Bahamas - Register a Commercial Yacht

ProcedureEdit

Apply In-Person:

Owners, agents or managers seeking registration with the Bahamas should initially make contact with the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) by email to [email protected] or by phoning any BMA office. Link to Contacts
Form YR101 Requirements for Provisional and Permanent Registration of a New or Existing Yacht provides the list of documents required for the registration of a yacht with the Bahamas.
Form R102 Application to Register a Ship or Change the name of a Bahamian Ship provides the BMA with the basic information needed to reserve the proposed name on the Register and commence registration. There is no obligation or firm commitment to register when submitting this form.
Form R102, together with the relevant documents listed in form YR101, shall be sent directly to the BMA by email to [email protected] or to any BMA office.
In the case of a new construction the owner, or their designated representative, should determine at an early stage the intended operational status of the yacht throughout the yacht’s life – including after possible re-sale – as this may have a direct bearing on the design and technical requirements.
When first registered, a yacht will be assigned the status of provisional registration and will be issued with a Provisional Certificate of Registry. This certificate is valid for 6 months giving the owner/manager time to comply with all conditions for full registration.
A yacht can operate as soon as it is provisionally registered.
A yacht will be provided with a Certificate of Registry with unlimited validity, once accepted into permanent registry.
The Certificate of Registry will describe the yacht’s use or category. Yachts will have the default status of “Charter Yacht” if the BMA is not advised otherwise.
Details of the fees may be obtained from the Registrar or by reference to BMA Information Bulletin No. 81 Link
The required annual fees shall be paid to the Registrar upon registration of the yacht, and thereafter on 01 January of each subsequent year. 8.11. As per the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, the port of registry of all Bahamian yachts is “NASSAU”.
Full registration and receipt of the permanent Certificate of Registry from the BMA will be issued upon completion of all registration requirements during provisional registry and the payment of any relevant fees.

Required DocumentsEdit

YR102 – Application to Register a Yacht – Link
Form R102 Application to Register a Ship or Change the name of a Bahamian Ship
Copy of Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance
Copy of Certificate of Company Incorporation and original Certificate of GoodStanding OR if a private individual: Appropriate National identity document
Bunker Convention CLC Only 1,000 GT and over Bn 112
Release from Foreign Register
Declaration of No Liens on Foreign Register
Ship’s Carving and Marking Note
Confirmation of completion of Bahamas Certification

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

The Bahamas Maritime Authority
Nassau Office
Shirlaw House
226 Shirley Street
PO Box N-4679
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel. +1 242 356 5772
Website: Link
Contact: Link

EligibilityEdit

Bahamian‐owned vessels of any size, operational status, or operating area if owned by:

Bahamian citizens
Bahamian companies
Permanent residents of the Bahamas

Foreign‐owned vessels

a commercial yacht less than 24 meters in length operating within the Caribbean trading area
a commercial yacht 24 meters in length or more and intended to operate internationally

With Boat License

Commercial yachts of any size, operating exclusively in Bahamian waters may be eligible for a license under the boat registration act and boat registration (yacht) rules administered by the New Providence port authority. However this does not confer nationality status.

FeesEdit

Details of the fees may be obtained from the Registrar or by reference to BMA Information Bulletin No. 81 Link
Click on this link to calculate the fees using the Fee Calculator on the BMA website: Link

ValidityEdit

Commercial yachts will be issued a certificate of registry of indefinite validity.

Documents to UseEdit

YR102 – Application to Register a Yacht – Link
R103 – Authorised Officer Declaration – Link
R105 – Declaration of Ownership – Link
YR104 – Registration of Managing Owner – Link
R108 – URCA Radio Licence Application and MMSI Application – Link
YR106 – Application for Safe Manning Document Optional if under 500 GT – Link
R209 – Bill of Sale – Link

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing TimeEdit

Processing can take up to one month.

InstructionsEdit

Technical Requirements:

Initial Assessment

Yachts proposed for registration in The Bahamas will be assessed by the BMA for compliance with relevant technical standards and statutory requirements.
Any new yacht, or any existing yacht of 12 years of age or less, will be approved for provisional registration on satisfactory completion of the initial assessment.

Pre-Registration Inspection

Any existing charter yachts of over 12 years of age shall be subject to a pre-registration inspection.
Any existing private yacht of over 12 and up to 20 years of age may be subject to a preregistration inspection.
The decision will be made by the BMA on a case by case basis the initial assessment.
Any existing private yacht of over 20 years of age shall be subject to a pre-registration inspection.
The pre-registration inspection is carried out by a Bahamas YSO, or Approved Nautical Inspector, at the discretion of the BMA.
The pre-registration inspection report will be reviewed by the BMA and:
- If satisfactory, the yacht will be approved for provisional registration. Any minor deficiencies are to be addressed in the 6-month period of provisional registration; or
- If unsatisfactory, a list of major deficiencies to be addressed prior to approval for provisional registration will be provided. When major deficiencies have been addressed to the satisfaction of the BMA, the yacht will be approved for provisional registration. Depending on the nature of the deficiencies, a re-inspection may be required.

Initial Inspections

All yachts, within the 6 months of provisional registration, shall undergo an initial inspection by an YSO or inspector.
After a satisfactory initial inspection, the yacht will be approved for permanent registration.

Carving and Marking Inspection

The carving and marking inspection, which is usually done together with the initial inspection, is to verify ‘permanent’ marking on the hull and structure of a yacht’s name, port of registry, official number, net tonnage and draft marks in accordance with the Merchant Shipping Act.
Special consideration may be given to alternative means of permanent marking depending on the structural material of the yacht.
The carving and marking inspection is required at first registration (during the period of provisional registration) and subsequently for any changes, such as change of name or net tonnage.
Bahamas Recognised Organisation surveyors are NOT generally authorised to undertake any of the above inspections but may be considered in special cases where an YSO or inspector is unavailable.

Note:

All commercial yachts exceeding 24 meters in load line length must be annually inspected by a Bahamas approved nautical inspector, who will issue a certificate of inspection on satisfactory completion of the inspection.
The annual inspection is to take place within the period from 3 months before to 3 months after the anniversary date i.e. 3 months from the first date of provisional registration. The anniversary date will be 1 January for Bahamas registered vessels which have not been inspected annually.
Non‐commercial yachts exceeding 24 meters in load line length are not subject to annual inspection.

Required InformationEdit

Applicant Type
Application Type
Names(s), Address(es) of Owner(s)
Owner's Nationality
Email Address
Phone
Applicant's Date of Birth
Owner's Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY)
Applicant’s Valid Identification
Signature of Owner or Agent

Need for the DocumentEdit

Registration ensures that the details of the vessel, such as ownership and country of origin are recorded, and upon registration, the owner is given a registration certificate which is required to set sail and/or engage in trade.

Information which might helpEdit

The term “yacht” is not defined in the Bahamas merchant shipping act but it is commonly understood to be a vessel intended:

for sport or pleasure
for commercial use for hire by charter (up to 12 passengers)
for non‐commercial private use of its owner and their party (up to 36 passengers)

A yacht does not:

carry cargo
charge a carriage fee
travel pre‐defined routes
follow itineraries

External LinksEdit

Link
Link

OthersEdit

Benefits of registering a yacht in The Bahamas

Yachts certified to LY2/LY3 or similar codes are accepted
Bareboat / dual registration
Providing a global network of maritime experts
Personal service and flexibility, even outside of normal business hours
No restrictions on sale and mortgaging
No restrictions on nationality of crew
Competitive fee structure with low annual costs