Foreign Yacht Registry Resources

Welcome to our foreign page!
        Our foreign page contains information, articles, data, and other resources regarding the placement and removal of yachts with foreign registry systems. It serves as a gateway to our collection of services, forms, and guidelines related to foreign registration and titling. You will also find items about importing or exporting vessels, translations, and other foreign boating information.

     • Vessel Title Advisor - Answers to all of your vessel documentation and boat registration questions.
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FOREIGN YACHT REGISTRY INFORMATION

Vessel Title Advisor - Answers to frequently asked questions about foreign yacht registries as they relate to vessel documentation and boat registration..

Deregistration Certifications - Learn about deregistration requirements and how to obtain deregistration certifications from state and federal agencies.

About Foreign Registry - An overview of foreign registry systems and how they relate to U.S. Coast Guard vessel documentation and state level boat titling.

Foreign Registry Summary - Links to Information, forms, and databases for yacht registry and provincial boat licensing in various foreign countries.

Hague Authorities - A listing of countries that subscribe to the Hague Convention and can issue internationally recognized notarization apostilles.

Delaware Yacht Registration - Information and resources for domestic and foreign owners when registering a boat in the State of Delaware.

Import Brokers - Visit our directory page for a listing of licensed customs house brokers that can assist with importing vessels.

Translation Services - Professional translation services for translating foreign vessel documents to meet the requirements of state and federal agencies.

Foreign Registry Services - Service companies that can assist with the removal and placement of vessels into foreign registries.

New Additions - Check this page frequently for new articles, resources, and services. We also welcome any inquiries you may have about items not listed here.



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Foreign Registry Advisor

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General Information
▪ How can I conduct a foreign title search? ▪ Is the seller responsible for de-registering a foreign vessel? ▪ Should a foreign vessel be de-registered prior to closing?	▪ What are citizenship requirements for foreign registry? ▪ Why are many foreign boats registered in Delaware?

Please submit an advisor request if your question is not listed above.

How can I conduct a foreign title search? - Foreign registry systems are for the most part quite similar to our Coast Guard vessel documentation system here in the United States. In most cases the respective federal agency can issue a Transcript of Registry which offers the same basic information as our Coast Guard's Abstract of Title. On the provincial level, some jurisdictions issue boat registration certificates or licenses which serve the same function as those issued by our states. The biggest challenge in obtaining foreign vessel title reports is, of course, the language barrier. Accordingly, foreign searches often require the assistance and cooperation of the seller while working in conjunction with a qualified translator.

◄ Back / Resources ► Foreign Registry Services

Is the seller responsible for de-registering a foreign vessel? - As with all things in vessel purchase transactions, this can be a matter of negotiation. However, it is normally the seller's responsibility to de-register the boat and provide all of the necessary items that will allow a domestic buyer document the vessel or register it on the state level. In the case of Coast Guard documentation, this will need to include evidence that a foreign vessel has been de-registered. It is also easier in most cases for the seller to handle this process from a logistical perspective, especially when dealing with a foreign language.

◄ Back / Resources ► Foreign Registry Services

Should a foreign vessel be de-registered prior to closing? - This is a difficult issue because de-registration can be expensive in some cases and sellers generally want to ensure that a sales transaction will be consummated before doing so. On the other hand, a buyer would then be relying on the seller's promise to do this after the closing. The solution may necessitate a binding agreement which spells out such obligations or a hold-back reserve from the closing proceeds until de-registration has occurred. In any event, it is something that should be addressed as part of the purchase and sale negotiations with perhaps the assistance of an attorney.

◄ Back / Resources ► Foreign Registry Services Marine Attorneys

What are citizenship requirements for foreign registry? - As a general rule, you must be a citizen of the country in which the vessel will be registered when doing so on the federal level. However, this can be circumvented in some countries by forming a corporation for vessel ownership purposes. Rules on vessels registered to foreign owned corporations are considerably more relaxed in certain countries than here in the United States. Citizenship is not typically an issue for provincial licensing, titling, or registration.

◄ Back / Resources ► Foreign Registry Services Marine Attorneys

Why are many foreign boats registered in Delaware? - Delaware has one of the most favorable tax environments in the United States with respect to boat registration and corporate formations. In addition, citizenship is not an issue when registering a boat in Delaware. There are accordingly several companies residing in Delaware that promote such services to foreign boat owners who are looking for anonymity. They may even issue an impressive looking document which has the look and feel of a U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation. However, these are not official U.S. Certificates and the application for registration must indicate that Delaware will be the state of principal usage for the boat.

◄ Back / Resources ► State Registration Page



About Foreign Registry Systems Foreign countries typically employ vessel registry or flagging systems similar to our federal system which is administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. The vessel and its owners must meet certain qualifications, certificates of registry are issued, abstracts of title or transcripts are maintained, and mortgages can be recorded against the vessel. There are also deregistration procedures that apply when removing or transferring a vessel from such systems. While there is nothing that prohibits Coast Guard documentation of foreign built or registered vessels, such conditions may preclude the acquisition of certain trade endorsements. The documentation procedures are the same, except the National Vessel Documentation Center will require evidence of removal from the foreign registry system. The main area of concern when dealing with foreign vessels is the language under which the ships papers are written. English versions are issued by many countries, but this is not always the case. The services of a qualified translator may therefore be required in order to convert such documents into a format acceptable for the respective country. Other issues that may need to be addressed are notary authentications, lien searches, and matters of customs clearance. Resources ► Documentation Removal Service



Deregistration Certifications Vessels which are registered at the federal level of any country must usually become deregistered before they can be placed under a different flag or titling system. In such cases, a deregistration certification from the prior registry must be presented when filing under a new flag. As this is a standard practice, certificates of deregistration are readily available from the respective U.S. and foreign agencies. The U.S. Coast Guard does not require a certificate of deregistration when documenting vessels previously registered on the state or provincial level. All it requires is a copy of the registration certificate itself. However, this is not always the case when placing such vessel under a foreign flag. Many foreign agencies will require a deregistration certification, regardless of the manner in which the vessel was previously registered. This creates a real dilemma for some foreign buyers, because state and provincial agencies do not typically issue deregistration certifications. These agencies are in fact, mostly unaware that such requirements even exist. A foreign buyer may at best obtain something scribbled across the face of a record print-out, but this will not suffice in most cases. In order to address this issue, we have developed a standard "Deregistration Certification" form that can be used by any state registration agency. In submitting the form for a signature, it must be properly completed, accompanied by a letter of explanation, and a seller's report of sale must be included unless previously submitted. Under these circumstances, most registration clerks will execute and return the form by mail to the location of your choice. Resources ► Deregistration Form Documentation Removal Service Coast Guard Removal Form

Foreign Registry Summary

Our foreign registry vessel database contains links to foreign governmental sites containing registry information or forms, foreign vessel databases, and registry servicing agencies.

Australia	• Registry Information • Registry Forms	• Registry Database
Bahamas	• Registry Information • Registry Forms
Barbados	• Registry Information
Belize	• Registry Information
Bermuda	▪ Registry Information
British Virgin Islands	• Registry Information • Registry Services
Canada	• Registry Information • Registry Forms	• Registry Database
Cayman Islands	• Registry Information • More Information	• Registry Forms
Cook Islands	• Registry Information
Cyprus	• Registry Information
Dominica	• Registry Information
Gibraltar	• Registry Information
Hong Kong	• Registry Information
Liberia	• Registry Information
Malta	• Registry Information
Marshall Islands	• Registry Information
Mauritius	• Registry Information
Norway	• Registry Information • Registry Forms	• Registry Database
Panama	• Registry Information • Registry Services
Seychelles	• Registry Information
St. Kitts & Nevis	• Registry Information	• Registry Forms
St. Vincent & The Grenadines	• Registry Information
United Arab Emirates	• Registry Information
United Kingdom	• Registry Information • Registry Forms
Vanuatu	• Registry Information • Registry Forms

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