COMMERCIAL YACHT REGISTRATION
Vessels eligible for commercial registration need to have the following characteristics :
- be of 15 metres in length or more;
- be not more than 3000 gross tonnes; do not carry cargo or more than 12 passengers; and
- are operated for commercial use. Malta commercial yachts are categorised into three distinct classes depending on the size and gross tonnage:
- yachts less than 15 metres in length and not more than 24 metres (category 1);
- superyachts of more than 24 metres in length and less than 500 gross tonnes (category 2); and • superyachts of more than 24 metres in length and 500 gross tonnes and over but less than 3000 gross tonnes (category3).
The Malta Commercial Yacht Code provides a level of safety standards corresponding to the yacht`s size and gross tonnage. Historical yachts may also be registered and, on a case by case basis, the registrar
may provide for particular arrangements in consideration of the impossibility of the vessel to comply with all the requirements of the Malta Commercial Yacht Code. The same flexibility is also afforded to
racing yachts during races.
Eligible Owners
Under Maltese law, the following persons can register a yacht in Malta without further requirements:
- a Maltese person or entity;
- any other EU, EEA or Swiss citizen resident in Malta.
The following persons are also eligible to register a yacht in Malta subject to the appointment of a resident agent, that is, a person who is habitually resident in Malta or a Maltese entity that will act as a
representative of the owner:
- an EU, EEA citizen or Swiss citizens not resident in Malta; and/or
- a foreign company as approved by the registrar