Brexit - UK has opened it yacht register to (most) foreign citizens

[svlamorocha]

Hello everyone

I have just come across the "Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019" passed by UK Parliament in early March, which opens the UK register to owners who are citizens, and companies incorporated in, any of the countries in the list below.

This solves the problem of Israeli, Brazilian and Argentine citizens who own boats abroad and had previously relied on iffy "Delaware state registration". It may also help Yanks who would like to be seen as Brits

Here is the letter of the law: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2...0190509_en.pdf

The Register has already updated the forms.

Fair Winds
Charlie



The approved countries are—
(a) Argentina
(b) Aruba
(c) Bahrain
(d) Brazil
(e) the Canary Islands
(f) China
(g) the Faroe Islands
(h) Haiti
(i) Israel
(j) Japan
(k) Liberia
(l) Madeira
(m) the Marshall Islands
(n) Monaco
(o) Panama
(p) South Korea
(q) Switzerland
(r) Suriname
(s) the United Arab Emirates, and
(t) the United States of America.”

[ahun]

Plus all Commonwealth countries? Sounds good.

[conachair]

Looks like mainly just part 1 registry which means getting a tonnage survey carried out, could be very expensive outside of the uk with travel expenses.

https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-adv...e-surveys.aspx

Part 3 changed little , only available to uk residents.

The rules relating to Part III (small ships) are
amended by regulation 25 which expands eligibility to non-United Kingdom citizens who are
settled in the United Kingdom

[svlamorocha]

Originally Posted by conachair

Looks like mainly just part 1 registry which means getting a tonnage survey carried out, could be very expensive

Part 1 is the "proper" UK registry that proves ownership, allows commercial use, etc. As you poiny out, it requires a tonnage survey done by a professional (no DIY option like with USCG or Canada), that but you can get that for about 700 dollars in the Caribbean or other popular sailing areas. That is much cheaper than setting up and maintaining a company..

[svlamorocha]

Originally Posted by conachair

Looks like mainly just part 1 registry which means getting a tonnage survey carried out, could be very expensive outside of the uk with travel expenses.

https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-adv...e-surveys.aspx

Part 3 changed little , only available to uk residents.

Originally Posted by ahun

Plus all Commonwealth countries? Sounds good.

Yeap, the whole nine yards. We don't need those Europeans, we will go back to our old friends .

[Dockhead]

That's unexpected.


Amazing, even.


I am Part 1 registered, and I set up and maintain a UK company in order to be on it. Now I could get rid of the company (as a U.S. citizen), but setting up a UK company is actually really cheap and easy and provides a certain degree of limited liability, so I guess I won't change that.


But now the Part 1 registry will be open to a huge variety of people -- becoming a true flag of convenience for pleasure boats. Interesting, why did they do that?

[svlamorocha]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

But now the Part 1 registry will be open to a huge variety of people -- becoming a true flag of convenience for pleasure boats. Interesting, why did they do that?

I have seen the Foreign Office go through the motions of reinforcing relationships with countries outside Europe to "compensate" the loss of certain relationships with Europe. This may be part of that. Not that I believe there is any sense in Brexit!

[TTranscendence]

Brilliant!!!

[straightman21]

Just a word of warning re anything to do with the accursed Brexit. I attend a variety of Westminster meetings on Brexit on a regular basis and I wouldn't be in any hurry to make any major decisions based on the here and now in legislative terms. The only thing we can be sure of after two years of this nonsense is that there is nothing sure about anything. I would certainly let the dust settle on in / out / now / later / never before I made any significant choices based on "EU exit" cos anyone who says they know where we are going to end up is doing no more than best guessing - and that is up to and including our bonkers prime minister.

[svlamorocha]

Originally Posted by straightman21

Just a word of warning re anything to do with the accursed Brexit. I attend a variety of Westminster meetings on Brexit on a regular basis and I wouldn't be in any hurry to make any major decisions based on the here and now in legislative terms. The only thing we can be sure of after two years of this nonsense is that there is nothing sure about anything. I would certainly let the dust settle on in / out / now / later / never before I made any significant choices based on "EU exit" cos anyone who says they know where we are going to end up is doing no more than best guessing - and that is up to and including our bonkers prime minister.

I doubt they will reverse this change (which is compatible with EU membership) even if there is no exit.

[straightman21]

Originally Posted by svlamorocha

I doubt they will reverse this change (which is compatible with EU membership) even if there is no exit.

One can but hope but as the lunatics appear to have taken over the asylum................

[wolfgal]

yes, it does seem that lunatics have taken over the asylum for the moment, am just seeking clarification on this, so far.

and please forgive me if my question is naive:

does this mean that an american citizen can get part I registry without being a resident of the UK? or does one still need either an address in the UK or a business?


thanks

wolfgal

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by wolfgal

yes, it does seem that lunatics have taken over the asylum for the moment, am just seeking clarification on this, so far.

and please forgive me if my question is naive:

does this mean that an american citizen can get part I registry without being a resident of the UK? or does one still need either an address in the UK or a business?


thanks

wolfgal

It seems to say that U.S. citizens, and citizens of a bunch of other countries, can get Part 1 registration without either a U.K. address or U.K. company.


It throws the prestigious U.K. Part 1 registry wide open.


Which makes it a cracking flag of convenience, because there are zero taxes, and there is rather light regulation, including rather light safety requirements (you must have a life raft, however, for a boat more than 40' long).

[svlamorocha]

Originally Posted by wolfgal

yes, it does seem that lunatics have taken over the asylum for the moment, am just seeking clarification on this, so far.

and please forgive me if my question is naive:

does this mean that an american citizen can get part I registry without being a resident of the UK? or does one still need either an address in the UK or a business?


thanks

wolfgal

If the majority owner is person who resides in UK or company with place of business there then it needs an agent (anybody) with UK address. That said, you can instruct them to send all correspondence elsewhere, which means the agent will not get any mail.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Interesting, why did they do that?

It's profitable We will quite happily sell anything to anyone. Ice to Eskimos, sand to the Arabs and guns to, well lets not go there

So "this is a reminder that the beaches are indeed open, the sun is shining, and everyone is having a wonderful time" even if we are leaving the United States of Europe.

Pete