Marshall Islands vs St Vincent and the Grenadines for yachts
Everything we track for both registers, side by side. Rows neither register has published show a gap rather than an estimate.
Is the Marshall Islands or St Vincent and the Grenadines cheaper for yacht registration?Link to this section
The registration fee is the entry charge the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator sets in its Marine Notice on consolidated yacht fees and the St Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration sets flat for yachts in its Fees and Taxes schedule. The Marshall Islands bill recurring service charges; St Vincent charges an Annual Tax. WhichFlagToFly dates the Marshall Islands and St Vincent fee rows.
| Register | Initial registration fee | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall Islands | Registration runs US$550 for private yachts under 24 m and US$1,500 to US$1,800 for larger and commercial yachts.RMI Marine Notice 1-005-2, Consolidated Fees for Official Yacht Documents and Services, Rev. Jul/2025, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §1.1Retrieved 2026-08-12Effective 2025-01-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Recurring charges include a US$1,000 yacht service fee and a US$250 security fee; private yachts pay neither.RMI Marine Notice 1-005-2, Consolidated Fees for Official Yacht Documents and Services, Rev. Jul/2025, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §12.2, fee columnRetrieved 2026-09-12Effective 2025-01-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | Registration is US$500.00 for a pleasure yacht and US$1,000.00 for a charter or Limited Charter Allowance (LCA) yacht; a change of ownership is US$250.00.Fees and Taxes, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (registry fee schedule published at svg-marad.com/fees.asp) (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · Registration FeesRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Annual Tax on a yacht is a flat US$250.00 per year.Fees and Taxes, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (registry fee schedule published at svg-marad.com/fees.asp) (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · Annual TaxesRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
Which flag is better for EU chartering, the Marshall Islands or St Vincent and the Grenadines?Link to this section
Charter permission is what a flag lets a yacht do for reward, and both open registers sit outside the EU maritime cabotage Regulation's protected class. The Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator offers Yacht Engaged in Trade status under its Marine Guideline, capped in charter days. St Vincent runs three regimes under its limited-charter circular. See the charter rows.
| Register | Charter permissions | Private and commercial regimes |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall Islands | A private yacht of 24 m or more may charter up to 84 days a year under Yacht Engaged in Trade status, where coastal states allow.RMI Marine Guideline 1-11-2, Yacht Engaged in Trade, Mar/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · PurposeRetrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Five yacht regimes exist: private, commercial, private yacht limited charter, yacht engaged in trade, and passenger yacht.MI-103, the RMI Yacht Code, Rev. May/2026, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · Ch. I, DefinitionsRetrieved 2026-08-29Effective 2026-01-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | Coastal states decide; the EU cabotage freedom does not extend to this flag, and charter in home waters is barred.Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 of 7 December 1992 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotage), EUR-Lexeur-lex.europa.eu · Art. 1(1)Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Three regimes, including a Limited Charter Allowance of 84 days a year for private yachts.Circular YAT 005 Rev 3, Pleasure (Private) Yachts With Limited Charter Allowance, 20 February 2019, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · Section IRetrieved 2026-08-27Effective 2019-02-20Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
How does VAT differ between the Marshall Islands and St Vincent and the Grenadines?Link to this section
Import VAT is the tax charged on a yacht entering a tax territory. The Marshall Islands levy none today, having enacted a Consumption Tax Act that reaches imports from a future date. St Vincent and the Grenadines charge VAT under their own Value Added Tax Act at the categories the Inland Revenue Department publishes. See the VAT rows.
| Register | VAT rate | Basis for VAT on import |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall Islands | There is no VAT; a 12% consumption tax applies to supplies and imports from 1 October 2026.Consumption Tax Act 2025, 48 MIRC Chapter 9 (P.L. 2025-47), commencement 7 October 2025, Nitijela of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as published at rmiparliament.orgrmiparliament.org · §959(2)Retrieved 2026-08-18Effective 2026-10-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | In the Marshall Islands the importer pays consumption tax on customs value plus insurance, freight and duties; EU import VAT is built the same way.Consumption Tax Act 2025, 48 MIRC Chapter 9 (P.L. 2025-47), commencement 7 October 2025, Nitijela of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as published at rmiparliament.orgrmiparliament.org · §908(3)Retrieved 2026-08-18Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | VAT is 16 percent standard and 11 percent on accommodation, with zero-rated and exempt categories alongside.Taxes, Inland Revenue Department, Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesird.gov.vc · What is the current rate?Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Import VAT applies to customs value plus freight, insurance and duty, and yachts carry 20 percent import duty.Value Added Tax Act No. 25 of 2006, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Government Printer, Campden Park), read from the Organization of American States Departamento de Derecho Internacional repositorywww.oas.org · s. 26(1)(a)Retrieved 2026-08-27Effective 2023-01-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
Which register is faster, the Marshall Islands or St Vincent and the Grenadines?Link to this section
Provisional registration is short-term entry before the permanent certificate, and both registers enter that way. The Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator issues a Provisional Certificate of Registry under the Maritime Act with a published turnaround. St Vincent issues one abroad through the proper officer and publishes no processing time. Compare the timeline rows.
| Register | Provisional registration | Time to full registration |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall Islands | A Provisional Certificate of Registry runs 12 months; a newbuilding may instead hold a Construction Certificate.MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §10.1Retrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | A provisional certificate can issue in one business day, and the permanent one follows inside its 12 months once class and insurance are in place.MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §10.5.1Retrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | Provisional certificates run six months, extendable by a further six, and are issued abroad.Shipping Act 2004 (No. 11 of 2004), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as published by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · s. 28(1)Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Twelve months on a provisional certificate is the outer limit; no processing time is published.Shipping Act 2004 (No. 11 of 2004), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as published by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · s. 28(3)Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
How should an owner choose between the Marshall Islands and St Vincent and the Grenadines?Link to this section
The Marshall Islands or St Vincent and the Grenadines is answered by the yacht's size and use, the port state control record she will meet, and whether the owner will hold her through a company. A specialist can read both administrations against those answers.
At a glance
The dimensions owners decide on, taken from the rows below. Follow a label to the row it came from and its source.
| Dimension | Marshall Islands | St Vincent and the Grenadines |
|---|---|---|
| Initial registration fee | US$300 to US$2,500 | US$250 to US$1,000 |
| Time to full registration | 365 days | 365 days |
Cost and timing, compared
Bars drawn from the published rows on this page. Figures are never converted between currencies and never estimated. Where one register publishes nothing comparable, there is no chart.
Initial registration fee, compared
Every flat charge each register publishes here, in USD, cheapest first. Charges quoted per ton or as a percentage are left out, because they depend on the vessel.
| Register | Figure | What it covers | Item |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall Islands | US$300 to US$2,500 | Provisional Certificate of Registry (yacht under construction) → newbuilding under construction | Initial registration fee |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | US$250 to US$1,000 | change of ownership → charter yacht (commercial) | Initial registration fee |
Where a register publishes a schedule rather than a single price, its bar spans the published charges. What each end covers is below, and every line of both schedules is in the table on this page.
Time to full registration, compared
The longest window each register publishes for completing registration, in days. What that window is differs by register. Each one's own description is in the table below.
| Register | Figure | What it covers | Item |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall Islands | 365 days | outer window implied by provisional certificate validity, not a processing time for the permanent certificate | Time to full registration |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | 365 days | statutory outer limit on provisional registration | Time to full registration |
Registers measure time differently, and a service turnaround is not a statutory deadline. Only day counts of the same kind are charted together. Each register's full wording is in the table on this page.
Line by line
| Item | MHMarshall IslandsMarshall Islands Maritime Registry | VCSt Vincent and the GrenadinesSt Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | ||
| Who may own a registered vessel | Ownership is limited to RMI citizens, nationals and qualified foreign maritime entities, and every beneficial owner holding 25% or more is vetted.MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §8.1.1Retrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Foreign companies register through a registered agent in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; a foreign individual is not a qualified owner. Keeping the agent typically costs an estimated US$900 to US$2,100 a year on providers' published prices.Shipping Act 2004 (No. 11 of 2004), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as published by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · s. 6(1)Retrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Which vessels qualify | Vessels must be no more than 20 years old at registration unless the Administrator grants an age waiver.MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §§3.1.1, 3.2.1Retrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Vessels older than 18 years (15 for tankers) need a preliminary Flag State survey and the Administration's special consideration before registration; it is not an automatic bar.Circular REG 001 Rev. 1, Additional procedure for registration and change of Flag surveys, 10 September 2014, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · para. 1Retrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2014-09-10Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Private and commercial regimes | Five yacht regimes exist: private, commercial, private yacht limited charter, yacht engaged in trade, and passenger yacht.MI-103, the RMI Yacht Code, Rev. May/2026, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · Ch. I, DefinitionsRetrieved 2026-08-29Effective 2026-01-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Three regimes, including a Limited Charter Allowance of 84 days a year for private yachts.Circular YAT 005 Rev 3, Pleasure (Private) Yachts With Limited Charter Allowance, 20 February 2019, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · Section IRetrieved 2026-08-27Effective 2019-02-20Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Initial registration fee | Registration runs US$550 for private yachts under 24 m and US$1,500 to US$1,800 for larger and commercial yachts.RMI Marine Notice 1-005-2, Consolidated Fees for Official Yacht Documents and Services, Rev. Jul/2025, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §1.1Retrieved 2026-08-12Effective 2025-01-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Registration is US$500.00 for a pleasure yacht and US$1,000.00 for a charter or Limited Charter Allowance (LCA) yacht; a change of ownership is US$250.00.Fees and Taxes, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (registry fee schedule published at svg-marad.com/fees.asp) (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · Registration FeesRetrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Annual fee | Recurring charges include a US$1,000 yacht service fee and a US$250 security fee; private yachts pay neither.RMI Marine Notice 1-005-2, Consolidated Fees for Official Yacht Documents and Services, Rev. Jul/2025, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §12.2, fee columnRetrieved 2026-09-12Effective 2025-01-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Annual Tax on a yacht is a flat US$250.00 per year.Fees and Taxes, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (registry fee schedule published at svg-marad.com/fees.asp) (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · Annual TaxesRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Tonnage dues | Annual tonnage tax runs US$750 to US$1,250, banded by yacht category and gross tonnage.RMI Marine Notice 1-005-2, Consolidated Fees for Official Yacht Documents and Services, Rev. Jul/2025, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §1.2Retrieved 2026-08-12Effective 2025-01-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Yachts pay a flat US$250.00 annual tax whatever their tonnage, with two years due before registration.Fees and Taxes, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (registry fee schedule published at svg-marad.com/fees.asp) (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · Annual TaxesRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Provisional registration | A Provisional Certificate of Registry runs 12 months; a newbuilding may instead hold a Construction Certificate.MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §10.1Retrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Provisional certificates run six months, extendable by a further six, and are issued abroad.Shipping Act 2004 (No. 11 of 2004), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as published by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · s. 28(1)Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Time to full registration | A provisional certificate can issue in one business day, and the permanent one follows inside its 12 months once class and insurance are in place.MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §10.5.1Retrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Twelve months on a provisional certificate is the outer limit; no processing time is published.Shipping Act 2004 (No. 11 of 2004), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as published by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · s. 28(3)Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Mortgage registration | Preferred ship mortgages recorded through any Regional Office rank ahead of all claims except tort, crew wages, general average, salvage and court costs.MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §18.0Retrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Mortgages rank strictly by order of registration; a registered ban on further mortgages makes any breach null and void.Shipping Act 2004 (No. 11 of 2004), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as published by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · s. 68(1)Retrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Survey requirements | Pre-registration inspection depends on length, tonnage and class; every private yacht over 20 years old must be inspected.RMI Marine Notice 2-011-55, Surveys and Certificates for Private Yachts, Rev. Mar/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §4.0Retrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | A pre-registration tonnage survey applies, then renewal surveys every five years and dry docking every 36 months.Shipping Act 2004 (No. 11 of 2004), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as published by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · s. 14(1)Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| MCA code equivalents | The RMI applies its own Yacht Code, submitted to the IMO as an equivalent arrangement, not a UK code.MI-103, the RMI Yacht Code, Rev. May/2026, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · Ch. I §1.7Retrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | The flag applies its own yacht codes, accepting the UK Large Yacht Code LY3 as equivalent to the Load Line Convention.Safety Code of Practice for Pleasure Yachts Engaged in Commercial Trade, SVG Code Edition 2008 Rev. 7, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · § 4.2.2Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Charter permissions | A private yacht of 24 m or more may charter up to 84 days a year under Yacht Engaged in Trade status, where coastal states allow.RMI Marine Guideline 1-11-2, Yacht Engaged in Trade, Mar/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · PurposeRetrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Coastal states decide; the EU cabotage freedom does not extend to this flag, and charter in home waters is barred.Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 of 7 December 1992 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotage), EUR-Lexeur-lex.europa.eu · Art. 1(1)Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Crew certification requirements | Yachts of 80 GT and over need a Minimum Safe Manning Certificate, and all need certified crew; private yachts are exempt unless chartering or 3,000 GT or more from 1 September 2024.MI-103, the RMI Yacht Code, Rev. May/2026, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · Ch. II §1.8Retrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | STCW or MCA officer certificates must carry a flag endorsement, alongside a Safe Manning Document.Shipping Act 2004 (No. 11 of 2004), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as published by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · s. 99(1)Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Maritime Labour Convention applicability | Chartering yachts of any tonnage must meet MLC 2006, and carry a Maritime Labour Certificate from 500 GT; private yachts sit outside it.MI-103, the RMI Yacht Code, Rev. May/2026, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · Ch. II §1.13.1-1.13.2Retrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Commercial yachts meet the MLC at any tonnage; certification is voluntary, inspection falls every three years.Safety Code of Practice for Pleasure Yachts Engaged in Commercial Trade, SVG Code Edition 2008 Rev. 7, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · § 14.8.1Retrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Paris MoU standing | The Marshall Islands flag is on the Paris MoU White List, ranked 21 of 69, with 5,166 inspections and 167 detentions.Performance Lists, Paris MoU Annual Report 2025 (published 1 July 2026), Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Controlparismou.orgRetrieved 2026-08-18Effective 2026-07-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Grey List, rank 54, with 245 inspections and 19 detentions across 2023 to 2025.Performance Lists, Paris MoU 2025 Annual Report (published 1 July 2026), Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Controlparismou.org · Flag Performance – Grey ListRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Documents required | A private-use declaration, registration application, insurance, class certificates and proof of ownership are due by registration day.MI-242PY, Requirements for Private Yacht Registration 24m and more (Classed and Unclassed Yachts), Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · Application/Documentation/RequirementsRetrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | A bill of sale, corporate good standing certificate, tonnage certificate, P&I entry and an inspection report are required.PRO 005, Procedure for the Registration of Pleasure Yachts from 24m up to 500 GT with No Charter Allowance, 15 June 2015, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · Administrative requirementsRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Renewal cycle | The permanent certificate never expires; only the annual tonnage tax and yearly service fees recur.MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §10.5.5Retrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Tax falls annually at US$250.00, while compliance documents run five years.Shipping Act 2004 (No. 11 of 2004), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as published by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · s. 9(1)(b)Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Deregistration process | Deletion follows sale or scrapping, once all tonnage taxes, Marshall Islands International Participation (MIIP) fees and Marine Services fees are paid.MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §17.0Retrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Owners may close registration voluntarily, but mortgagees must be notified and can block it outright.Shipping Act 2004 (No. 11 of 2004), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as published by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · s. 9(1)(d)Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Register size | The RMI register carries 1,440 yachts, up from 1,366 two months earlier, inside a total fleet of 6,652 vessels and 221,369,700 gross tons.Fleet Statistics and Port State Control, A4 flyer, August 2026, reporting the fleet through 31 July 2026, The Marshall Islands Registry, published by International Registries, Inc. in affiliation with the Marshall Islands Maritime and Corporate Administratorswww.register-iri.com · Fleet Types tableRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2026-07-31Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | 788 ships and 2.63 million deadweight tonnes on UNCTAD figures; the register itself publishes no fleet count.Maritime profile: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, UNCTAD Data Hub (UNCTADstat country profile), United Nations Conference on Trade and Developmentunctadstat.unctad.org · Maritime key figures for 2024Retrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2024-01-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Red Ensign Group membership | Not a member of the Red Ensign Group, whose published membership is the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the UK Overseas Territories that operate shipping registers.Red Ensign Group, 'Who we are' (About the Red Ensign Group), redensigngroup.orgwww.redensigngroup.org · Who we are, membership paragraph and both category listsRetrieved 2026-09-09Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Not a member of the Red Ensign Group, whose published membership is the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the UK Overseas Territories that operate shipping registers.Red Ensign Group, 'Who we are' (About the Red Ensign Group), redensigngroup.orgwww.redensigngroup.org · Who we are, membership paragraph and both category listsRetrieved 2026-09-09Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| VAT & importation | ||
| VAT rate | There is no VAT; a 12% consumption tax applies to supplies and imports from 1 October 2026.Consumption Tax Act 2025, 48 MIRC Chapter 9 (P.L. 2025-47), commencement 7 October 2025, Nitijela of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as published at rmiparliament.orgrmiparliament.org · §959(2)Retrieved 2026-08-18Effective 2026-10-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | VAT is 16 percent standard and 11 percent on accommodation, with zero-rated and exempt categories alongside.Taxes, Inland Revenue Department, Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesird.gov.vc · What is the current rate?Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Basis for VAT on import | In the Marshall Islands the importer pays consumption tax on customs value plus insurance, freight and duties; EU import VAT is built the same way.Consumption Tax Act 2025, 48 MIRC Chapter 9 (P.L. 2025-47), commencement 7 October 2025, Nitijela of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as published at rmiparliament.orgrmiparliament.org · §908(3)Retrieved 2026-08-18Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Import VAT applies to customs value plus freight, insurance and duty, and yachts carry 20 percent import duty.Value Added Tax Act No. 25 of 2006, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Government Printer, Campden Park), read from the Organization of American States Departamento de Derecho Internacional repositorywww.oas.org · s. 26(1)(a)Retrieved 2026-08-27Effective 2023-01-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Temporary admission rules | Non-EU owned yachts may enter EU waters under Temporary Admission for up to 18 months.RMI Marine Guideline 1-11-2, Yacht Engaged in Trade, Mar/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §2.3.1(b)Retrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | A non-EU flag qualifies for 18 months of EU temporary admission free of duty and VAT.Guidance Note for Pleasure Craft, TAXUD.A.1.003/EC, Brussels, 30 April 2026, European Commission, Directorate-General Taxation and Customs Union (Customs policy)taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu · FAQ 14Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Leasing scheme status | The Marshall Islands has no yacht-leasing scheme, and no relief turns on how a vessel is owned or financed.Import Duties Act 1989, 48 MIRC Chapter 2 (P.L. 1989-49, as amended), Nitijela of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as published at rmiparliament.orgrmiparliament.org · §206(1)Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | No leasing scheme exists; charter hire is taxed by where the yacht is actually used.Value Added Tax Act No. 25 of 2006, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Government Printer, Campden Park), read from the Organization of American States Departamento de Derecho Internacional repositorywww.oas.org · s. 14(5)(a)Retrieved 2026-08-27Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Commercial exemption paths | The EU high-seas exemption is the route; the Marshall Islands grants no relief for importing a vessel.Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax, Articles 148 and 150, consolidated text of 1 January 2025 (02006L0112, EN, 01.01.2025, 029.001), EUR-Lexeur-lex.europa.eu · Art. 148(a)Retrieved 2026-08-18Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Exemption follows international transport, not commercial registration, covering ship's stores, repairs and handling.Value Added Tax Act No. 25 of 2006, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Government Printer, Campden Park), read from the Organization of American States Departamento de Derecho Internacional repositorywww.oas.org · Schedule 4, item 24Retrieved 2026-08-27Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Evidence of VAT-paid status | Chartering in the EU without Temporary Admission requires a VAT paid certificate, arranged through the Importer/Exporter.RMI Marine Guideline 1-11-2, Yacht Engaged in Trade, Mar/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §2.3.1Retrieved 2026-08-12Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | No VAT-paid certificate exists; a T2L document or invoice with proof of VAT payment serves instead.Guidance Note for Pleasure Craft, TAXUD.A.1.003/EC, Brussels, 30 April 2026, European Commission, Directorate-General Taxation and Customs Union (Customs policy)taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu · FAQ 1Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Returned goods relief after Brexit | A boat regains Union status if re-imported within three years, unchanged, by the person who exported it.Guidance Note for Pleasure Craft, TAXUD.A.1.003/EC, 30 April 2026, European Commission, Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Uniontaxation-customs.ec.europa.eu · Q7Retrieved 2026-08-18Effective 2026-04-30Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Returned goods relief needs re-import within three years by the same person, plus a Brexit-era special case.Guidance Note for Pleasure Craft, TAXUD.A.1.003/EC, Brussels, 30 April 2026, European Commission, Directorate-General Taxation and Customs Union (Customs policy)taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu · FAQ 8Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Yacht management | ||
| Fee model | Management houses typically charge a fixed monthly retainer scaled to the yacht's size (market guidance puts it at roughly €1,500 to 15,000 or more a month by size) or a share of the operating budget, with charter management charged separately at typically 15 to 20 percent of charter revenue.breezeYachting.swiss - Professional Yacht Management Companies and Their Feeswww.breezeyachting.swissRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2025-10-25Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Management houses typically charge a fixed monthly retainer scaled to the yacht's size (market guidance puts it at roughly €1,500 to 15,000 or more a month by size) or a share of the operating budget, with charter management charged separately at typically 15 to 20 percent of charter revenue.breezeYachting.swiss - Professional Yacht Management Companies and Their Feeswww.breezeyachting.swissRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2025-10-25Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Fleet size under management | Established management houses typically run fleets of roughly a dozen to 80 yachts, with an industry average of about 24 under management.SuperyachtNews / The Superyacht Group - The Superyacht Management Reportwww.superyachtnews.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2017-06-12Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Established management houses typically run fleets of roughly a dozen to 80 yachts, with an industry average of about 24 under management.SuperyachtNews / The Superyacht Group - The Superyacht Management Reportwww.superyachtnews.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2017-06-12Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| ISM document of compliance holder | ISM applies to commercial yachts of 500 GT and up and to passenger yachts of any tonnage; the owner's chosen recognized organization (RO) issues the Document of Compliance (DOC) for the RMI.Marine Notice MN 2-011-13, International Safety Management (ISM) Code, Oct/2023, Maritime Administrator, Republic of the Marshall Islandswww.register-iri.com · Administrator’s ApplicationRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Commercial yachts of 500 GT and over file copies of the ISM Document of Compliance and Declaration of Company at registration.PRO 002, Procedure for the Registration of Commercial Yachts from 500 GT and over, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (last update 25/06/2026) (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · Technical requirementsRetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Crew payroll services | Crew payroll administration is a standard part of a full management mandate, normally run through a dedicated MLC-compliant crew employment company rather than the owning entity.Fraser - Yacht Management Serviceswww.fraseryachts.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Crew payroll administration is a standard part of a full management mandate, normally run through a dedicated MLC-compliant crew employment company rather than the owning entity.Fraser - Yacht Management Serviceswww.fraseryachts.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Jurisdictions served | Management houses routinely operate across multiple flag states, holding Documents of Compliance from several administrations rather than tying owners to one register.Fraser - Yacht Management Serviceswww.fraseryachts.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Management houses routinely operate across multiple flag states, holding Documents of Compliance from several administrations rather than tying owners to one register.Fraser - Yacht Management Serviceswww.fraseryachts.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Marine insurance | ||
| Wreck removal insurance | The Marshall Islands has ratified the Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention and operates its compulsory wreck-removal insurance regime.Status of IMO Treaties, summary of status of conventions ('x-Status.xlsx'), as at 25 August 2026, International Maritime Organizationwwwcdn.imo.org · NAIROBI WRC 2007, section II (Contracting States), p. 572Retrieved 2026-08-28Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has ratified the Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention, so compulsory wreck-removal insurance applies.Status of IMO Treaties, summary of status of conventions ('x-Status.xlsx'), as at 25 August 2026, International Maritime Organizationwwwcdn.imo.org · NAIROBI WRC 2007, section II (Contracting States), p. 572Retrieved 2026-08-28Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Passenger liability regime | The Marshall Islands has ratified the 2002 Athens Protocol on passenger liability at sea and has denounced the 1974 Convention it replaced.Status of IMO Treaties, summary of status of conventions ('x-Status.xlsx'), as at 25 August 2026, International Maritime Organizationwwwcdn.imo.org · PAL PROT 2002, section II (Contracting States), p. 372Retrieved 2026-08-28Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has not ratified the Athens passenger liability convention or its protocols.Status of IMO Treaties, summary of status of conventions ('x-Status.xlsx'), as at 25 August 2026, International Maritime Organizationwwwcdn.imo.org · PAL 1974 to PAL PROT 2002, II. Contracting States tables, pp. 359-379Retrieved 2026-08-28Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Crew placement | ||
| Placement fee model | Crew agencies charge the yacht, not the crew member: typically about one month's gross salary for a permanent placement and 20 percent of earnings for temporary work.Northrop and Johnson Crew Services - Terms and Conditions (2023)cdn.northropandjohnson.com · FeesRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Crew agencies charge the yacht, not the crew member: typically about one month's gross salary for a permanent placement and 20 percent of earnings for temporary work.Northrop and Johnson Crew Services - Terms and Conditions (2023)cdn.northropandjohnson.com · FeesRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Crew pool coverage | On published figures, the main crew agencies each hold databases of roughly 40,000 to 50,000 registered candidates, so coverage is effectively global and differentiation is about screening, not database size.The Crew Network (Fraser) - Looking for Crewwww.crewnetwork.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | On published figures, the main crew agencies each hold databases of roughly 40,000 to 50,000 registered candidates, so coverage is effectively global and differentiation is about screening, not database size.The Crew Network (Fraser) - Looking for Crewwww.crewnetwork.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| MLC compliance support | Chartering yachts of any tonnage are MLC ships for the RMI; the Administrator issues the DMLC Part I and the owner picks who certifies.Marine Notice MN 2-011-33, Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, Inspection and Certification Program, Jul/2024, Maritime Administrator, Republic of the Marshall Islandswww.register-iri.com · §ERetrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Commercial yachts need an MLC inspection every three years; the Maritime Labour Certificate itself is voluntary.Safety Code of Practice for Pleasure Yachts Engaged in Commercial Trade, SVG Code Edition 2008 Rev. 7, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · § 14.8Retrieved 2026-08-27Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Payroll administration offered | Crew agencies commonly offer payroll administration as an add-on to placement, usually bundled with MLC-compliant employment contracts, tax withholding and visas.Fraser - Yacht Crew Recruitment (The Crew Network)www.fraseryachts.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Crew agencies commonly offer payroll administration as an add-on to placement, usually bundled with MLC-compliant employment contracts, tax withholding and visas.Fraser - Yacht Crew Recruitment (The Crew Network)www.fraseryachts.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Notice and replacement terms | Agencies typically guarantee a free replacement if a permanent crew member leaves within 60 to 90 days, with the leading houses extending that to 180 days.Northrop and Johnson Crew Services - Terms and Conditions (2023)cdn.northropandjohnson.com · Replacement guaranteeRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Agencies typically guarantee a free replacement if a permanent crew member leaves within 60 to 90 days, with the leading houses extending that to 180 days.Northrop and Johnson Crew Services - Terms and Conditions (2023)cdn.northropandjohnson.com · Replacement guaranteeRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Refit & yard works | ||
| Yard network coverage | Refits are routed to a handful of established yard clusters in the Mediterranean, northern Europe, Turkey and the US, with the owner's team tendering the specification across several yards.Hill Robinson - Why Palma is still a leading hub for superyacht refit and maintenancehillrobinson.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2026-02-25Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Refits are routed to a handful of established yard clusters in the Mediterranean, northern Europe, Turkey and the US, with the owner's team tendering the specification across several yards.Hill Robinson - Why Palma is still a leading hub for superyacht refit and maintenancehillrobinson.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2026-02-25Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Project management model | The market standard is a dedicated owner's representative or project manager, independent of the yard, running the refit from specification through tender and on-site supervision to redelivery.Superyacht Partners - Yacht Refit Management Serviceswww.superyachtpartners.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | The market standard is a dedicated owner's representative or project manager, independent of the yard, running the refit from specification through tender and on-site supervision to redelivery.Superyacht Partners - Yacht Refit Management Serviceswww.superyachtpartners.comRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Refit fee structure | As a market estimate, refit project management is charged as a percentage of contract value, about 4 to 8 percent on the one published example (€200,000 to 400,000 on a €5 million refit), or on a day rate for shorter jobs.The First Owner's Reference - Superyacht refit cost: when to refit, when to sellfirstownersreference.com · 06 RefitRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2026-05-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | As a market estimate, refit project management is charged as a percentage of contract value, about 4 to 8 percent on the one published example (€200,000 to 400,000 on a €5 million refit), or on a day rate for shorter jobs.The First Owner's Reference - Superyacht refit cost: when to refit, when to sellfirstownersreference.com · 06 RefitRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2026-05-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Survey oversight offered | Independent survey oversight during a refit is a standard offering, with milestone inspections tied to payment stages and a handover inspection at redelivery.Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association (YDSA) - Types of Surveywww.ydsa.co.uk · Supervision of Construction or RepairsRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Independent survey oversight during a refit is a standard offering, with milestone inspections tied to payment stages and a handover inspection at redelivery.Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association (YDSA) - Types of Surveywww.ydsa.co.uk · Supervision of Construction or RepairsRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Warranty handling | Refit yards typically warrant materials and workmanship for twelve months from redelivery, with outstanding items tracked on a snag list and a retention held until they are closed.Gard (P&I club) - Warranty claims in shipbuilding contractsgard.no · Recommendations and checklistsRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2015-03-25Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Refit yards typically warrant materials and workmanship for twelve months from redelivery, with outstanding items tracked on a snag list and a retention held until they are closed.Gard (P&I club) - Warranty claims in shipbuilding contractsgard.no · Recommendations and checklistsRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2015-03-25Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Pre-buy survey | ||
| Survey scope options | A pre-purchase survey is normally a full condition survey of hull, machinery and systems, with sea trial, haul-out, engine survey, rig, oil analysis and ultrasonic gauging as separately priced extras.Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association (YDSA) - Types of Surveywww.ydsa.co.ukRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | A pre-purchase survey is normally a full condition survey of hull, machinery and systems, with sea trial, haul-out, engine survey, rig, oil analysis and ultrasonic gauging as separately priced extras.Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association (YDSA) - Types of Surveywww.ydsa.co.ukRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Survey fee structure | Surveyors typically charge per foot on smaller yachts (one published US rate card is US$28 to 30 per foot), moving to day rates or a fixed fee on superyachts, with haul-out, travel and lab testing billed separately.Boston Marine Surveyors - published rate cardbostonmarinesurveyors.com · RatesRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Surveyors typically charge per foot on smaller yachts (one published US rate card is US$28 to 30 per foot), moving to day rates or a fixed fee on superyachts, with haul-out, travel and lab testing billed separately.Boston Marine Surveyors - published rate cardbostonmarinesurveyors.com · RatesRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Time to survey report | Surveyors typically deliver the written report within three to five business days of the inspection, after a verbal debrief on the day.Capt. F.K. Lanier and Associates - Marine Survey FAQcaptfklanier.com · FAQ-7Retrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Surveyors typically deliver the written report within three to five business days of the inspection, after a verbal debrief on the day.Capt. F.K. Lanier and Associates - Marine Survey FAQcaptfklanier.com · FAQ-7Retrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Class records review | On large yachts a review of class records, survey status and flag certificates is standard scope alongside the physical survey.JMS Yachting - Superyacht Pre-Purchase Surveywww.jmsyachting.com · Onboard documentation auditRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2025-09-03Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | On large yachts a review of class records, survey status and flag certificates is standard scope alongside the physical survey.JMS Yachting - Superyacht Pre-Purchase Surveywww.jmsyachting.com · Onboard documentation auditRetrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2025-09-03Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Sea trial attendance | Sea trial attendance is standard on a pre-purchase survey, though whether it is inside the quoted fee or billed separately varies by surveyor.Boston Marine Surveyors - published rate cardbostonmarinesurveyors.com · RatesRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Sea trial attendance is standard on a pre-purchase survey, though whether it is inside the quoted fee or billed separately varies by surveyor.Boston Marine Surveyors - published rate cardbostonmarinesurveyors.com · RatesRetrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Ownership structuring | ||
| Owning company minimum capital | No minimum capital applies; a standard company is 500 shares without par value, and authorized capital above that band draws a one-off capitalization tax.Associations Law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Business Corporations Act, courtesy copy published by the RMI Registrar of Corporations through the December 2020 session (183 pages), Republic of the Marshall Islands Registrar of Corporationswww.register-iri.com · §28(e)Retrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | No minimum capital applies; a company states authorized capital only if it has one, and pays US$125.00 to incorporate.International Business Companies (Amendment and Consolidation) Act, Chapter 149 (Act No. 34 of 2007, as amended by Act No. 48 of 2007; short title changed to Business Companies (Amendment and Consolidation) Act by Act No. 36 of 2018), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, WIPO Lexwww.wipo.int · s. 31Retrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Beneficial ownership disclosure | Owners are named in a private company record and to the flag at registration, never in a public register; the Registrar gets only an annual attestation.Associations Law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Business Corporations Act, courtesy copy published by the RMI Registrar of Corporations through the December 2020 session (183 pages), Republic of the Marshall Islands Registrar of Corporationswww.register-iri.com · §80(3)(b)Retrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Beneficial ownership goes to the licensed registered agent before incorporation; there is no central beneficial ownership register, public or non-public, and bearer shares are not permitted.Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 4th Round Mutual Evaluation Report, Caribbean Financial Action Task Force, adopted at the CFATF November 2023 Plenary in Aruba, as published by the FATF (archived copy)www.fatf-gafi.org (web.archive.org) · para. 27Retrieved 2026-09-01Corroborating source, not the register's own publicationOpen sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Crew employment & payroll | ||
| Seafarer employment agreements | A yacht that charters must give every seafarer a signed written agreement with at least seven days' notice plus Shipping Articles on the Administrator's official form; a purely private yacht, being outside the MLC, is not held to that regime.MI-108, RMI Maritime Regulations, Rev. Mar/2026, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §7.45.1(c)Retrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Every seafarer needs a written employment agreement meeting MLC Standard A2.1, with seven days minimum notice to end it early.Circular MLC 002 Rev. 8, Procedures for Maritime Labour Convention Certification, effective 26 December 2020, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · DMLC Part I, item 4Retrieved 2026-09-01Effective 2020-12-26Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Crew social security | The RMI has declared five MLC branches: medical care, sickness, unemployment, employment injury and survivors' benefit, and there is no state scheme: the shipowner carries the cover, including at least US$10,000 death compensation, secured by protection and indemnity (P&I) cover, insurance or a bond.MI-108, RMI Maritime Regulations, Rev. Mar/2026, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §7.42Retrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Crew not resident in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines owe no national insurance there; for crew within the scheme, contributions are 14 percent of insurable earnings in 2026 (7.5 percent employer, 6.5 percent employee) up to EC$1,200 a week.National Insurance Act, Chapter 296 (Act No. 33 of 1986 as amended), Laws of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Revised Edition, published by National Insurance Services (archived copy)nissvg.org (web.archive.org) · Second Schedule, item 2(a)Retrieved 2026-09-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Compliance (ISM/ISPS/MLC) | ||
| Commercial yacht code applied | The RMI Yacht Code applies to commercial yachts of any tonnage; private yachts of 18 m and over may use a limited-charter regime.MI-103, the RMI Yacht Code, Rev. May/2026, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · Ch. I §2.1.2Retrieved 2026-08-29Effective 2026-01-01Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Commercial yachts of 10 meters to 500 GT follow the flag's own safety code; from 500 GT it looks to LY2 or SOLAS certification.Safety Code of Practice for Pleasure Yachts Engaged in Commercial Trade, SVG Code Edition 2008 Rev. 7, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · § 3.1Retrieved 2026-08-28Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| ISM Code applicability | The full ISM Code applies at 500 GT and above; under 500 GT a mini-ISM system is required for commercial certification.MI-103, the RMI Yacht Code, Rev. May/2026, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · Ch. II §1.11.1Retrieved 2026-08-28Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | ISM Document of Compliance copies are filed from 500 GT where the Code applies; the code governing smaller commercial yachts sets no safety-management requirement.PRO 002, Procedure for the Registration of Commercial Yachts from 500 GT and over, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (last update 25/06/2026) (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · Technical requirementsRetrieved 2026-08-28Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| ISPS Code applicability | Yachts of 500 GT and over must meet the ISPS Code and carry an International Ship Security Certificate.MI-103, the RMI Yacht Code, Rev. May/2026, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · Ch. II §1.12.1Retrieved 2026-08-28Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. | Registration filings include the ISPS security set where the Code applies; the flag's code below 500 GT sets no security requirement.PRO 002, Procedure for the Registration of Commercial Yachts from 500 GT and over, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration (last update 25/06/2026) (archived copy)www.svg-marad.com (web.archive.org) · Technical requirementsRetrieved 2026-08-28Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
Guides for this comparison
- Temporary admission for yachts in the EU explained
- Yacht survey and code compliance costs
- Yacht flags lenders and insurers accept
- Choosing a yacht flag for cruising and charter
- EU flag or non-EU flag for a yacht
- The total cost of a yacht flag: a normalized lifecycle framework
- Commercial vs private yacht registration
- Marshall Islands yacht registration process step-by-step
- Marshall Islands yacht registration costs explained
- What a yacht register charges
- Commercial yacht VAT exemptions
- Yacht import VAT and place of supply
- Yacht mortgage registration costs
- How much does it cost to register a yacht in St Vincent and the Grenadines?
- How do you register a yacht in St Vincent and the Grenadines?
- EU yacht VAT explained
- How to choose a yacht flag
Services for these registers
Our pages on the services an owner arranges alongside registration.
- VAT and importation for yachts and private aircraft
- Yacht management companies: what they do, what they cost, how to choose
- Yacht insurance by flag: what is compulsory and what the market requires
- Finding yacht crew: how agencies work and what owners pay
- Who owns a yacht or a private aircraft? Companies, trusts and the register
- Employing yacht crew: contracts, payroll and social security
- ISM, ISPS and MLC for yachts: what your flag requires
- Chartering your yacht commercially: licenses, flags and coastal rules
- Central agents: how yachts are marketed for charter
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