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Old 11-05-2013, 01:35   #1
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non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

I am a South African with a South African boat in Greece/Cyprus and the flag is causing me serious inconvenience and cost.

If I was to use my nieces address in the UK, I am presuming I could register the boat there - has anyone got any ideas for me ?

I am not sure what all is required to get a piece of paper that has the boats details - enough to satisfy the Greek port authorities and use a Depka instead of a Transit Log.

Thanks for any/all input

Kris
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Old 11-05-2013, 01:41   #2
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

It's not legal. You are not entitled to register a boat in the UK unless you are a permanent resident. Now people do it, and there's a question of how they will catch you. It's up to you to decide whether you want to risk it. Facing the same question, I decided not to go down that route. Instead, I established a UK company to own my boat, which is more trouble and more expensive, but perfectly legal.
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Old 11-05-2013, 01:44   #3
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

For the cheap and cheerful SSR registration you can't legally, as you are not a UK resident. But people do. Yer pays yer money and takes yer chances.

For the Part 1 register, you can legally register in own name in Jersey (open to Citizens of Commonwealth countries) and there is no residency requirement.
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Old 11-05-2013, 03:13   #4
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

once you get ssr registration it will be assumed that you are a uk resident,and liable to pay vat on the boat....so maybe having a sa flag is not such a bad thing
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Old 11-05-2013, 03:29   #5
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

Not sure what a part 1 , and subsequent parts are ? I have the option of putting the boat in my neices name - was wondering what kind of pandoras box that was ???

Oh , and I happen to have a boat with VAT already paid (in Cyprus) so that would not worry me.

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Old 11-05-2013, 11:09   #6
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

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Originally Posted by krissteyn View Post
Not sure what a part 1 , and subsequent parts are ? I have the option of putting the boat in my neices name - was wondering what kind of pandoras box that was ???

Oh , and I happen to have a boat with VAT already paid (in Cyprus) so that would not worry me.

kris
if the boat is allready vat paid then go for it,just use a uk address,no need to reregister in nieces name,but you will need a deletion certificate from the s.a registry to send to ssr which is part 3

part1 you will need a survey,plus form a holding company
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Old 11-05-2013, 11:57   #7
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

UK Ship Register

A root around the above should help OP.

The UK has 2 Registries for yachts - the Part 1 is the "proper" one.

The SSR is the cheapo version designed for small recreational boats.


The Part 1 in Jersey has slightly different rules (seperate legal jurisdiction from England), which means non-residents don't need to form a company nor to lie! - but apart from that exactly the same as the English version. and both have the same red ensign (although you can instead fly the Jersey defaced version - but most, even here!, don't)
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Old 11-05-2013, 12:22   #8
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

We are SSR...$40 for 5 years and no VAT unless we return the boat to the UK.
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Old 12-05-2013, 20:02   #9
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

The problem that I see with registering your boat in someone else's name is that some countries in the Med might think that the boat you are on is being chartered by the other person. In that case you would need a proper authorization to use the boat. Some countries may be difficult about that. France comes to mind.
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Old 15-05-2013, 14:27   #10
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

Hi krissteyn

If you don't want the UK and nothing else you can register in Belgium you don't have to be resident there.

Since the law changed in Spain quite a few boats changed the registration from Spain to Belgium.

If you can read Spanish this might interest you: Trámites cambio a bandera belga/holandesa - La Taberna del Puerto
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Old 15-05-2013, 14:38   #11
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

I wish the SSR would at least require you to send a copy of your UK passport as i am sick and tired of finding UK registered boats that can't even speak English.... And all the big motor boat boys love it as a tax scam....
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Old 18-05-2013, 23:30   #12
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

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Originally Posted by s/v Moondancer View Post
We are SSR...$40 for 5 years and no VAT unless we return the boat to the UK.
Errm. Correction. Unless you return the boat to the EU . . .
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Old 18-05-2013, 23:57   #13
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

I met an Aussie guy that had his Australian registered yacht also registered in UK. He suggested I do the same (just need a UK address to send the papers) to avoid being hassled in the Med. He had done it for 5 years or more with no problem.
What kind of inconvenience and cost are you experiencing with your SA flag?
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Old 19-05-2013, 00:34   #14
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

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I met an Aussie guy that had his Australian registered yacht also registered in UK. He suggested I do the same (just need a UK address to send the papers) to avoid being hassled in the Med. He had done it for 5 years or more with no problem.
What kind of inconvenience and cost are you experiencing with your SA flag?
I think you'll find that the check on UK residence is much tighter nowadays. And if you are a UK resident, you're not permitted to use a non-VAT paid boat in the EU.

Sure, this rule is not tightly policed, but officials do look more closely at the papers of non-EU passports skippering EU boats, as they do with EU residents skippering non-EU registered boats. Occasionally asking for proof that VAT has been paid.

The inconvenience and cost of cruising a non-EU boat is trivial, except in Greece where a three monthly payment is due on top of normal harbour and marina fees.

The inconvenience of sailing with non-EU passports is far higher, with visas for entering the Schengen area allowing only 90 days out of 180 within the area. But that's nothing to do with boats. Boat regs and people regs are unrelated . . .

Far more about this onand if you log in to that site, you'll also see many "comments" which have been added at the bottom of the page which provide a lot more info about experiences people have had.
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Old 19-05-2013, 02:02   #15
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Re: non-UK citizen/resident wanting to register a boat in UK

Cyprus is a famous flag of convenience for commercial shipping, and yet another reasonable option for you. You can register a company there and transfer the boat to the company. Valid Cypriot flag in three days, and as long as it doesn't stay there for more than I don't remember how long - no VAT. The company will cost you some dough.
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