Commercial Yacht – Pleasure Yacht Changeover Guidelines

The Merchant Shipping Directorate within Transport Malta issued Guidelines for Changeovers of Commercial Yachts and Pleasure Yachts (the 'Guidelines') on the 2nd of September 2021 in line with the requirements of the Malta Commercial Yacht Code. These highly anticipated Guidelines list the salient points to consider when changing the registration status of a yacht as well as to outline the procedure to be followed when owners intend to change the status of registration of a Malta flag yacht from pleasure to a commercial and vice-versa.

The possibility of changing the registration status of a Malta flag yacht has always been a viable option accepted by the Malta Ship Registry in the past; however, through these newly issued Guidelines, the Merchant Shipping Directorate within Transport Malta aim to provide further clarification as to how such a change in registration status may be carried out smoothly.