed quickly and smoothly.

About the pricing:

This is simple—we only have 3 fees: the initial fee; the Ultra Speed procedure fee; and the yearly company, filing and UK address and representation fee.

• The initial fee for a UK Part 1 yacht registration that is ready in around 3 weeks is: €750
• The initial fee for a UK Part 1 yacht registration that is ready in just 3 working days is: €1250
• The yearly fee for company maintenance, filing of documents and the mandatory UK address and representation is: €295

The fees are the same whether it is a pleasure or commercial yacht. For these fees, we provide all services that are required to successfully complete and maintain the UK Part 1 registration procedure, and they also cover company creation, company fees, filing of documents to the UK authorities, the mandatory UK address and representation, processing of the UK Part 1 registration request, correspondence with the UK authorities, registration documents, UK taxes and fees, and shipment by overnight Fedex Courier Express.

Some additional information

Some additional information to know when obtaining a UK Part 1 yacht registration:

• The yacht and UK Limited company must have a UNIQUE name. When filling out the application, you will be asked to request 3 unique names. The authorities will check and determine which name is available.
• If the yacht owner fails to pay the yearly company maintenance, filings and address fee, the company will be terminated, which will also terminate the UK Part 1 yacht registration immediately without prior notice.
• The yacht owner is fully entitled to fly the British flag on his yacht as his yacht will be officially British. The yacht registration is valid all over the world!
• The cost to terminate the UK Part 1 yacht registration is 350 euros. This can be arranged in a matter of days.
• The UK Part 1 yacht registration never expires. Only once every 5 years will it have to be re-confirmed to be extended for the next 5 years. We will take care of the re-confirmation.
• We do not accept UK Limited companies that are created by the yacht owner himself.
• If your yacht does not have a CE certification it can be registred with the UK Part 1 yacht registration without any problem.

And to conclude:

If a yacht will be used for commercial purposes, we can also create an active UK Limited company for you with a tax number along with other added services. Please note that these types of companies have administrative and tax obligations for which we do not provide any kind of service or advice. The prices of these extra “add ons” will always be provided upon request! All of our prices are subject to excl. 23% VAT.

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*  UK PART 1 registration

The UK Part 1 Yacht Registration is the most prestigious yacht registration in the world with a Class AA rating ! This is also the most suitable and lowest priced yacht registration available for commercial charter yachts worldwide! This flag certificate will provide on your yacht the well-known and highly respected British nationality. It is available for both private and commercial pleasure yachts up to and even exceeding 24 meters long.

The normal process will take around 3 weeks.

The process is fairly simple and straightforward. As the yacht owner is required to have a formal UK address and a representative, we first create a dormant (sleeping) UK Limited company in the name of the owner, who will be listed as the only shareholder and director of the company. In this way, you are not depending on anybody else but yourself. The company will not have any tax obligations and does not have a bank account! We will perform all yearly formal filing obligations for the company, so the yacht owner has nothing to worry about. For this service, the owner will only need to pay a low fixed yearly fee, which is the only annual cost required for this type of yacht registration. This fee covers the company maintenance, the yearly filing of documents, and the mandatory UK address and representation. Once the company has been set up, it is time for you as the yacht owner to sign the new bill of sale that will transfer ownership of the yacht from you to your new company, which will then be the formal owner of the yacht. We will provide you with the new bill of sale. You only have to sign it! That’s all! Additionally, we also need you to provide the title evidence for the last 5 years. This means that you can show the British authorities who has owned the yacht for the last 5 years. For new build yachts, we also require the builder’s certificate. One of the best benefits of the British UK Part 1 registration is that you can arrange for your own local surveyor to create the mandatory Certificate of Tonnage and Measurement. This surveyor has to come from the approved list, which you can download here. This will help you avoid waiting times, lower your costs, and speed up the whole procedure! In the case that your yacht is over 24.00 meters or will be used as a commercial pleasure yacht, the same surveyor will also be able to arrange for you the mandatory ITC69 and/or the Coding Certificate. Also, yacht owners will be excited to hear that these documents issued by the classification company do not have to be renewed every few years. They will be valid for as long as the owner maintains the yacht registration—even if that’s 20 years!

PRICE for  UK part 1 registration

Some additional information The yacht and UK Limited company must have a UNIQUE name. When filling out the application, you will be asked to request 3 unique names. The authorities will check and determine which name is available. If the yacht owner fails to pay the yearly company maintenance, filings and address fee, the company will be terminated, which will also terminate the UK Part 1 yacht registration immediately without prior notice. The yacht owner is fully entitled to fly the British flag on his yacht as his yacht will be officially British. The yacht registration is valid all over the world! The cost to terminate the UK Part 1 yacht registration is 350 euros. This can be arranged in a matter of days. The UK Part 1 yacht registration never expires. Only once every 5 years will it have to be re-confirmed to be extended for the next 5 years. Yacht Registration Holland will take care of the re-confirmation. We do not accept UK Limited companies that are created by the yacht owner himself. If your yacht does not have a CE certification it can be registered with the UK Part 1 yacht registration without any problem.  

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Boat Registration

How to register a boat in the UK?

Thinking about registering a boat in the UK for 2022? While not compulsory for all pleasure craft, boats entering international waters or with a marine mortgage need to be registered by law. Even if you don't meet those criteria, there are many reasons to undertake boat registration in the UK. For one, it provides proof of legal ownership and legal certainty if issues arise, including protection under UK law against maritime disasters. So, if you've got a boat or are thinking of buying a boat and don't know how to register it, here are all the details you need to know.

Why should you register your boat?

Before looking at the financial and technical details of registering, let's first underline why you should register your boat. Registering a vessel is a simple process that proves a boat's nationality. It can also help to prove ownership if any issues arise and are compulsory with certain commercial activities (like fishing).  If you're a small boat owner, it's an inexpensive process. You will be able to sail the UK flag in international waters and receive all the prestige that comes with this. Many marinas outside of the UK even require proof of boat ownership for access. UK boat registration provides this simply with clear documentation. More importantly, if your boat is stolen or gets damaged, registration helps authorities track down issues and support insurance claims. 

Where to undertake boat registration in the UK?

UK boats for use at sea are registered on the UK Ship Register. This is an online process that can be undertaken through the UK's GOV site. Application by post is also accepted. The UK Ship Register comes in 4 parts. The part you need to register with depends on your boat type and use. Let's look at these parts more closely:

Part 1 - commercial or pleasure boats

If you have a commercial boat (but not for fishing) or a pleasure boat (one that does not make money), you can register on Part 1. This also allows you to spend more than 6 months outside the UK and enables you to get a marine mortgage and boat finance . The cost for registering is £153 for 5 years with a renewal of £72 for the following 5 years. 

Part 2 - fishing boats

If you have a fishing boat , you should select Part 2. This enables you a legal right to catch and sell fish. There are two different types of fishing boat registration - simple and full. If you intend to take out a marine mortgage on your fishing boat, you must have full registration. The cost is £159 for a simple registration and £196 for full registration.

Part 3 - small boats

To reach the " small boats " criteria, your boat must be less than 24 metres long and used solely as a pleasure craft (not for business or commercial purposes). You also need to be based in the UK for at least 185 days per year. Among the most cost-effective registration options, it will allow you to prove your boat's nationality in international waters and costs £35 for 5 years.

Part 4 - commercial boats

If you plan to hire out (or charter) your boat, you should register on Part 4. This costs between £35 to £196 for 5 years, depending on the size and type of boat being registered.

Choosing the right registration

Choosing the right UK Ship Registry Part is pretty straightforward with only some overlap. In general, the simplest way to register a non-commercial vessel is to select Part 3, the small boat register. This gives you complete peace of mind as a UK resident, is cost-effective and covers all pleasure boats under 24 metres. You don't even have to keep your boat within the UK as long as you are a UK resident for at least 185 days per year. Note: you cannot use a Part 3-registered vessel for commercial means.

Who can apply for national ship registration?

Different sections of the registry come with different eligibility criteria, but there are some commonalities. In general, you must be a UK citizen or non-UK national settled in the UK. 

What do you need to register a boat?

Before you get started with the registration process, there are a few items that you'll need at hand to make the process smoother. First, you'll need your vessel's name along with the details of all owners . You can register your boat as an individual or under several joint owners. For multiple owners, a Bill of Sale must include all names with signatures. The UK's government system associates the first-listed owner as of the recipient for correspondence, so be sure to list this accordingly. All owners must also provide an address, email address and other personal contact information.  Next, you'll need full details of your boat , its type ( catamarans , motor yacht , sports cruiser , etc.), make and/or model, radio signal detail, the number of hulls and length of the boat. Safety certificates, a builders certificate and a certificate of survey for tonnage and measurement may also be requested. You should also provide the Hull Identification Number, if applicable, plus any previous government documentation. 

Supplementary forms

Along with your completed application form, you must also submit a copy of your boat's Bill of Sale and a Declaration of Eligibility . Information on all these necessary documents is provided when you enter the registration process on the government application website. Once the process is complete, you'll pay online with your credit or debit card accessible through the application menu. You can log in at any time to check any new or current data related to your license.

What happens next?

You will receive an email notification when it's time to renew. If you don't want to renew, you don't have to take any steps. The license runs out on the final date. If you've become a new owner of a boat, please get in touch with the registry to change/transfer ownership. Similarly, if you've sold your boat, please get in touch with the registry to let them know.

How to get a waterway license?

While registration on the UK Ship Register is required for use at sea, inland waterways like canals, rivers and lakes are different. From paddleboats to canal boats, a license is needed on waterways. Here, you need to register specifically with the particular licensing authority. These roughly include the Canal & River Trust and Broads Authority in England, Scottish Canals in Scotland and NI Direct in Northern Ireland. England's canals and rivers are further divided by the River Thames, River Medway, Anglian waterways and Rye Harbour. To complete registration on any of these waterways, you may need insurance and a Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) certificate. Waterway licenses need to be renewed each year. While you need to register with each navigation authority for use, you can buy a visitor license for short periods.

How much is a UK waterways license?

As different waterways are managed by different bodies, there is no single cost to a waterways license. One of the most useful is the UK's Canal & River Trust "Gold License" which covers all of their waterways. A Gold License covers any boat with a motor (including riverboats and canal boats) and grants regular access to waterways owned by the Environmental Agency. This year-long access fee starts at £634. If you don't need constant access to different canals or rivers, it's far more cost-effective to choose a license or toll from the particular department you're using. In the Broads, for example, this tool is based on the size of your boat and whether it is a row/man-powered boat or motorboat . You pay for access annually and must meet the regulations of each authority.

Kayaks, canoes and rowboats

Simple kayaks and canoes are also subject to licensing for use on British waterways. In the UK, that's a flat fee of £53.71 for the Canal & River Trust, £35 for the Broads Authority and £44.20 with the Environmental Agency. Many canoes or kayak owners register with organisations like British Canoeing to cover all these for less. Likewise, rowing clubs provide rowing boat licenses on select waterways through British Rowing. You can find more information on available licenses on this HM Government page.

Should I register my boat?

The simple answer here is yes. Registering your boat offers peace of mind and ensures boating authorities that you meet standard regulations. For more information on requirements needed, head over to the HM Government page.

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UK Yacht Registration Register your boat under UK Flag

Uk boat registration (part 1) – british red ensign from only 649 eur.

Our speciality is to register your boat, jetski, canoe or water scooter in the United Kingdom. The UK PART 1 flag registration is valid all around the world. We can get it done fast and with minimal paperwork. We will register your boat for 649 EUR if you register as private owner or 799 EUR if we need to setup a UK ltd for you. The UK Part 1 Boat Registration will let you sail under the UK “red ensign” flag anywhere in the world. The UK yacht registration (part 1) is available for both private, bareboat and commercial vessels up to 24 meters long. If your vessel is longer than 24 meters, you can still register your vessel for any use with the UK part 1 registration, however the surveyor needs to arrange the mandatory ITC69/coding certificate. The primary register for British ships that sail international is the Part 1 registration. Having a British Part 1 flag registration provides evidence of nationality, evidence of ownership, confers a unique name and registration number and offers the capacity to register marine mortgages.

The British ‘red ensign’ register is administered by the UK Government’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Their management and administration are efficient, and it allows the ability to seek assistance from any British Consulate or Embassy in the world as it gives the British nationality to your vessel. Transfers between British ensign flags are not complicated either.

The UK part 1 registration is open to anyone. You can register as a private owner if you are on the approved country list (see below image) or otherwise we can register any nationality by setting up a UK dormant company to own your vessel. Most of our customers are non UK Nationals, as they look for a jurisdiction that doesn't have the strict regulations of their own countries like Spain, Italy, Greece, France etc...

What does the UK yacht registration look like?

Who can register under the UK boat registration?

All nationalities can register under the British flag but only residents of the below country list can register as private owner. Not to worry, for all other nationalities, we set up a UK LTD for the ownership of your vessel and it still will only cost 799 EUR. If you register as private owner, we do not need to setup a British LTD for you and the cost is only 649 EUR,-.

The list of approved residency countries is: UK residents, EU nationals, UK companies and EEA companies, all Commonwealth citizens and countries and citizens and companies of the following countries: Argentina, Aruba, Bahrain, Brazil, the Canary Islands, China (including Hong Kong), the Faroe Islands, Haiti, Israel, Japan, Liberia, Madeira, the Marshall Islands, Monaco, Panama, South Korea, Switzerland, Surinam, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America. Brexit: The above eligibility requirements are still in force since the Brexit on Jan 1, 2021!

The UK flag registration is valid for 5 years. The renewal process is less paperwork and we will contact you 6 months before the due date to assist you.

It depends if you register as private person (from the approved nationality list) or if you register with another residency so we need to setup a UK LTD for you, to be eligible. If we need to set up a UK LTD for the ownership of your vessel, the total cost is 799 EUR. If you register as private owner, the cost is only 649 EUR,-. The standard registration procedure takes about 2 weeks from when we are supplied all documents. If you need your registration done faster, there is a express service that will only take 3 days. This service is offered by the UK ship registry and will cost an additional 250 EUR,-. We include all in our price; government fees, translations & courier fees, so there are no hidden cost!.

The normal registration takes about 14 days from when we submit all documents. However, if you need it done faster, the express service will only take 3 days. The service is offered by the UK maritime registry and will cost an additional 250 EUR,-.

You can use your vessel for either private use, bareboat charters or commercial use under the UK part 1 registration. The procedure and documentation is the same for all 3 categories. NOTE on bareboat charter use: the UK Registry allows ships to bareboat charter out to another register (if on the approved country list above) while remaining able to return to the UK Registry at the end of the charterparty.

The vessel owner is required to arrange for the official number that is provided and the registration document and the registered tonnage to be marked on the boat. The name and also the port of choice must also need to be marked clearly on the stern of the boat. Moreover, the owner is required to certify that the boat has been properly marked by returning the certified carving and marking note within 3 months.

We setup a British LTD. company and you will transfer the ownership of your vessel into this dormant LTD that you own. The LTD is only used for boat ownership, so no taxes or government filings will be due. We will make a bill of sale for you transferring the boat into your new UK LTD. and it will be done in 2-4 business day. BREXIT INFO: There are no changes in procedure even with the new Brexit laws!

• An authorisation letter (we will prepare this)
• Copy of your passport
• Copy of Bill of Sale
• Your vessel must have a unique name, you need to provide 4 unique names, the UK authorities will check and determine which name is available once they have received your registration request.
• A certificate of a survey of tonnage and measurement (not older than 1 year) is mandatory but can be done in your own country. You just need to make sure it is done by one of the authorised surveyors, which are: (ABS Europe Ltd), Bureau Veritas (BV), Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Germanischer Lloyd (GL), Lloyd' s Register (LR), Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NKK), Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) *
• The deletion certificate (if previously registered)
• A copy of a radio call sign (if you have one)

*for commercial use only, the surveyor needs to arrange the mandatory ITC69/coding certificate after the documents have been approved by the UK authorities. Small Commercial vessels require either a Work Boat Certificate, Passenger Boat Certificate, Small Commercial Vessel Certificate, or appropriate safety certificate at the time of registration done by one of the authorised surveyors.

MMSI Radio License – for VHF, AIS, radar and EPIRB

It is mandatory to have a valid MMSI / radio license on your boat so we recommend our boat owners to apply for a MMSI / Radio license when applying for the UK flag registration. The MMSI license permits the following equipment: VHF Radio, radar, epirb, transponder & radar and assigns the numbers needed to operate correctly. We can arrange a UK MMSI radio license for our clients. The cost is cost 149 EUR,- in combination with any flag registration or 199 EUR,- if you order it alone. Required documents: we only require a passport copy. (you do not need any radio course)

Register now in 3 simple steps

UK Part 1 registration

The  UK Part 1  Yacht Registration is the most prestigious yacht registration in the world with a Class AA rating given by almost all nautical authorities around the globe!

This is also the most suitable and lowest priced yacht registration available for commercial charter yachts worldwide!

This flag certificate will provide on your yacht the well-known and highly respected British nationality. It is available for both private and commercial pleasure yachts up to and even exceeding 24 meters long. This registration is normally only available for citizens and residents from the UK or EU citizens with a formal UK address and an available representative. However, based on our concept, it will be available for every yacht owner from any country all over the world!

We also offer an  “Ultra Speed”  process through which the yacht will be registred within 3 (!) working days from the moment a complete registration dossier, including the mandatory documents, is delivered to the UK authorities. This convenient service is provided at an extra cost. The normal process will take around  3 weeks .

How do we make this possible for you?

The process is fairly simple and straightforward. As the yacht owner is required to have a formal UK address and a representative, we first create a dormant (sleeping) UK Limited company in the name of the yacht owner, who will be listed as the only shareholder and director of the company. In this way, you are not depending on anybody else but yourself.

The company will not have any tax obligations and does not have a bank account!

We will perform all yearly formal filing obligations for the company, so the yacht owner has nothing to worry about. For this service, the owner will only need to pay a low fixed yearly fee, which is the only annual cost required for this type of yacht registration. This fee covers the company maintenance, the yearly filing of documents, and the mandatory UK address and representation.

Once the company has been set up, it is time for you as the yacht owner to sign the new bill of sale that will transfer ownership of the yacht from you to your new company, which will then be the formal owner of the yacht. We will provide you with the new bill of sale. You only have to sign it! That’s all!

Additionally, we also need you to provide the title evidence for the last 5 years. This means that you can show the British authorities who has owned the yacht for the last 5 years. For new build yachts, we also require the builder’s certificate.

One of the best benefits of the British UK Part 1 registration is that you can arrange for your own local surveyor to create the mandatory Certificate of Tonnage and Measurement. This surveyor has to come from the approved list, which you can download  here . This will help you avoid waiting times, lower your costs, and speed up the whole procedure!

In the case that your yacht is over 24.00 meters or will be used as a commercial pleasure yacht, the same surveyor will also be able to arrange for you the mandatory ITC69 and/or the Coding Certificate. Also, yacht owners will be excited to hear that these documents issued by the classification company do not have to be renewed every few years. They will be valid for as long as the owner maintains the yacht registration—even if that’s 20 years!

And finally the owner signs a  “power of attorney”  for us so that we are authorized to do everything necesary to succesfully complete the yacht registration in your name in an efficiënt way! As we are a professional yacht registration company, we have a fixed account manager with the UK authorities who knows us personally, so the registration process should be completed quickly and smoothly.

About the pricing:

This is simple—we only have 3 fees: the initial fee; the Ultra Speed procedure fee; and the yearly company, filing and UK address and representation fee.

• The initial fee for a UK Part 1 yacht registration that is ready in around 3 weeks is: €995
• The initial fee for a UK Part 1 yacht registration that is ready in just 3 working days is: €1395
• The yearly fee for company maintenance, filing of documents and the mandatory UK address and representation is: €325

The fees are the same whether it is a pleasure or commercial yacht. For these fees, we provide all services that are required to successfully complete and maintain the UK Part 1 registration procedure, and they also cover company creation, company fees, filing of documents to the UK authorities, the mandatory UK address and representation, processing of the UK Part 1 registration request, correspondence with the UK authorities, registration documents, UK taxes and fees, and shipment by overnight Fedex Courier Express.

Some additional information

Some additional information to know when obtaining a UK Part 1 yacht registration:

• The yacht and UK Limited company must have a UNIQUE name. When filling out the application, you will be asked to request 3 unique names. The authorities will check and determine which name is available.
• If the yacht owner fails to pay the yearly company maintenance, filings and address fee, the company will be terminated, which will also terminate the UK Part 1 yacht registration immediately without prior notice.
• The yacht owner is fully entitled to fly the British flag on his yacht as his yacht will be officially British. The yacht registration is valid all over the world!
• The cost to terminate the UK Part 1 yacht registration is 350 euros. This can be arranged in a matter of days.
• The UK Part 1 yacht registration never expires. Only once every 5 years will it have to be re-confirmed to be extended for the next 5 years. We will take care of the re-confirmation.
• We do not accept UK Limited companies that are created by the yacht owner himself.
• If your yacht does not have a CE certification it can be registred with the UK Part 1 yacht registration without any problem.

And to conclude:

If a yacht will be used for commercial purposes, we can also create an active UK Limited company for you with a tax number along with other added services. Please note that these types of companies have administrative and tax obligations for which we do not provide any kind of service or advice. The prices of these extra “add ons” will always be provided upon request! All of our prices are subject to excl. 12.5% VAT.

• Boating abroad

The information provided by the RYA is written as a guide for a UK flagged Pleasure Vessel operated by somebody who is established (resident) in the UK. It may not be applicable to boats registered in other Flag States, those who are established elsewhere and vessels that are operated commercially. 

If you are boating abroad and you find something is different or come across something new, please let us know by emailing [email protected] . 

Boat under its own propulsion

Ship's papers.

When you are sailing a UK registered boat from the UK to another country, you will require papers both for the boat and for the crew on board. 

There is a core set of paperwork set out in the table below - your ship's papers - which, together with your passport, any other personal paperwork and any country specific documentation or publications you may be required to carry on board, should enable you to satisfy a foreign official, if required.  Your ship's papers should be original documents.

As the UK ceased to be treated as an EU Member State at 2300 UTC on 31 December 2020, you should expect greater scrutiny, changes to procedures and new requirements to report on arrival and departure , when moving between the UK and the EU, EAA and/or the Schengen area by recreational boat.  

The following documentation should be carried:

The documentation for towing a UK registered boat to another country is covered later in this page.

Registration Document

Registration of a vessel is not compulsory for a UK Citizen who keeps their boat in the UK, but it is essential if you wish to take your boat outside UK Territorial Waters. This applies both to boats which are sailed or driven to a foreign port and to dinghies, ribs, sports boats and PWC etc. which are trailered to other countries. You should always be prepared to present the original registration document - photocopies are often not acceptable.  This is known to be the case in France ( RYA members can read more ).

In the UK, a digital copy of a registration certificate or a printed copy of the registration certificate is considered the “original” copy. The UK Ship Register now issues Part III (SSR) Registration Certificates digitally. There is a QR code on the digital certificate which foreign ports are able to scan. Since this has been the case we have not been made aware of any members having had issues in other countries with related to their digital registration certificate. You may wish to print (and laminate) the digital certificate if you prefer to have a physical copy onboard.

Carrying additional evidence of ownership such as a bill of sale is also recommended, especially if the vessel is registered on the UK Small Ship Register (SSR - Part III of the register). 

Tenders should be marked T/T [name of the mother ship]. If the tender’s use extends beyond ship to shore transport, some jurisdictions may treat the tender as a pleasure craft in its own right and the registration requirement and other rules outlined here may apply to the tender independently of the mother ship.

If the owner of the vessel is not onboard, in some countries the skipper will need documentation (for example a letter authorising use of the vessel ) to ensure the use of the vessel is not seen as illegal chartering.

Registering a boat in the UK

In the UK boats are registered with the UK Ship Register, which is part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The Register has four parts; which part is applicable depends on the boat's usage. For private recreational use, the choice will usually be between part 1 and part 3. 

The primary register for British ships is Part 1 of the Central Register of British Ships. Part 1 of the Register provides evidence of nationality, evidence of ownership, confers a unique name and registration number (Official Number) and offers the capacity to register marine mortgages. British citizens are eligible to register a vessel on Part 1 of the Register regardless of where they live or how much time they spend in the UK (owners who are not normally resident in the UK are required to appoint a representative person who is).

Part 3 of the Register (the Small Ships Register (SSR)) is only intended to provide evidence of nationality in order to enable the vessel’s skipper to demonstrate which flag state has responsibility for the vessel (particularly for the purposes of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982) when voyaging outside UK territorial waters. Part 3 of the Register was formed in 1993 to provide a cheap and simple means of demonstrating British nationality aimed at UK boaters wishing to undertake short foreign voyages from the UK.  Part 3 of the UK Ship Register continues to have the same legal effect as Part 1.

Eligibility and how to register

Information regarding boat registration in the UK  for RYA members.

Eligibility criteria published by the UK Ship Register . 

Register a boat guidance on gov.uk . 

Maritime Radio Licences

It is a requirement under the International Radio Regulations that all transmitting stations have a licence.

All maritime radio equipment (including VHF or VHF DSC radio, radar, EPIRB or PLB, AIS etc.) must be covered by a Ship Radio Licence and operated by (or under the direct supervision of) a holder of a maritime radio operator certificate.

Ship Radio Licence

If radio equipment is installed or used on it, a UK registered vessel must have a Ship Radio Licence  issued by OFCOM. The licence, which details the equipment covered, must be carried onboard. A Ship Radio licence provides you with an International Call Sign and (if applicable) a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number for the vessel. 

In the UK a handheld VHF can be licenced by a Ship Portable Radio Licence  to allow the equipment to be used on more than one boat.  The Ship Portable Radio Licence is intended for use in UK territorial waters. In place of an internationally recognised call sign, the Ship Portable Radio Licence has a T (reference) number, which is not recognised internationally. The details of a Ship Portable Radio Licence are not sent to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the licence states that it, "covers the use of the radio equipment in UK territorial waters". A Ship Portable Radio Licence is therefore not sufficient when boating outside UK territorial waters.

A handheld DSC VHF can normally only be licensed on a Ship Portable Radio Licence and cannot therefore be licensed for used abroad.  See Licensing Onboard Electronics page for additional information  about adding a handheld DSC VHF to a Ship Radio Licence. 

Authority to Operate Maritime Radio

The International Radio Regulations require that a maritime radio station is controlled by an operator holding a certificate issued or recognised by the government to which the station is subject. For a UK recreational boater operating a DSC VHF radio this is usually the RYA issued Short Range Certificate (SRC). 

Information  about the validity of the SRC overseas and other UK maritime operator licences.

Insurance for boats is more or less compulsory nowadays and many European countries will ask for evidence of insurance cover. Some countries specify minimum levels of cover and others require a translation which your insurer should be able to provide. Be aware of the territorial limits of your cover. 

Evidence of eligibility for relief from VAT and import duty

If you take your boat abroad, on your return to the UK, you may be asked to evidence that your boat is eligible for relief from VAT and import duty. 

For a short trip abroad, this will usually mean being able to evidence that:

- the boat had UK domestic status when it left the UK (i.e. it was VAT paid)

- the same person is importing the boat as exported it

- the boat is returning to the UK within 3 years of its export from the UK*

- the boat has undergone no more than running repairs that did not increase its value whilst outside the UK*

See the VAT Guide for Boats  for information regarding the status of boats which were outside the UK at 2300 UTC on 31 December 2020. For further information on how to report your arrival in the UK see Entry and Exit Formalities . 

Although there is no legal requirement for a UK flagged pleasure craft to keep a log of its voyages, it is good practice to do so, especially when on longer trips.  It is not unknown for foreign officials to request to see the log.  An old log may also be useful if it is necessary to demonstrate a boat's historical location for example when demonstrating eligibility for returned goods relief.

Evidence of Competence

A UK pleasure vessel (a vessel that is used for the sport/pleasure of the owner as is not operating commercially or carrying more than 12 passengers) which is either less than 24m load line length or less than 80GT is exempt from the Merchant Shipping Manning Regulations. This means that unless a UK pleasure vessel is 24m load line length or longer and 80GT or more, the UK Government does not require the skipper to have a certificate of competence or licence.

This is not necessarily the case when in the territorial or internal waters of another country. The requirements vary from country to country so you should establish what is required in advance. It is advisable to carry any certificates you hold (just in case) even if they are not a formal requirement. The International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft (ICC) is increasingly the certificate that is requested whilst cruising abroad. For further information see Evidence of Competence Abroad . 

Passport (or other recognised travel document)

Every crew member on board requires a recognised travel document such as a valid passport. Check whether a visa is required or if there are any restrictions on how long you can stay in a particular country or group of countries at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice .

For British Citizens visa-free travel to the Schengen Area as tourist is permitted for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This is explained in more detail on the  Entry and Exit Formalities  page. 

As well as checking the passport expiry date you need to check its validity for travel to the country you are visiting. It may not be valid for travel even though it has not expired, in particular if it is valid for more than 10 years. Check the validity of your passport for travel to the EU, EEA or Switzerland .  

GHIC / EHIC and insurance cover for medical care abroad and repatriation to the UK

For the latest information on the validity of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) see  healthcare for UK nationals visiting the EU . 

The GHIC / EHIC has limited applicability and does not replace travel insurance. Appropriate medical and repatriation insurance is recommended. Guidance on travel insurance can be found at  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance

When selecting medical or travel insurance for a trip which is to include boating, care is needed as many policies either limit or exclude boating from the range of activities covered by the insurance. Some policies exclude boating if this is the main purpose of the trip, which might make such a policy unsuitable for example for a yacht charter holiday. If the policy includes limits on the extent to which it covers boating, you should check that the limits are clearly defined – for example, the term “coastal” is frequently used in insurance paperwork but has no common legal definition; clarification of such a limitation, if required, should be sought from the insurer.   

It is recommended that you check https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice where information is provided about the health risks for different countries. Even within Europe additional risks such as tick-borne diseases are present and it is important to be aware of such risks and their associated prevention advice. 

Boat taken abroad on a trailer

Note: This section deals with the paperwork required for the boat and trailer before the boat is launched.  After launch, the paperwork detailed above (for a boat under its own propulsion) is applicable.

As the UK ceased to be treated as an EU Member State at 2300 UTC on 31 December 2020, you should expect greater scrutiny at the border.

Paperwork for the people, vehicle, trailer and boat

• Vehicle driving licence - valid for the combination of vehicle and trailer
• International Driving Permit (IDP) – check if you need an IDP (may be needed in the EU in some circumstances)
• Vehicle registration document
• Trailer registration – all trailers over 3,500kg and commercial trailers over 750kg must be registered before being towed through countries that have ratified the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Check which countries require registration and how to register a trailer. Where trailer registration is required, you will need to carry the trailer registration certificate and the trailer’s own registration plate (separate from the vehicle towing it) needs to be displayed.
• Boat registration document and Bill of Sale or other evidence of ownership
• Vehicle breakdown and recovery insurance (recommended)
• Vehicle/trailer/boat insurance - check if you need a green card (not required for driving in the EU ).
• UK sticker – check if you need to display a UK sticker in Europe
• Documentation for customs declarations which may include evidence of eligibility for relief from VAT and import duty (to facilitate your return to the UK). See Entry and Exit Formalities  for further information.
• Passport or other recognised travel document and visa if applicable – check the passport validity requirements (see above)
• GHIC (or EHIC) and insurance cover for medical care abroad and repatriation to the UK e.g. travel insurance (the cover needs to include the activities you intend to participate in whilst aboard).

Other preparation

As well as preparing the documentation for your journey you need to familiarise yourself with the different rules and regulations that may apply in the countries you are travelling to or through. This might include equipment that you need to carry or different speed limits. Further information to help you to prepare to drive abroad can be found in the gov.uk drive abroad: step by step tool and at https://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/going_abroad/index_en.htm .

Useful links

Drive abroad: step by step - https://www.gov.uk/drive-abroad

Driving in the EU - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-the-eu

Visiting Europe from 1 January 2021 - https://www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021

Country specific travel advice - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

AA guidance on driving rules by country https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-europe/country-by-country

European Commission Going Abroad road safety information - https://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/going_abroad/index_en.htm

Related pages

Boating Abroad

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*for commercial use only, the surveyor needs to arrange the mandatory ITC69/coding certificate after the documents have been approved by the UK authorities.

1) Copy of your passport

2) copy of bill of sale, 3) your vessel.

Your vessel must have a unique name, you need to provide 4 unique names, the UK authorities will check and determine which name is available once they have received your registration request.

4) A Certificate Of Survey

A certificate of a survey of tonnage and measurement (not older than 1 year) is mandatory but can be done in your own country. You just need to make sure it is done by one of the authorised surveyors, which are: (American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Bureau Veritas (BV), Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Germanischer Lloyd (GL), Lloyd' s Register (LR), Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NKK), Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) *

5) The deletion certificate (if previously registered)

6) a copy of a radio call sign (if you have one), 3 days boat registration.

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UK Part 1 Registration

Register your yacht now!

The  UK Part 1  Yacht Registration is the most prestigious yacht registration in the world with a Class AA rating given by almost all nautical authorities around the globe!

This is also the most suitable and lowest priced yacht registration available for commercial charter yachts worldwide!

British nationality

This flag certificate will provide on your yacht the well-known and highly respected British nationality. It is available for both private and commercial pleasure yachts up to and even exceeding 24 meters long. This registration is normally only available for citizens and residents from the UK or EU citizens with a formal UK address and an available representative. However, based on our concept, it will be available for every yacht owner from any country all over the world!

We also offer an  “Ultra Speed”  process through which the yacht will be registred within 3 (!) working days from the moment a complete registration dossier, including the mandatory documents, is delivered to the UK authorities. This convenient service is provided at an extra cost. The normal process will take around  3 weeks .

How do we make this possible for you?

The process is fairly simple and straightforward. As the yacht owner is required to have a formal UK address and a representative, we first create a dormant (sleeping) UK Limited company in the name of the yacht owner, who will be listed as the only shareholder and director of the company. In this way, you are not depending on anybody else but yourself.

The company will not have any tax obligations and does not have a bank account!

How does it work?

We will perform all yearly formal filing obligations for the company, so the yacht owner has nothing to worry about. For this service, the owner will only need to pay a low fixed yearly fee, which is the only annual cost required for this type of yacht registration. This fee covers the company maintenance, the yearly filing of documents, and the mandatory UK address and representation.

Once the company has been set up, it is time for you as the yacht owner to sign the new bill of sale that will transfer ownership of the yacht from you to your new company, which will then be the formal owner of the yacht. We will provide you with the new bill of sale. You only have to sign it! That’s all!

Additionally, we also need you to provide the title evidence for the last 5 years. This means that you can show the British authorities who has owned the yacht for the last 5 years. For new build yachts, we also require the builder’s certificate.

Benefits of the British UK Part 1 Yacht Registration

One of the best benefits of the British UK Part 1 registration is that you can arrange for your own local surveyor to create the mandatory Certificate of Tonnage and Measurement. This surveyor has to come from the approved list, which you can download  here . This will help you avoid waiting times, lower your costs, and speed up the whole procedure!

In the case that your yacht is over 24.00 meters or will be used as a commercial pleasure yacht, the same surveyor will also be able to arrange for you the mandatory ITC69 and/or the Coding Certificate. Also, yacht owners will be excited to hear that these documents issued by the classification company do not have to be renewed every few years. They will be valid for as long as the owner maintains the yacht registration—even if that’s 20 years!

And finally the owner signs a  “power of attorney”  for us so that we are authorized to do everything necesary to succesfully complete the yacht registration in your name in an efficiënt way! As we are a professional yacht registration company, we have a fixed account manager with the UK authorities who knows us personally, so the registration process should be completed quickly and smoothly.

About the pricing

This is simple—we only have 3 fees: the initial fee; the Ultra Speed procedure fee; and the yearly company, filing and UK address and representation fee.

• The initial fee for a UK Part 1 yacht registration that is ready in around 3 weeks is: €995
• The initial fee for a UK Part 1 yacht registration that is ready in just 3 working days is: €1395
• The yearly fee for company maintenance, filing of documents and the mandatory UK address and representation is: €325

The fees are the same whether it is a pleasure or commercial yacht. For these fees, we provide all services that are required to successfully complete and maintain the UK Part 1 registration procedure, and they also cover company creation, company fees, filing of documents to the UK authorities, the mandatory UK address and representation, processing of the UK Part 1 registration request, correspondence with the UK authorities, registration documents, UK taxes and fees, and shipment by overnight Fedex Courier Express.

Some additional information

Some additional information to know when obtaining a UK Part 1 yacht registration:

• The yacht and UK Limited company must have a UNIQUE name. When filling out the application, you will be asked to request 3 unique names. The authorities will check and determine which name is available.
• If the yacht owner fails to pay the yearly company maintenance, filings and address fee, the company will be terminated, which will also terminate the UK Part 1 yacht registration immediately without prior notice.
• The yacht owner is fully entitled to fly the British flag on his yacht as his yacht will be officially British. The yacht registration is valid all over the world!
• The cost to terminate the UK Part 1 yacht registration is 350 euros. This can be arranged in a matter of days.
• The UK Part 1 yacht registration never expires. Only once every 5 years will it have to be re-confirmed to be extended for the next 5 years. We will take care of the re-confirmation.
• We do not accept UK Limited companies that are created by the yacht owner himself.
• If your yacht does not have a CE certification it can be registred with the UK Part 1 yacht registration without any problem.

And to conclude

If a yacht will be used for commercial purposes, we can also create an active UK Limited company for you with a tax number along with other added services. Please note that these types of companies have administrative and tax obligations for which we do not provide any kind of service or advice. The prices of these extra “add ons” will always be provided upon request! All of our prices are subject to excl. 12.5% VAT.

We also provide boat registrations, registered under other nationalities. Such as the highly respected  Polish  flag and the  Worldwide  (Dutch flag) and the  Gibraltar yacht registration.

• Search forums
• Practical Boat Owner's Reader to Reader

UK Part 1 registration

• Thread starter Irish Rover
• Start date 1 Mar 2024

• Irish Rover

Well-known member

I'm applying for UK Part 1 registration for a boat I'm in the process of buying. I made the application today for provisional registration. I spoke to a lady in the Registry and she was extremely pleasant and helpful. My provisional application is now on line and they're asking for a letter signed by me and my family members who will have shares confirming the boat is currently outside the UK. Is this to do with CE conformity or what.  

Just a guess, it might be to do with UK VAT  

Stingo said: Just a guess, it might be to do with UK VAT Click to expand...

Buck Turgidson

Irish Rover said: I'm applying for UK Part 1 registration for a boat I'm in the process of buying. I made the application today for provisional registration. I spoke to a lady in the Registry and she was extremely pleasant and helpful. My provisional application is now on line and they're asking for a letter signed by me and my family members who will have shares confirming the boat is currently outside the UK. Is this to do with CE conformity or what. Click to expand...

Buck Turgidson said: Could it be to do with the survey requirements? I remember there was a grace period for boats outside the UK. You could just call up and ask. I have always found them extremely helpful. Click to expand...

Just curious: why aren't you registering your boat under the Irish flag, thereby avoiding all the 90/180 day rules (or whatever the rule is for UK flagged boats in the EU)? Edit: I assume that you are actually Irish?  

Stingo said: Just curious: why aren't you registering your boat under the Irish flag, thereby avoiding all the 90/180 day rules (or whatever the rule is for UK flagged boats in the EU)? Edit: I assume that you are actually Irish? Click to expand...

Motor_Sailor

Flag registration doesn't affect either immigration status (the 90/180) or VAT status of the boat. All these issues are separate.  

Baggywrinkle

If registration onto the UK Ship Register is not completed before the Certificate expires, your ship will cease to be recognised as British.  Click to expand...

Motor_Sailor said: Flag registration doesn't affect either immigration status (the 90/180) or VAT status of the boat. All these issues are separate. Click to expand...

Baggywrinkle said: Think the "outside UK waters" bit is possibly explained here? ... Provisional Registration The only thing that worried me about provisional registration was the 3 month expiry. My Part 1 application took a long time due to chasing down invoices and previous sales contracts from 3 different countries, have PM'd you with the details. Hopefully Sunsail have all these going back to original factory order. Click to expand...

Can an EU resident use a non EU vat paid boat within the EU..just asking? Maybe you are a non EU resident Paddy...  

pandos said: Can an EU resident use a non EU vat paid boat within the EU..just asking? Maybe you are a non EU resident Paddy... Click to expand...

No. (OP is resident in Turkey)  

Irish Rover said: No. Guilty as charged. Click to expand...

westernman said: If you are an EU citizen (e.g. Irish) but not resident in the EU, in theory you can have a boat in the EU which is not VAT paid. Even with an Irish flag. It is residence not citizenship which is supposed to count. But you may be repeatedly challenged to show that you are not resident - i.e. you will need to prove you are resident outside of the EU. I have no idea how easy/difficult this turns out to be in practice with local officialdom. I have a feeling it might be very tiresome. Click to expand...

Irish Rover said: I don't think that is correct. My understanding is the boat can not be registed in an EU member state. Click to expand...

..... as this thread is drifting already ...... as a holder of UK and Irish Passports with a boat on the UK SSR and resident in GB I had assumed sailing in the Schengen area was going to relatively simple - check-in on arrival and then carry on my merry way via whichever member states took my fancy. I suspect I shall be disabused of this notion!  

awol said: ..... as this thread is drifting already ...... as a holder of UK and Irish Passports with a boat on the UK SSR and resident in GB I had assumed sailing in the Schengen area was going to relatively simple - check-in on arrival and then carry on my merry way via whichever member states took my fancy. I suspect I shall be disabused of this notion! Click to expand...

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UK Ship Register fees

Fee list for registration costs

MCA Agency fees 2018

PDF , 312 KB , 10 pages

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List of various fees and costs generally incurred when registering a vessel on the UK Ship Register. Information includes methods of payment.

Now includes revised fee rates for 2018.

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Update or correct the highlighted information before submitting your application

Welcome to the uk ship register (uksr).

Register your vessel on the UKSR to use the UK Ensign.

Sign in to UKSR online services

When logged in you can:

• Reserve a vessel name
• Register a vessel
• Manage a vessel
• Claim a vessel
• Certify your vessel insurance

• Change of Ownership
• Registration
• Make a Change

If a vessel is currently registered with the UK Ship Register, but is changing ownership either due to a vessel being sold, purchased or inherited, the new owner will have to update the registration certificate to reflect the change.

How to apply

You can contact us at  [email protected] to apply to Change the Ownership if you have just bought your vessel. 

Depending on what part the registry the vessel is current registered on, the registration process and requirements are different. Guidance and links to relevant forms for each part of the registry can be found below:

Change of ownership

Commercial vessels registered on part 1 of the uk ship register.

Bill of sale 

If there is a mortgage outstanding against the transferor, the vessels ownership can still be registered, provided the mortgage box is ticked and the bottom of the form. Please be advised that the new owner does not take an ownership of the existing mortgage. Once the change of ownership has been registered, the mortgage will remain on our register as historic in the name of the transferor.

The Declaration of eligibility is to be completed in full and, the property in a ship is divided into 64 shares.

If none of the owners making up the majority interest resides in the UK, a UK representative must be appointed.

A Certificate of incorporation (if applicable) must be included in your application if the registering owner is a registered company. 

A Valid coding certificate completed by a class/certifying authority (if applicable) is required for all commercial vessels under 24m. A large commercial yacht over 24m will require a large yacht certificate issued by Large Yacht Services . The certificate must be in the name of the new owner or the managing agent if stipulated.

The fee to register a change of ownership is £105. A fee will be required for any additional bill of sale involved with the transfer of shares

The Continuous Synopsis Record (if applicable) (CSR) is a form of log book that stays with the ship for its whole life, and records all changes of owner, flag, name, Class, ISM etc.  The ship must keep its copy of the CSR on board even when it transfers to another flag state, is sold to another owner, is taken over by another bareboat charter, or another company assumes the responsibility of the ship operation.

A CSR must be maintained for: Passenger ships on international voyages, cargo ships of 500 GT and above on international voyages and Class A passenger ships operating domestic services within UK waters.

Pleasure Vessels Registered on Part 1 of the UK Ship Register

Bill of sale

If there is a mortgage outstanding against transferor, the vessels ownership can still be registered, provided the mortgage box is ticked and the bottom of the form. Please be advised that the new owner does not take an ownership of the existing mortgage. Once the change of ownership has been registered, the mortgage will remain on our register as historic in the name of the transferor

If none of the owners making up the majority interest is resident in the UK, a representative person must be appointed.

A Certificate of incorporation (if applicable) must be included in your application if the registering owner is a registered company.

Fishing Vessels Registered on Part 2 of the UK Ship Register

If the person transferring the vessel has an outstanding mortgage against it, ownership can still be registered, provided the mortgage box is ticked at the bottom of the form. Please be advised that the new owner does not take on ownership of the existing mortgage. Once the change of ownership has been registered, for historic purposes the mortgage will remain on our register‚ under the name of the mortgagor.

The Declaration of eligibility must be completed in full and the property in a ship is divided into 64 shares. If none of the owners that make up the majority interest are resident in the UK, a representative person must be appointed.

A Certificate of incorporation (if applicable)must be included in your application if the registering owner is a registered company.

A UK Fishing Vessel Certificate (UKFVC) over 15m or a MSF1606 inspection for a vessel under 15m vessel.

Bareboat Charter Vessels Registered on Part 4 of the UK Ship Register

Any change of ownership must be carried out on the primary register in accordance with local law.

The change of ownership will then need to be registered with the UK Ship Register by submitting the following documents:

New Barecon 2001 agreement

Bareboat declaration of eligibility

Transcript and certificate of registry from the primary register

Consent from the primary register regarding the new charter agreement

Certificate of incorporation for the charterer (if applicable)

A certificate of incorporation must be included in your application if the registering owner or charter are a registered company.

Apply by post

If you would like to like to apply through the post, please download the correct forms which can be found above for each part of the register, complete them, including all relevant documents, the registration fee and return them to:-

UK Ship Register (The Registry of Shipping and Seamen) MCA Cardiff Anchor Court Keen Road Cardiff CF24 5JW

Should you need further information or assistance, please get in touch with one of our dedicated members of the  via email or via contact us .

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• Including dormant UK Limited company

Dutch Zeebrief Registration

• Cadastre registration
• Valid for life
• Survey mandatory
• Not for commercial yachts
• Microdots anti theft available
• Provisional registration available

Panama yacht Registration Provisional registration within 1-2 working days

• Low initial costs
• Fast registration process
• Possible for all nationalities
• Do not pay VAT when buying a yacht
• Paris MoU Whitelisted
• No yacht inspection needed
• Valid Worldwide

MMSI & AIS Radio License Service

• Mandatory for boat radio equipment
• Same day delivery
• MMSI number
• Including S.A.R. services
• VHF, AIS, radar and Epirb
• Including call sign
• Emergency contact person service included

UK Limited Company

• Lowest cost solution
• Next day delivery
• Dormant company
• No tax declarations
• Including filing of accounts
• Including filing of confirmation statements
• Perfect for NON EU yacht owners
• Suitable for any yacht registration

Gibraltar Limited Company

Irish limited company.

• Low cost company solution
• Active EU company
• Tax declarations optional
• Including filing of annual return
• Affordable annual costs
• 1-3 days delivery
• Dormant EU company

BlueWater Registration Services – Dutch Motor and Sailing Yachts Registration MMSI Services

What does a yacht registration cost.

BlueWater Registration Services charges the lowest possible prices for a yacht registration. We offer yacht registrations from countries such as Poland, San Marino, Gibraltar, The Netherlands, Panama and the United Kingdom. The costs for a yacht registration are depending of choice. You can compare boat registration costs  at our comparison page. All prices communicated include all fees, taxes, shipping and consultation. This means no hidden costs!

No unnecessary bureaucracy

When requesting a yacht registration for your boat, yacht or even jet ski, we only need you to fill out our online boat registration form in a clear portal. We have separate forms for the Polish, UK, Panamese, San Marino, Dutch and Gibraltar boat registration. This is a step by step form to make sure we take care of all the paperwork so you don’t have to.

Register a boat online with fastest registration procedure

For a registration under the Polish, Panamese, UK, San Marino and Dutch flag it is possible to receive a provisional registration. You will receive this within 2 working days (except The Netherlands), so you can sail almost immediately. An Ultra-Fast procedure is available for our UK part 1 registration which allows us to get your yacht registration within 3 working days. Your registration documents will be delivered to you by courier at your home or work address. Anywhere in the world!

No inspection required to register your boat online

When registering your boat, yacht or jet ski with the Polish, San Marino, and Panama registration, there is no inspection required. You can simple request a yacht registration online. We can start the registration process immediately. The equipment requirements are minimal.

Valid all over the world

All our offered boat registrations are recognized all over the world. This precludes any problems when visiting any ports in any country. With a service record of more than 10 years, you can be sure you do business with a trusted company. BlueWater Registration Services is the European market leader when it comes to boat registrations.

European nationality or residency not required

If you do not have an European nationality or address, we are still be able to register your boat. We have various other ways to make sure you can official register your yacht under the San Marino, Polish, Panama, UK, Dutch or Gibraltar flag. In case you live outside of the EU, we can set up a dormant company with you as the rightful and only owner. San Marino, Poland and Panama accept any yacht owner from any nationality.

Bill of Sale Generator tool

We have a free Bill of Sale Generator tool available. This tool helps you to create a new Bill of Sale for your yacht. After completing the data you can submit it. We will then check all information provided free of any costs. Once approved we wil create the new bill of sale and let you know how to download it.

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