Ship/Yacht Registration

There are manifold reasons for registering a vessel/yacht in an official Register of Shipping either for seagoing or for inland navigation vessels. Yachts having a longer hull length than 15 m, for example, are under a legal obligation to be registered. Nevertheless, yacht registration becomes more important from an economic point of view, also – and in particular – in regard to pleasure yachts, especially in connection with lease and charter contracts.

Already at the time when buying a vessel/yacht the suggestive choice of the flag and country of registry should be taken into account. Among other things, it might be important in connection with the legal duty to provide sufficient evidence in all European waters that VAT on the vessel has been paid in a EU member state. We gladly support you by taking all relevant decisions and organize a proper yacht registration for you.

Our core areas of practice are:

Ship registration in Germany

  • Choice of home port
  • Registration of seagoing as well as inland navigation vessels
  • Service to act as regional agent for EU-foreigners required for ship registration under the German flag
  • International Tonnage Certificate (ship’s papers)

Ship registration abroad

  • Yacht/Ship registration in/on
    • Malta,
    • Channel Islands,
    • Isle of Man,
    • Cayman und British Virgin Islands,
    • Gibraltar, and others
  • Incorporation of ship-owning/-operating companies
  • Contact and cooperation with our familiar communicating lawyers abroad in the respective countries

Statutory VAT rates in the EU

Advice on ship financing models and ship mortgages

Contracts of sale and shipbuilding contracts

  • Supervision of change of title incl. the relevant documentation
  • BG association for transport and traffic
    • Concerning the crew
    • Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS)
    • “Small commercial vessel” according to MCA-rules

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