sailing without being registered anywhere

Discussion in 'All Things Boats & Boating' started by mikakun2012, Mar 26, 2012.

  1. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    I see you never leave Spanish waters Micheal. You and every one needs a courtesy flag. Some countries more keen than others.

    This kind of Flag etiquette will land you in serious trouble in the East where borders are still kept.

    Then there is where you fly it, on the flag staff or the spreader, if its in the wrong place you declaring a wrong nationality.

    As a British registerd vessel I am supposed to raise and lower the red ensign at 8am and 6pm and always fly leaving port. If I were to come across a British man o war I would have to salute by lowering the flag when passing. Non compliance is staggering 10,000 pounds fine if I remember.

    If you dont know flag etiquette then don't do it. Not doing anything is less that doing it wrong

    I suppose drifting through Gibraltar wont cause to much attention. But if you were to try to sail Egyptian then who knows
     
  2. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    As I mentioned very early in this thread, paint a big Sony logo on the side of your boat, along with a big two digit number and say you're preforming sea trials, for your recently modified racer. In most locals, a racer needn't be registered. It's simple and a little fibbing is all it takes.
     
  3. CDK
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    Location: Adriatic sea

    CDK retired engineer

    Not a bad idea, unless you are in a country requiring registration numbers on the hull, like here in Croatia.
    The authorities here focus on foreign boats while ignoring all local registration numbers. Nationalism and the fat wallets of foreigners make the difference.

    I've experienced it several times while at anchor between tourists that were all scrutinized and fined for misdemeanors like having someone on board without an entry in the crew list or showing a worn and bleached courtesy flag.
     
  4. swabbie

    swabbie Previous Member

    Definately don't register Indian flag

    There is a company on Is of Cowes that may be able to assist you with international registration. I have their card somewhere but they have a stand at most boat show trade events
     
  5. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    When you enter a foriegn port you are to fly the Q flag --this is yellow and some use a plain duster as a flag. Before you do anything at all --you search out and visit NOW immediate customs and immigration. You will need registration papers and a crew list and a form of entry not a sticker on the side that says your something to do with racing.

    Penalties for not doing so include imprisonment in most countries around the East.

    If you think you can smile and get out of it,--- re consider.

    In ALL the immigration offices I have seen there is always a cell nearby.

    All common wealth countries can own a comonwealth registered American is not easy if your not American. Any country requires residence for registration even UK small ships requires domicile.

    UK small ships is at the driving licence centre in Swansea,

    I dont know what the Isle of cowes is unless you mean Cowes in the isle of white
     
  6. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    rwatson Senior Member


    or even Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
     
  7. Lister

    Lister Previous Member

    You should cool off a little.
    You don't seams a good traveling material, so I suggest to stay put. (even if you traveled for 15 years and have red carpet in Burma) Yes sure :p
     
  8. Wavewacker
    Joined: Aug 2010
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    Location: Springfield, Mo.

    Wavewacker Senior Member

    I'm certainly not familiar with international law, but I am with US corporate law. Having a small, private looking yacht in a corporation name seems to invite problems if some official wants to mess with you. You'll need the stock certificate and certificate of good standing on that day to prove ownership.

    Depending on how it's set up, a board of directors can withdraw any authorizations, revise by-laws, remove officers or take other actions to cloud title to any asset. Courts can also encumber title.

    Bottom line, you can't really prove ownership or the right to possession the day you get stopped.

    I have no fear using an unregistered canoe with sail in local waters, even if it is in violation being over 12', a motor changes that, even if it's in or on the boat.

    And flying local flags to evade, what happens if you get stopped for any inspection, or you just look like someone else, whatever, and thet find that you aren't local?
     
  9. watchkeeper

    watchkeeper Previous Member

    He was close, same Nelson's puddle :)
     
  10. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
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    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Its critical that your name is on the ships documents and that you are on board the vessel.

    Once registration documents become polluted with company names or names of people not on board , you will be subject to scrutiny.

    Privately owned yachts escape with little or no notice and when you break the law with a private boat , you must only endure a brisk beating with a rubber hose and stern finger waving DONT DO IT AGAIN !!

    . If you are commercial or have obscure documents..ie company held tax fiddle.... you loose.
    A typical bad day for company held boats is when officials dip and test your fuel tanks looking for undeclared duty free fuel.

    Another detail that seems to be common these days is that when the nationality of the owner does not match the nationality of the documentation flag, you are seized until you present documents to clarifying what country the owner is fiscally resident...pay taxes.

    Im presently going thru this dance on behalf of a client.

    The world is becoming a diffult place for wandering boats....a tax turf war on a global scale
     
  11. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

     
  12. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
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    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Tax frosty...Importation tax and VAT. Commercial tax fiddles like Marshall Islands or Flags with a lower tax rate than the owners passport.

    I am constantly challenged for VAT compliance.
     
  13. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    You don't get taxed for passing through. The thread is about having registration papers to check in. --Im not talking import and neither is any one else.
     
  14. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
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    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    You certainly get taxed if you solicit charters. Then there is import duty after you have been 3 months or whatever local rules dictate.

    In the Good ole day boats would just cruise the world and pick up 10 or 20 thousand here or there with charter.

    Every Time I deal with authorities they aren't looking for bad guys in funky head gear...they are looking for cash. A few years ago in Lemnos, Greece as I was clearing INTO the country, I got locked to the dock until the boats tax status paperwork was translated into Greek.
     

  15. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
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    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    PAPERWORK Boat registration is the base of tax compliance.
     
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