What is commercial vessel registration?
Commercial vessel registration is registration under a regime that permits the vessel to be operated for reward.
For yachts, that means certification under the Commercial Yacht Code (CYC), or the Small Commercial Yacht Code (sCYC) for yachts under 24 metres in load line length. Commercial registration brings additional survey, safety and crew obligations — and in return opens up charter revenue, charter VAT registration, and the tonnage tax regime available to commercial operators.
Who is it for?
Charter yacht owners
Owners putting a yacht into charter in Malta or the wider Mediterranean.
Commercial operators
Operators running vessels for reward who need certification their clients recognise.
Owners converting from private use
Where a privately registered yacht is moving into commercial service.
Workboat and passenger vessel owners
Vessels carrying passengers or working commercially rather than for pleasure.
What you get
- Commercial CYC or sCYC certification.
- Charter VAT registration and compliance.
- Eligibility to charter in Malta and the Mediterranean.
- Crew and safety compliance guidance, including MLC 2006 where it applies.
- Tonnage tax treatment for commercial operators, subject to eligibility.
How the process works
Eligibility
We assess the vessel against the CYC or sCYC requirements and tell you what would need to change.
Certification
We coordinate the commercial survey and certification.
Charter set-up
We register the operator for charter VAT and put the licensing in place.
Go live
You begin operating commercially, with the compliance calendar running.
Requirements
- A vessel that meets the construction, safety and equipment standard of the applicable code.
- Commercial survey and certification by an authorised surveyor.
- A crewing arrangement appropriate to the vessel and its trade.
- Charter VAT registration for the operating entity.
Please note. Eligibility is assessed case by case by the Malta flag administration. Send us the vessel details and we will confirm what applies to you before you commit.
Documents you will need
- Proof of ownership — bill of sale, or the builder's certificate for a new build
- Deletion certificate from the previous registry, if the vessel is already flagged
- Passport copy and proof of address for each beneficial owner
- Company incorporation documents, where the owner is a company
- Tonnage and load line documentation
- Commercial survey report and the resulting certification
- Safety and radio equipment certification
- Crew agreements and certification, where MLC 2006 applies
- Charter VAT registration for the operating company
Please note. Indicative list. The exact file the registry asks for depends on the vessel, its age and the regime it is registered under — we confirm your list in writing before anything is filed.