Yacht Registration in Malta

• Maltese registration is available to anybody, although those who are not citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland will need to use a company registered in Malta or one of the other EU/EEA/Switzerland countries. Owners themselves are free to base themselves wherever they wish, even if this is outside the EU, and we are ready and willing to take the part of the yacht’s agent and necessary Malta resident. In other countries in the EU, owners generally have to be situated in the relevant jurisdiction, but this is not the case with yacht registration in Malta.
• Registering a shipping company is not particularly difficult in Malta. Even so, it may be worth considering using an offshore-based firm to register, given the liberal Maltese arrangements allowing overseas companies to register to fly Malta’s flag on their yachts.
• Costs are minimal in terms of both annual renewal and initial registration.
• Beneficial ownership of the vessel may be kept confidential as a fiduciary can be appointed for this purpose.
• The owning company’s shares can be transferred or sold without restriction, and ships may also be mortgaged and sold freely.
• When a ship is registered in Malta, there is a free choice of nationality for all crew and officers, including the master.
• A number of ports around the world provide certain advantages for ships registered in Malta.
• Malta’s status as a global shipping centre means it offers both full maritime services and an efficient mortgage system.
• Flexible requirements allow the registration of non-ship vessels, such as barges and pontoons, as well as ships whose construction has not yet been completed.
• The special tax return generally required under the Income Tax Management Act can be replaced by a standard tax return, as long as the shipping company’s income comes entirely from maritime activities, or it has no income. This is regulated by regulation 3(5) of LN 224 of 2004.

Type Of Registration Options

Maltese-registered vessels may be classed as either Commercial Yachts or Private Yachts:

Private Registration

According to the Merchant Shipping Directorate, to qualify for this status, any type of pleasure yacht must be used only for the owner’s benefit and must not receive a reward(profit) for carrying passengers or engage in trade. The minimum length for such a vessel is 6 metres.

Commercial Registration

A yacht in this class is defined as being operated by either the relevant company or the yacht’s direct owner for commercial use. It must carry a maximum of 12 passengers and measure at least 15 metres in length.

There are several sub-categories to consider:

• Commercial superyachts with a gross tonnage above 500 tonnes and a length of more than 24 metres.
• Commercial superyachts weighing under 500 tonnes, but again measuring more than 24 metres.
• Yachts which are a maximum of 24 metres and a minimum of 15 metres long. These are not categorised as superyachts.

Types of Vessels That Can Be Registered In Malta

Any kind of vessel can be registered in Malta, whether it is an oil rig or a pleasure yacht.

Yacht registration in Malta under the commercial yacht code, or for a pleasure yacht, means that vessels of all ages are eligible.

However, there are a few restrictions:

• Any vessel over 25 years old can only be registered under the Maltese flag with specific official permission.
• Vessels between 20 and 25 years old must undergo and pass a prior inspection by an authorised person before receiving provisional approval.
• Vessels between 15 and 20 years old must also pass an inspection, but this can be carried out at any time within a month of provisional registration.