24. UK Yacht Registration Changes Explained - What EU Yacht Owners Need to Know | With Oceanskies

What do the latest UK yacht registration changes mean for EU yacht owners? Can you still fly the British Red Ensign, and what are your options if you are no longer eligible for UK Part 1 Registration?

In this episode of the Berthon Podcast, Ben Cooper sits down with Duncan Swanson, Co-founder of Oceanskies, and Tom Ruff, Yacht Registration Manager and Head of Port Agency, to explain the recent changes to the UK Ship Register and why they matter to yacht owners around the world.

Following changes to UK legislation after Brexit, many European Union citizens who live outside the United Kingdom are no longer eligible to apply for or renew UK Part 1 Registration in their own name. The announcement has generated uncertainty across the international yachting community, with many owners questioning whether they can continue to fly the British Red Ensign, whether they need to change flag, and what practical steps they should take next.

This episode cuts through the confusion by explaining exactly what has changed, who is affected, and why there is no need to panic. Duncan and Tom discuss the legislation behind the changes, how the rules are being applied in practice, and the alternative registration options that remain available through other members of the British Red Ensign Group.

The conversation also serves as a complete introduction to yacht registration itself. While many owners are familiar with the registration process, few understand exactly why it exists or how important it becomes once a yacht leaves domestic waters. The team explains how a yacht's registration acts as its legal identity, often described as the vessel's passport, establishing nationality, ownership and the flag state under which the yacht operates.

They explore the differences between UK Part 1 Registration and the Small Ships Register (SSR), explaining the advantages and limitations of each. Topics include proof of ownership, title history, mortgages, financing, insurance requirements, international cruising, customs procedures and why many buyers, lenders and brokers place significant value on a properly registered yacht.

Ben, Duncan and Tom also discuss some of the most common misconceptions surrounding yacht registration. They explain why a yacht's flag is not simply about national pride, how ownership structures can affect eligibility, and why selecting the right registry depends on far more than where the owner lives. The discussion highlights the practical considerations involved in choosing a flag state, including taxation, financing, intended cruising grounds and future resale value.

Drawing on years of experience advising yacht owners, brokers, lawyers, management companies and marine professionals, the Oceanskies team shares real-world examples of the challenges owners face when navigating international registration requirements. They explain how early planning can prevent unnecessary costs and delays, particularly when buying or selling a yacht across international borders.

The episode also looks at the wider British Red Ensign Group and explains why these registries continue to be among the most respected yacht registries in the world. Duncan and Tom discuss the alternatives available to owners who may no longer qualify for the UK register, demonstrating that there are still well-established and highly regarded options available that allow owners to continue operating under the Red Ensign.

Whether you already own a yacht, are purchasing your first vessel, are planning extended cruising overseas, or simply want to understand how yacht registration works after Brexit, this conversation provides practical advice and expert insight from two of the industry's leading specialists.

In this episode

•  What yacht registration actually is and why it matters 
•  Understanding flag states and the British Red Ensign 
•  The difference between UK Part 1 Registration and the Small Ships Register (SSR) 
•  Why UK yacht registration rules have changed following Brexit 
•  Which EU yacht owners are affected by the new legislation 
•  Alternative registration options through the British Red Ensign Group 
•  How yacht registration affects ownership, finance, insurance and VAT 
•  Common mistakes owners make when registering a yacht 
•  Practical advice for buyers, brokers and existing yacht owners 
•  Why planning ahead can make the registration process significantly easier 

If you are researching UK yacht registration, Part 1 Registration, British Red Ensign registration, flag states, Brexit yacht registration changes, or EU yacht owner eligibility, this episode offers a clear and practical guide from the experts at Oceanskies, helping you understand your options and make informed decisions with confidence.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:34

Right, now we can all hear each other. There's no echoes. I'm not gonna press any buttons. Uh right, let's let's get into it. So um it's a good job this isn't live, isn't it? I think everyone will be pulling the hair out. Or or or or change over to watch the cricket or something.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

I'll tell Tom that after this our next stop is gonna be Joe Rogan, I think. You know, very high here. Whether you want it or not.

SPEAKER_00 0:59

Um welcome everybody. It's Ben here from Ben Cooper, actually, because we've got two Bens now. Um from Bertham Yacht Brokers, and we're here to do a podcast with um with Tom and Duncan from Ocean Skies, our friends over in the Channel Islands. And um, maybe Tom, can you uh tell us a little about the company and and what you do? This is all about yacht registration and uh what do you do for our international clients as well as our domestic clients?

SPEAKER_02 1:27

Absolutely great to be here, Ben. Um, yeah, thanks for the introduction. Um yeah, just a quick, really quick overview then on Ocean Skies. Uh so a company was set up uh in 2013, and um between Duncan and I we head up the yacht registration team based out of Guernsey, um, albeit with uh UK presence, Malta and Dubai as well. And we specialise predominantly in red ens and British flagging of private and commercial yachts of all sizes, whether that's your under 24 metre or over 24 metre. Um that is what our bread and butter is working with clients from all around the world. So trying to come up with solutions for them on you know what flag is going to suit them best and in terms of navigating and um you know making sure they don't come across any hurdles at the same time.

SPEAKER_00 2:18

Yes, excellent, excellent. The good old red duster. So uh and uh we've we uh we come to you on a regular basis for many years uh as our experts on this side. We have uh a good knowledge as brokers, as as good brokers always do, of registration, but of course we always get the the difficult questions that we we need to refer to experts like you who are on the cutting edge of this. So um and in our our last market report, which is a shameless plug, it's on the internet if you'd like to on our website, if you'd like to go and read it in full. You published an update for us to about eligibility of part one registration, and that is all tied in with Brexit, etc. So perhaps well, this podcast is is mainly about that, but maybe to start with, we should have a quick overview of registration because I'm conscious that a lot of our listeners will be experienced yachts, and there might just be people who've stumbled across this podcast and don't know anything about registration at all. So would you mind just giving us a quick overall? I mean, why does a yacht need to be registered?

SPEAKER_02 3:23

Yeah, sure. So a good way to think of a registration for a yacht is like a passport for us when we all travel uh internationally. It's a legal requirement, it's a pretty key one. Um, you know, customs authorities, ports around the world will expect to see that when on arrival, um, to identify the key, you know, ownership of the boat, you know, unique numbers, so whether that's a whole number, official number with a boat and specifications generally. So um legal requirement navigationally, obviously, um each flag state has different rules and allows you to do different things. So, again, big reason why we work with British predominantly is because the heritage is there internationally, they're recognized um around the world, allowing you to get the permits to access you know international destinations, whether it be islands or continents. Um, and then um, other than that, as well, insurance companies is the other big one. Um, you know, you're not going to get insurance unless a boat's uh registered and shown that it meets certain standards and documents are available. Um, so yeah, whilst you know, whilst technically sometimes on deliveries, yachts can be delivered without an a full registration, that full registration will follow soon after, and that is conditional on insurance being in place. So whether it's um before or after a handover um registration document is key to you know the unique details of the boat and the ownership.

SPEAKER_00 4:54

Yeah, yeah, and and and very important for anyone sailing further afield than their home port or home country jurisdiction and in Europe and further afield, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 5:05

Yeah, that's right. And it's also international law basically requires your yacht to be registered, it's got to have a nationality, otherwise the boat technically could be lawless. You know, you could be getting up to all sorts of things on the boat and not be held accountable by anybody. Um so one of the nice things about the British flag is it's always been very well regarded. Um, I think a lot of that is down to tradition and you know, Britain's seafaring, maritime history, also just the way the world has sort of developed in terms of maritime law. You know, London has always been the sort of centre of marine law, um, insurance as well, as Tom just mentioned. Um, and often we have a we're always sort of, you know, we have that conversation where somebody is, you know, an owner is looking to purchase the yacht. Uh, you know, the the first flag they're probably going to think about is their own flag. You know, a a Frenchman might think, right, I'm buying a boat and and register in France because I'm French and that's where I'm going to keep the boat. And there's absolutely nothing wrong in that. You know, there's nothing wrong with with having a French flag. But I often sort of explain, well, your flag is the operating system of your yacht. You know, it's a bit like choosing Windows or or Mac. You know, it's it's how it's the rulebook, it's how it how it's got to operate. So I think on that basis, you know, it's worth as an owner, before you commit maybe to your own flags, to have a think. You know, where am I going to use the boat? How am I going to use it? Is there maybe a flag out there that might offer me something I'm missing with my own flag? You know, it might simply be because it's maybe a little bit complicated to register where you're where you're established or or where you're living. And I think what's what's great about the British flag is it's it's it's not only well regarded, but it is also kind of yacht-friendly in the sense that if you do want to look things up and understand what rules apply to your boat, it's very easy to find it and and you know understand where you are with things. And that's possibly not always the case with with with certain flags. And also there's this air of I think when you're flying the red ensign, it's it's a good flag to fly, and especially if you're sailing internationally, you know, it did it's um a flag that doesn't sort of cause too much upset, it's it's well regarded. You see a lot of British flags, you know. Sometimes I have clients who I mean I I always sometimes use the analogy of the Australian client who says, look, I can have an Australian flag. The sad thing is I'll be the one Australian flag boat on the dock, maybe in uh you know, in Nice, and um suddenly I'm surrounded by all my mates from Australia, you know, they they want to see whose boat it is. Well, whereas, you know, red ensign, you just fit in. There'll be lots of other red ensigns on on the dock, you know. Um and I don't think um I mean it doesn't so much apply maybe to the private yachts, but certainly in the commercial world, um you you have kind of a league table, there's various league tables of flags, and and for example, one of the big ones that's just been published, you know, the latest update in the past week or so is the Paris MOU. And this is a way that port state control around the world can sort of you know uh work out which flags they probably need to take pay more attention to in terms of sort of safety and uh you know uh checking checking because they can only obviously check so many vessels in a day. So there's a tendency to always check the ones from the flags of that aren't so well founded. And and and they happily the British flag sits very high on these these rankings. Um so you know, there are league tables out there, so I always think if you're spending a lot of money on a yacht, you probably want to be on a good, well-founded flag. It's nothing worse than a sort of strange or unusual port of registry because that's just gonna stand out and and maybe cause you unwanted attention when you don't need it from port control, you know.

SPEAKER_00 9:14

Yeah, excellent, excellent. Well uh very good sales pitch there, Duncan. Thank you very much for the other.

SPEAKER_01 9:20

Yeah, I'm I'm also terribly patriotic as well. You know, I I do quite enjoy you know selling, as it were, the British flag around the world, it's nice.

SPEAKER_00 9:32

So within the British flag, we've got part one and part three, or sometimes the small ships register, as we should call it. Um what's the give us a quick um rundown of the difference and and who can apply for either?

SPEAKER_02 9:47

Yeah, so SSR registration tends to be if we're talking about UK, so it'd be UK residents, UK nationals are eligible. Um good for local motoring. Um you can motor you know a lot of the a lot of SSR registered boats in the EU as well, but you're limited, you have to be you know UK resident to access that. Same with whether that's Guernsey, let's say, or Jersey, all the equivalents, uh, all the different flag states, that's the same rule there. And it has to be owned in your personal name. So that that is as simple as it is, really. Part one gives you the option, you know, you have all the different eligible eligibilities, which is obviously what we're here talking about today. Yeah, each each flag state has that list of who they're allowed to register, so you can register to an individu uh as an individual or with a company. The other thing is you can register mortgages, which is a big one uh for a lot of people, um, on part one, you know, and it's proving ownership in the vessel. You've you provided title documents, official title documents to evidence the you know when the vessel was built, who it was built for, who the owners have been, and you're ideally wanting that full title chain. So it's it just makes it easier to say if an owner's wanting to own the boat in a trust, part one's what you want to do.

SPEAKER_01 11:06

Um I always think um another advantage of of part one is when you come to sell the boat, because very often your buyer is gonna want to or will request uh uh what's called a transcripted registry. So that's basically a live snapshot of what's what the registry see in their records. So that's gonna tell somebody buying a boat who the owner is, which is great, because you obviously hope that the guy you're buying buying the boat from, hopefully, is also noted as the registered owner. Um and as Tom just said, you know, it's a title register, so you have a bit of comfort that to get that boat registered on part one, the guy you're the person you're buying it from must have proven title. They'd have had to show a bill of sale, they'd have had to show they genuinely laid claim to being the owner of the boat. Uh and also, you know, it goes back to exactly what Tom just said. Um, part one does allow a mortgage to be registered. So when you get that transcript of registry, you it gives you comfort, hopefully. You hopefully it's a you know, there's there's no nasties on it. You're not sort of about to buy a boat and suddenly find there's a a bank loan outstanding. Uh but it does afford peace of mind. Um yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:10

And when you and as brokers, we sorry to talk over you, but as brokers, we as a matter of course, we will, if it's a part one or of any other registry, will request a transcript to make sure that we can transact the boat without any liens. Uh we're not we can't do legally and we shouldn't do. So um it's the part one registry does give us that, and it's fantastic for us.

SPEAKER_01 12:31

Yeah, and it I've had situations where we've been looking to collect the title for a boat we might be registering, and of course the buyer quite rightly say, Well, can we get a transcript? And lo and behold, it's on the SSR. You you're not really able to access that same level of comfort because quite frankly, whoever on the SSR didn't necessarily have to sort of provide the same level of title, and because there's no ability to register that mortgage, it could be that there's some sort of debt on that boat that you might not know about, you know. So it's uh I always sort of throw that in though as a really big advantage. It's not always apparent because in the moment you're buying the boat, you might not be thinking about the time you need to sell it, but um, it certainly pays dividends in the future.

SPEAKER_02 13:12

Yeah, that's almost a bit of a premium onto a boat when you are selling it because a lot of the time you've got a flag that your buyer should hopefully be eligible to take on and keep so you're not having to delete and re-register. Also, if you're then if you your boat is in part one registered and you're trying to get it onto part one and it's been 10 years, so a lot of the time, you know, it's that classic the dog's eating it, or uh we've lost the paperwork, or uh and it becomes really difficult, you know. Um there aren't they don't make many exceptions. They're trying the the British flags want to keep that quality, so we always say sooner rather than later, you know.

SPEAKER_01 13:48

If you can if you can get her on a British flag uh from a start, then um that that's actually a really good point, Tom, because I've seen I've had cases where a yacht could have been on the SSR for as I'll say maybe ten years, but the guy the person buying the boat is is thinking, right, I now I want to part one. But the UK registry would probably say, Great, please provide us with five years worth of historical title. So that's actually more than just the bill of sale from the the seller of the boat to yourself. That's actually going back in time. You know, it can go back past that five-year period if the person then had the boat before that. So you sometimes find a the the yacht that's been on the SSR, as Tom says, those bills of sale just aren't there. You know, the records just haven't been kept up as well. And um, you know, to go looking hunting for documents that may now no longer exist is is really difficult. And obviously, if the boat's already partly registered, you you just don't have that worry because it's it's it's been done already, you know, it's on the registry.

SPEAKER_00 14:46

Yes, yeah, yeah. Well, I think the part three or the SSR does have its um place, doesn't it? Because it's it's very quick, it's very easy, it's um an online application. I can't remember exactly how much it is, but it's not a very large cost. But whereas part one registry, you have to have tonnage surveys and a lot of paperwork and etc. So there is a cost to part one, um, a lot more than part three, but um I think they both have their places. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 15:15

And I I sometimes say, and I don't mean this to disparage the SSR, because I totally agree there is a place for it. I sometimes say, well, it's it's cheap and cheerful, and probably on a smaller boat, um maybe lower value, but of course value is always relative to the owner. Um yeah, I mean it definitely has its time and place. Somebody, you know, buying a you know, a higher value, larger yacht these days. I'm always keen though to put them towards the um you know part one. I I think that's that then is is money well spent.

SPEAKER_02 15:46

I think a classic thing, you know, was we sat here in Guernsey while we're chatting to you, looking out the window in support. A lot of local boats here that will simply go to the neighbouring islands and the Channel Islands and pop to France every now and then. SSR is sufficient in that case, you know. Um it's only when the boats we tend to say go over maybe 500,000 pounds, maybe plus, then you start thinking a little bit more of how it's being structured, maybe, and maybe that's where part one would suit you more. But um yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:15

Yeah, or even where you're going further afield, I guess. Absolutely. Insurance company as well. Yeah. Yeah, okay. Well, I think with uh we fought the corner of the part one and the part three, so uh let's move on to the main purpose of uh this this podcast. About last the end of last year, wasn't it? Their um eligibility changed for the part one or British registry in total. Um so that was all all down to uh uh leaving the EU. Uh so do you want to give us a quick um overview of what happened?

SPEAKER_02 16:50

Yes, um yeah, quickly, really, um following Brexit, Brexit's what's triggered this, as you said. Um the UK government realised um only at the last end of last year that uh EU individuals specifically, so not companies, um, were still being allowed to register yachts under part one uh with the UK. So this is a UK flag specifically now. They had to change these rules as they're no longer able to offer this as part of Brexit, which has created issues for, as you can imagine, for whether it's new application where you have an EU national who is not residing in the UK, so it's important to say as well. So a non-UK resident trying to apply from an EU country for a part one registration is no longer able to, and also for existing customers who have already got a part one at UK, EU nationals, um what it does mean is they can no longer renew out the registration uh the registry or change vessel details. So um it's you know it's not gonna affect everyone, but uh it's important for you know all your EU-based clients listening out there who were previously able to qualify through, let's say, a French, you know, Spanish passport. Um that is no longer the case. So really, you know, this podcast is important to get it out there that they should be thinking about what they're gonna do next. I have spoken with the UK as well this week, um, just in anticipation of us talking today. And they've confirmed that these rules aren't um going to be changed anytime soon. You know, I think it'll always take time anyway, with um law changes with the government, and you know, as it's normally on a big list and gets pushed down, but um because this is so new, yeah, there's no they've got no idea yet of when and if EU uh nationals will become eligible again. Um even you know, right? No interest, that is where we stand um at the moment.

SPEAKER_01 18:47

I think I think it's important to mention it I don't think at all there's a this hasn't happened because the UK registry have decided they don't want EU or EEA nationals registering their votes in the UK. I think previously, certainly when the UK was part of the EU, so before Brexit, it was wrapped up under freedom of movement um rules that uh you know a French passport poller could hold a UK flag, no problem. And I just think with all the legislation that must have had to change following Brexit, obviously the shipping regulation in terms of that particular sort of detail probably quite just overlooked. Um somebody at some state then realised actually, you know, oh we've got a problem here. Um you know, that technically this this the the you know the eligibility that they previously enjoyed through freedom of movement just just doesn't exist anymore. There is curiously there is a list, there's a there's a schedule to the shipping act in terms of eligibility that lists a whole range of nationalities and countries, you know. Um US, for example, is on that list, switzerland, you know, there's there's a whole list of of countries, and there's some countries on there you might not even expect to be sort of on that list to have a have the flag. But because they were specified to the schedule, that's all fine, nothing's changed for them. It's it is it is just a curiosity that uh the the the EU and EEA nationals just just aren't there, you know, there's no actual provision there in the rules anymore for them to have the flag. So I think this is something they want to change, but I uh as Tom said, I just don't think it's probably a priority in terms of laws being drafted and changed and amended and passed in terms of our our government and and parliament.

SPEAKER_02 20:27

So it's um it's also important to mention uh for listeners when you look at the declaration of eligibility, which is a document you will fill out um to declare you know you are eligible. The UK registries still have not updated this yet. So if you and I were to look at this today and look at um schedule six, as Duncan says, with those eligible countries and all the other eligible nationalities, it would still still show EU on there and EEA, which is incorrect. So little tricky one to be aware of there. Um, you know, we are telling you this, this is accurate, but the form basically they haven't got around to updating the form yet when when applying. So just be wary of that.

SPEAKER_00 21:07

So if an application's in process at the moment, will it it will it go through, do you think, or is it it will just be returned?

SPEAKER_02 21:15

Yeah, it'll be returned, unfortunately. So even if you're uh at provisional stage, so you know you're halfway almost to getting it fully registered, your provisional will remain in place for the three-month validity, but you will no longer be able to go to full registration. Um so you know, it could be pretty problematic, especially when there's tight deadlines.

SPEAKER_01 21:35

You know, it was quite a challenge for us because when they sort of sent us the email saying this is what's happened, um terribly sorry, we were in the process of actually registering a good number of yachts for um EU EA nationals, so that that was quite difficult because you sort of had to go back to the client to say, Look, really sorry, but you know, all this work we've done, it's actually we we we just can't do this.

SPEAKER_02 21:58

We should hopefully, however, we should be past that stage. Yeah. Because this obviously came in in December. So I think more now it's a case of people who are already on part one, who are looking at the registration certificate, and they've got you know, if the expiry up and coming, um, or even if it's next year, it's important, you know, those listeners start thinking about it now and reaching out, whether that's to you know, birth, ocean, skies, whoever, to understand what are the next options, what's going to be the easiest solution, you know, what that what that looks like. And that's different for everyone, obviously. Everyone's got different requirements, but um they need to start thinking about it now. You don't want to leave it too late. You don't want to leave it any later than a couple of months before expiry because sometimes you know things take time.

SPEAKER_00 22:43

Yeah, and we're just to be clear, we're talking about owner private owners' nationality, aren't we? So uh a European citizen who happens to have a house in the UK is still not eligible.

SPEAKER_02 22:55

Yes, yeah, absolutely. And you know, the the other solution. You know, if you if you're really wanting to keep the UK flag, it's uh you there's no problem with setting up a yacht holding structure, you know, a company that is from an eligible country. So as an example, we work with say UK BVI companies.

SPEAKER_01 23:12

I mean the strange, curious thing is a French company can still have uh a UK flag. You know, it's just the the nationals. Um we always caution though, yeah, it's just individuals uh at the moment. But so there are solutions, but there are solutions. And the other thing that's sort of interesting is I know so far we really focus very much on the the UK flag here, the UK ship register. That's forming part of something called the Red Ensign Group. So you have you not only have under what they call the British flag the UK ship registry, which is mainland United Kingdom, you have um the islands. So we've got, for example, the Isle of Man, we've got Guernsey, Jersey, the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands. These registries all allow the owner to fly the British flag, the red ensign, and and often you can fly the standard underface red ensign, or you fly the red ensign of the island with the which only has the um coat of arms or the embellishment of that island on it. Um now, interestingly, you look at say the Isle of Man or Jersey, is just two examples, they happily would allow you still, as a French passport holder, to access the flag. So where we have clients who are keen to keep that red ensign uh and they're you know they want to own the vessel in their own personal name, pretty good option for them is to consider um basically a change of port. So you move basically take the yacht away from the UK port of registry, for example, say a boat is registered in London or Plymouth. We basically would organise the transfer of the registration over to one of the other red ensign jurisdictions that allows you to have the flag. And I think the two we work with the most in respect of this would be Jersey, Island Man, Cayman Islands. Uh also you know would would would accept um EU and EEA nationals. Um a lot a lot of the time depends on the size of the boat and other sort of factors, you know, how it's operating and all the rest of it. But we do have solutions that do allow well, there are solutions that would allow the owner to keep that red ensign and not necessarily have to say, right, that's it, I've got to go and take a completely different flag for my yacht. So that is a good thing.

SPEAKER_02 25:22

I think the other good thing with that is a lot of the time with it being part of the red ensign group, if you transfer within it, you keep your official registration number, you know, all the the registries talk to each other, you know, they're sharing information, it makes the process a lot simpler compared with deleting and re-registering. So it's a cheaper, quicker service, which means you're having to change less on board as an owner. You know, hopefully, as well, a lot of the time with radio license, simple things like your call sign, uh MMSI number will stay the same, so you're not having to reprogram equipment on board, you know, and and navigationally you've got you know, really you've got all the same rights as you would with a UK flag, you know. Obviously, there's fiscal elements which you need to speak with your tax advisor about, yeah, because everyone's different, but you know, it's the smoothest transition and keeps you in that uh British flag state. So yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:12

Yeah. So to sum up, there is a pathway here. So if you currently under the British flag, you can uh as a private individual, EU individual, you can move it to Jersey flag, which is quite quick, easy. Or Guernsey, Isle of Man, and I think that's the first one. Guernsey's interesting, so is Guernsey the same?

SPEAKER_01 26:32

They've got quite narrow Yeah, um so we're talking to you from Guernsey, so we're just across in the harbour from our local registry. Um Guernsey's slightly slightly different. So Guernsey very much kept their eligibility down to British nationals or or British companies. So they've never had an option, for example, for a Frenchman to come along and access the flag. Um that yeah, that's and then that's very much sort of following the uh sort of how things always used to be. You know, traditionally the the British flag tended to be, like a lot of racialies, very much closed to the nationals or citizens or companies of that country. Um but over time, you know, uh most of the red, I think say probably nearly all of the other British Red Ensign registries have sort of increased who can come and take take uh access to the flag. Uh so yeah, Guernsey's slightly unusual there. It is it is a little bit more limited um to the Brits basically. Uh which you know arguably it might be a shame for us because we could probably register more boats in Guernsey if it was a slightly wider criteria. But um, you know, I'll say we've we've got Jersey next door that that that'll that welcome European owners. So um that that that works very well for us.

SPEAKER_00 27:48

Okay, okay. Well, I think we've um if if uh any of our listeners are still awake uh on our thrilling chat, I know um we'll thank them for the for their time. I think we've covered uh the main topic quite well here, and um so probably wrap up. Now, if a if one of our listeners is affected by this change in eligibility, what you recommend the first thing they do next?

SPEAKER_02 28:13

I'm saying reaching out whether yeah, reaching out whether that's to Berth and Ocean Skies registration agent, understanding where they sit, what their options are. You know, we'll be asking questions of you know where the yacht's going to be used. It's important on where their residence from a fiscal perspective. Again, speak with your tax advisor as part of this, don't jump in immediately. And then hopefully, it should be a simple case of planning ahead, giving yourselves plenty of time to then look into a transfer report to one of the similar red entin flag states who will accept them still. And it could be quite a smooth process, hopefully done within a matter of weeks if you know they're organised about it. Uh but you know, please just pick up the phone really and uh have that chat, and um that's where it will start from there.

SPEAKER_00 28:57

Yeah, so I guess the message is not not don't panic. Absolutely. Take take some advice. There are some easier options, and there's some other options depending on your situation, cruising plans, etc. etc. So uh and and don't leave it, of course, I was gonna say don't leave it too late.

SPEAKER_01 29:14

Um it's better to do the you know, to transfer the port. We really need the yacht still current on the UK register. If you leave it too late and you suddenly find you've the only thing you have is a deletion, um that can be a little bit more problematic, uh especially if the deletion is sort of gets gets gets old, um, because um it becomes it's still doable. I mean it's but it becomes more of a re-registration than in a transfer port. So it's a little bit more paperwork.

SPEAKER_02 29:38

Um potential for a um you know for a surveyor to have to go and see the yacht again, which um you know delays an extra cost. So as long as you're doing it within a timely manner, then all of that can be transferred from the UK to the new port uh without the need to um redo everything.

SPEAKER_00 29:57

And just to clarify, the surveyor is for the tonnage survey, which is traditionally always makes me chuckle, is how much wine you can carry, isn't it? Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 30:05

How many tons? How many how many barrels of wine can you carry? Which is what all your toners need to know.

SPEAKER_02 30:11

Um, because yeah, it's a question we get asked multiple times a week. You read tonnage, tonnage survey, everyone presumes it uh it's down to you know a weight measurement, you know, of a vessel, and it isn't, and you know, we get a lot of people calling up, sort of saying, hang on, why doesn't this match? But actually it's because it's it's a measurement of the permanent uh the volume of the permanent hold of a vessel. So, as you say, in theory, how much uh a vessel could carry back in the day, which uh it seems rather outdated, but the the positive.

SPEAKER_00 30:49

I think historically it's grain, but I like wine. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah. We're not gonna complain there, it's useful.

SPEAKER_01 30:55

And um it's I mean, it's it's it's difficult. And I'm speaking here as a we both are tonnage measurers, and you know, it can be a little bit soul-destroying sometimes because um in the owner's mind the boat is either too heavy or too light, or it's too long, or it's too short, or the draft isn't the depth, and there's a lot of confusing measurements that come out of the challenge ship, and aren't always particularly helpful, you know, in terms of uh your day-to-day sailing. Um, but you know, it it is sort of based on international standards, and um I always sometimes say to the owners, um, bear in mind that on top of us just working out your challenge and how long your boat is and all the rest of it, it is somebody independent and you know, trusted by the registry through the survey societies that we act for, actually coming to your boat and um and saying, yeah, this this boat really exists, you know, and it is 20 metres long and it has two engines, and they are these engines, because quite frankly, without that double check, the registry only see bits of paper that could say all sorts of things on them. So it is a nice safety check, and it goes back to I think what we were saying there at the start, it adds to the uh credibility of the British flag, you know. Somebody actually has checked the books there and it's it's genuinely got these these characteristics.

SPEAKER_00 32:15

Yes, absolutely. Well, I think we'll wrap up now, and thank you very much for your time, uh, Tom and Duncan. And for our listeners, it's oceanskies.com is the company, and for any of your registration requirements, please do reach out to them or to us at Berthon. We have a very good working knowledge of uh registrations and who to ask if if you've got any questions. So, as ever, thank you for our podcast. We uh sorry, thank you for listening to our podcast. Uh we do these regularly uh with various experts in fields. And you can um I think it's Spotify, you go and listen to them on. Um uh Harry Shuttler is our man that deals with all this, and he'll tell you even more. So thank you very much, and uh we'll see you at the next one.

SPEAKER_01 33:01

Thanks very much, man. Thanks, man, much appreciated.

SPEAKER_00 33:03

All right, thanks, Jack.