Yacht Registration in Langkawi?

[Pelagic]

Does anyone have real experience with re-registering your boat in the Freeport of Langkawi Malaysia?

What are the Pros and Cons?

Yacht Registration

[Pelagic]

bump !

[Emerald Sea]

We have come across no issues with the registration. Many yachts in and around S'pore are Langkawi registered due to the tax free status. There is an approx S$1k annual fee. Its a straight forward process. You will however need to enter Malaysia with your boat.

[Pelagic]

I had hoped there was an agency in Langkawi that could arrange for this to be processed without sailing to Malaysia first.

[stillbuilding]

I have known people to register in Langkawi using an agent without entering Malaysia.
The Registry website would seem to acknowledge this specifically where it notes that papers can be lodged by an agent.

[Pelagic]

Great... can anyone recommend and Agent?

[stillbuilding]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Great... can anyone recommend and Agent?

Ok, here is contact details for executive in the Yacht Lib which routinely acts as agent for the Registry. I will be pursuing this too. Apparently they are busy organizing a rally and asked me to wait till after Jan 18.

[Pelagic]

Thanks.... I am also contacting a few broker friends in Asia for advice.... Will share what I find

[ericoh88]

Registering in Malaysia is easy. Actually all registration is done at Port Klang and Cyberjaya and not in Langkawi :-)

You can use an agent ie the brokers in Langkawi. ybc Paul is a great guy to work with.
Pre-loved Yachts For Sale & Yacht Charters in Langkawi Island - Malaysia

Usually they charge RM 500 .( USD $165 ) for their agent fee.

All the paper work do not go to Langkawi but to Port Klang - Jabatan Laut.
Think I paid RM 1,520 . Annual renewal is about RM 380 (if I am not mistaken). The problem you need to buy a postal order from the Post Office which you local agent can help.

To get your mmsi, you need to submit your ship registration from Jabatan Laut , your passport, a cheque and fill a MMSI registration form from MCMC in Cyberjaya,

BTW, I did all the registration myself because the yacht club is next to Jabatan Laut. RSYC, Port Klang will do registration for RM 500 too.

[undercutter]

Just curious as to the reason for reregistering your boat and why Malaysia? I assume that it has something to do with a VAT but maybe you can enlighten us. There are other jurisdictions that come to mind such as the Cayman Isles and I didn't think that you had to pay a VAT in any country that you registered in unless you actually took the boat there. Canada for one but maybe other places are different.

[ericoh88]

Bought the boat which is USCG registered. Since I am not a US citizen, a simple transfer of name won't work.

There is no tax for pleasure craft for Malaysia. Maybe that is the incentive.

[undercutter]

Sounds like MY may be a good choice at $100.00US a year. We registered in Cayman Isles (British Registry) to avoid Canadian issues with having to have the boat measured due to her size and the cost to have this done by a licensed surveyor. Not sure whether this would preclude us from having to pay the Canadian VAT if we ever did take her home as we are still resident there for the time being.

Are there any nasty surprises for tax purposes if you bring the boat home for more than the standard 30day visit that they give foreign boats.

[ericoh88]

In Malaysia, nil and no 30 day restriction like in Thailand (not sure how many days).

Dunno about other place on taxes.

Many yacthies who make it here in Thailand/Malaysia have to toss a coin to go south of South Africa or simply give up the boat. That is the reason why you can find so many proven strong ocean going sailboats. There is a very nice Norseman 447 been up for sale for about 3 to 4 years. Has a dive compressor, boom furling, genset. The price was from USD 179k to US149k neg.

The lower end side are too many and they are not advertised. May be a great place for fixer uppers.

[undercutter]

Originally Posted by ericoh88

Bought the boat which is USCG registered. Since I am not a US citizen, a simple transfer of name won't work.

There is no tax for pleasure craft for Malaysia. Maybe that is the incentive.

Do you get the subsidized fuel price at the docks if your boat is MALYSIAN REGISTERED

[ericoh88]

Short answer: No.

Fuel subsidy is for Malaysian registered cars.

The fisherman do get government subsidy through their association.

Anyway most of the yacthies are getting the subsidy somehow :-)