FFF-Legal

Yacht registration under the Malta flag and the operation of Maltese ships is regulated by the Merchant Shipping Act and various subsidiary legislation. There are a number of advantages associated with the Maltese flag including low registration and renewal costs, the absence of restrictions as to nationality of the master, officers and crew, the absence of restrictions on the sale or transfer of shares in a company owning a Maltese vessel or the sale or transfer of the vessel itself. 

Registration of a yacht under the Maltese flag is open to

• any Maltese and other European Union citizen; or
• any company registered in Malta or in the EU; or
• a non-EU body corporate or entity which is capable of ensuring due observance of the laws of Malta relating to registration.

Registration of a yacht through a Maltese company (that is, having a Maltese company as the yacht owner) is not necessary. However, having a Maltese company can facilitate the registration procedure, the registration of a mortgage on the yacht in Malta and other related matters. Where the yacht owner is not resident in Malta he is required to appoint a Maltese resident agent. A resident agent is a person who is a habitual resident of Malta and who acts as a communication channel between the local authorities (including Transport Malta) and the yacht owner.

Bareboat charter registration (both inwards and outwards) is allowed and the certificate of registry may be issued in the name of the vessel's charterer (including a time charterer).

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