Charter permissions
Charter permissions across every register we track for yachts.
What is meant by charter permissions?
Whether a yacht on this register may be chartered commercially, and the conditions attached to doing so.
Why does charter permissions matter when choosing a register?
A register that restricts charter limits the vessel's ability to earn, and a later license application cannot lift that restriction.
Every register for yachts, side by side
Where a register has not published an answer, none is shown, and where the only figure available is an estimate, it is labeled as one.
| Register | Answer |
|---|---|
| British Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands Shipping Registry | VISMA's circular, whose published text still carries a draft marking, sets up to 84 charter days a year with 12 passengers; non-VAT-paid yachts may start charters only in Monaco, French and Greek waters.Marine Circular 01/2026, 'Virgin Islands Registered Yachts Engaged in Trade', issued 26 May 2026 - Virgin Islands Shipping and Maritime Authoritybvimaritime.vg · §§5.2–5.4Retrieved 2026-08-29Effective 2026-05-26Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Cayman IslandsCayman Islands Shipping Registry | A Cayman pleasure yacht of 24 m and over that is certified to the Red Ensign Group Yacht Code can charter up to 84 days a year under the registry's Yacht Engaged in Trade program.Guidance Note 06/2026 (Rev.1.0), Cayman Islands Shipping Registry Yacht Engaged in Trade (YET), June 2026, Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islandswww.cishipping.com · para 1.1.2Retrieved 2026-08-29Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| GibraltarGibraltar Yacht Registry | Gibraltar sits outside EU cabotage rights, and US coastwise rules restrict passenger voyages.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. |
| Isle of ManIsle of Man Ship Registry | Yacht Engaged in Trade allows 84 charter days a year; non-VAT-paid departures are limited to Monaco, France and Greece.Manx Shipping Notice MSN 075 (Rev. 2), Yacht Survey Regimes, issued 14 October 2025, Isle of Man Ship Registrywww.iomshipregistry.com · Section 3, §5Retrieved 2026-08-12Effective 2025-10-14Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| JerseyJersey Ship Registry | Charter rights are set by each coastal state, not by the flag: EU cabotage is closed to non-EU registers, and US coastwise carriage needs US ownership.Communication from the Commission on the interpretation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 (maritime cabotage), COM(2014) 232 final, European Commission, via EUR-Lexeur-lex.europa.eu · §2.2.2Retrieved 2026-08-18Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| MadeiraMadeira International Shipping Register (MAR) | An EU flag opens Member State cabotage for commercial trips, but confers nothing in United States waters.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 2026-08-18Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| MaltaMalta Ship Register | A Malta flag sits inside EU cabotage freedom, yet each coastal state still decides where charter may be sold.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 2026-08-18Open sourceInformational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. |
| Marshall IslandsMarshall Islands Maritime Registry | 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. |
| PanamaPanama Ship Registry | A Panama flag sits outside EU cabotage freedom and US coastwise trade; local charter needs a permit.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. |
| St Vincent and the GrenadinesSt Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration | 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. |
| United KingdomUK Ship Register | Each coastal state sets its own charter rules; the UK flag lost EU cabotage access after Brexit, and US coastwise trade is closed.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. |
Where to go next
This item is one of many that bear on the choice. Set it beside the rest before you choose a register, and tell us if a register you need is not covered yet.