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Solutions for Private Yacht Owners

Whether you are registering your first yacht, moving to a new flag state, planning a delivery voyage, or preparing to sell, we are here to help. We explain things clearly, handle the paperwork, and make sure everything is properly in order before you cast off. No jargon, no runaround, just direct and reliable guidance.

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ISO 9001 Certified
9/10 satisfaction – ten years running
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For maritime professionals
You own a yacht. Here is what we can do for you.

Straightforward help – from registration to the open sea

Most yacht owners only register a vessel once or twice in their lives. The process is unfamiliar, the choice of flag state is not as obvious as it might seem, and the paperwork can feel daunting. That is where we come in. You tell us about your yacht and what you need. We take care of the rest.

Lorrendraaier has been helping private yacht owners through registration, withdrawal, and related processes for over ten years. We work directly with owners – not through intermediaries – and we explain things in plain language without assuming you already know the terminology.

Not sure where to start? Start with registration advice. It is a short, structured conversation about your yacht, your nationality, where you plan to sail, and what you want to do with the vessel. We come back to you with a written report that sets out the flag states available to you and what each one means in practice. From there, you can make a well-informed decision, and we handle the rest.

We do not provide fiscal or legal advice, but we have a network of specialists we can refer you to where those aspects are relevant to your registration decision. And if something comes up that we cannot help with directly, we will tell you that clearly and point you in the right direction.

What we can help you with

Not sure which one you need? Drop us a note and we will help you figure it out.

Your situation

Which of these sounds like you?

We work with yacht owners at every stage of ownership. Find the situation that matches yours and see which services are most relevant.

I am buying a yacht and need to register it

You are purchasing your first or a new yacht and need to get it properly registered under the right flag state. You may not be sure which flag is right for you, or what documents are needed. We guide you through the full process from scratch.

I want to deliver my yacht to a new location before registering it

Your yacht needs to be sailed from the yard, the seller’s port, or a previous location to the place where you intend to keep it and have it registered. During that voyage, the vessel needs a valid flag, and a full registration may not yet be in place.

I want to move my yacht to a different flag state

You are happy with your yacht but not with its current flag, or your circumstances have changed and a different flag now makes more sense. Re-flagging involves closing the current registration and opening a new one, sometimes with a delivery voyage in between.

I am selling my yacht

You are selling your vessel and need to know what happens to the registration. In most cases the registration under your ownership must be formally withdrawn, and the buyer may need certain documents from you before they can register the vessel themselves.

My yacht needs a Ship Station Licence

Your yacht carries a VHF radio or other radio communication equipment. This requires a Ship Station Licence, issued to the vessel, tied to its registration. If you have recently registered the vessel or re-flagged it, the licence needs to be updated or reissued accordingly.

I need a survey arranging

Your flag state requires a survey as part of the registration process, or you want an independent condition survey before purchasing a vessel. We coordinate the process, finding the right surveyor for your vessel type and location and making sure the outcome fits what the flag state requires.

Our services

Everything your yacht needs – in full detail

Each service below links to its own dedicated page with a full explanation of the process, what is required, and how to get started.

Start here

Yacht Registration Advice

Not sure which flag state is right for your yacht? Your nationality, the waters you plan to sail, the vessel’s age, its VAT status, and any plans for future charter use all play a role. We assess all of it and deliver a written report setting out the options, clearly and without jargon.

Yacht Registration Advice

Service 01

Yacht Registration

Register your sailing yacht, motor yacht, or catamaran under the right flag state. We prepare the documentation, submit the application, and follow it through with the flag state authority — all the way to the Certificate of Registry arriving in your hands.

Yacht Registration

Service 02

Provisional Yacht Registration

Delivering your yacht or moving between flag states? A provisional registration gives your vessel a valid flag for the duration of the passage. For most yachts under 24 metres, we can have it issued within 24 hours of receiving your documents, sometimes the same day.

Provisional Yacht Registration

Service 03

Yacht Withdrawal

Selling your yacht or moving to a new flag state? The existing registration must be formally closed, a process called yacht withdrawal or yacht deletion. We manage this on your behalf and arrange the Apostille on the Certificate of Deletion where the buyer’s register requires it.

Yacht Withdrawal

Service 04

Ship Station Licence

Your VHF radio – and any other radio equipment on board – requires a Ship Station Licence. It is issued to the vessel and tied to the registration, and it includes the vessel’s CallSign and MMSI number. We arrange it alongside or following registration, and renew or reissue it when you re-flag.

Ship Station Licence

Service 05

Survey Coordination

Some flag states require a survey before they will register a vessel. We identify the right surveyor for your vessel type and location, brief them on the flag state’s requirements, and make sure the survey outcome feeds directly into the registration without delay. You benefit from our experience without having to navigate the surveyor network yourself.

Survey Coordination
The typical journey

Which service applies …… and when

These services are not all needed at the same time. Here is how they map to the typical journey of a commercial pleasure craft operator.

Before you decide on a flag state

Registration advice

Understanding your options before committing to a flag state saves time, cost, and the disruption of needing to re-flag later. A short conversation and a written report, that is all it takes.
Yacht Registration Advice →
If the flag state requires it

Survey coordination

Some flag states require a condition survey before registration. If yours does, or if the vessel is older and a survey makes sense before purchase, we arrange it.
Survey Coordination →
When you register

Yacht registration

We handle the full process – documentation, application, and follow-up with the flag state authority – through to the Certificate of Registry.
Yacht Registration →
Once the vessel is registered

Ship Station Licence

Issued alongside or immediately after registration. Covers the VHF radio and any other radio communication equipment on board.
Ship Station Licence →
If a delivery voyage is needed

Provisional yacht registration

Where the yacht needs to be sailed somewhere before the full registration is in place – or during a flag state transition – a provisional registration gives it a valid flag for the passage.
Provisional Yacht Registration →
When you sell or re-flag

Yacht withdrawal

The existing registration is formally closed. We manage the withdrawal and arrange the Apostille on the Certificate of Deletion where the buyer’s new register requires it.
Yacht Withdrawal →
What you can expect from us

Plain language, direct contact, and honest advice

Most private yacht owners are not maritime lawyers or registration specialists, and they should not need to be. When you contact us, we explain things in plain language, tell you exactly what is needed, and handle the process without requiring you to become an expert in flag state law.

You will always speak with someone who knows what they are doing. Boudewijn Meijer founded Lorrendraaier and remains directly involved in every client relationship. There are no call centres, no automated responses, and no being passed from person to person.

We are also honest about what we do not do. We do not provide fiscal or legal advice. Where those aspects matter to your registration decision – VAT status, ownership structure, tax treatment – we will tell you that clearly and refer you to the right specialist. We would rather refer you on than give you incomplete advice on something that falls outside our expertise.

Clear from the start

We tell you exactly what is needed, what the process involves, and how long it will take, before you commit to anything.

Direct contact throughout

You deal with us directly. No answering services, no handoffs. Boudewijn will speak with you personally.

ISO 9001 certified processes

Every registration is handled consistently and thoroughly, with a documented process behind it, whether your yacht is 8 metres or 30 metres.

Your data handled securely

All personal data is handled in accordance with GDPR. We do not share your information and we do not use it for anything other than the service you have asked us to provide.

  • I had no idea which flag state to choose or what documents were needed. Lorrendraaier explained the options clearly, told me exactly what to prepare, and handled the whole registration. The Ship Station Licence arrived at the same time as the Certificate of Registry. Everything was in place before the first voyage.
    Recreational yacht owner, Netherlands
Common questions

Frequently asked questions

The best starting point is registration advice. Before filing any application, it is worth understanding which flag states are available to you based on your nationality, where you plan to sail, the age of your vessel, and its VAT status. We deliver a written report that sets out your options clearly, so you can make a well-informed decision before committing to a flag state. If you already know what you need, simply contact us directly and we will take it from there.

It depends on the size of the vessel, your nationality, and the specific waters you plan to use. Even where registration is not strictly mandatory, a registered yacht has a recognised legal nationality, can obtain a Ship Station Licence for radio communications, is properly documented for insurance, and will encounter no complications at foreign ports. We can advise you on whether registration is required for your specific situation.

When you sell your yacht, the registration under your ownership must be formally withdrawn, a process called yacht withdrawal or yacht deletion. The buyer then registers the vessel under their own name and chosen flag state. We manage the withdrawal on your behalf and, where the buyer’s register requires it, arrange the Apostille legalisation on the Certificate of Deletion.

There are several things to have in order before the vessel is handed over: the registration under your name and chosen flag state, the Ship Station Licence for the radio equipment, and – if the vessel needs to be delivered to a different location – a provisional registration for the delivery voyage if the full registration is not yet in place. We can coordinate all of this and advise on what is needed for your specific situation.

Not necessarily. Once you charge a fee for the use of your yacht – even occasional bareboat charter – the vessel moves into a commercial category, and not all flag states accommodate commercial use. The requirements vary depending on the type and extent of the commercial activity. If you are thinking about occasional charter, it is worth addressing this during the registration advice stage, before you register under a flag that may not permit it. We will identify which flags accommodate the usage pattern you have in mind.

Get in touch

Not sure where to start? Just ask.

Drop us a note or give us a call. Tell us about your yacht and what you need, or simply tell us where you are in the process and we will point you in the right direction. No obligation, no jargon, just clear and direct advice. Boudewijn will be happy to speak with you personally.

Drop us a note Start with registration advice Yacht Registration