With over 2,000 yachts on its register the British Channel Island of Jersey is one of the most popular ports of registry for yachts in the world.
Oceanskies is a Channel Island based yacht documentation agency that is responsible for a significant percentage of yacht registrations in Jersey and the purpose of this guide to highlight the many advantages of the register and to introduce the Jersey yacht registration services that we provide.
The Island of Jersey is part of the British Isles. Jersey is located in the English Channel in the Bay of St Malo. The Island is an independent jurisdiction and is governed by its own ‘Parliament’, the States of Jersey but is dependent on the British Crown for the administration of foreign affairs and defence. It has become an established international finance centre, with a secure base built on political stability, low taxation and a firmly established fiscal and regulatory environment.
The Jersey Register of British Ships is a British ‘red ensign’ register administered by the States of Jersey. The register operates autonomously with regulatory oversight provided by the United Kingdom’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The Jersey Registry of Ships has been active since 1803 when the 82ft sailing vessel “Nelson” was registered.
The principal Port of Registry is Jersey. This means that the word JERSEY appears on the stern of all Jersey registered vessels, (not St. Helier, which is the Island’s capital and main harbour).
Owners of Jersey registered yachts have the choice of flying a standard undefaced plain red ensign or the Jersey red ensign which is the red ensign defaced with the Jersey Arms.
Upon completion of registration formalities a Jersey registered yacht is issued with a traditional A3 sized Certificate of British Registry more commonly described as the vessel’s ‘Blue Book’. The Certificate of British Registry is valid for ten years from the date of issue.
Jersey will accept private pleasure yachts and commercial yachts up to 399 GT that are based and operated anywhere in the world.
Jersey is an international register meaning that the register is not just restricted to Jersey companies or Jersey citizens. Companies and citizens who are part of the Commonwealth, European Union, British Isles, Crown Dependencies or Overseas Territories can qualify for registration, including:
Anguilla | China (and Hong Kong) | Iceland | Malyasia | Singapore |
Argentina | Croatia | India | Maldives | Slovakia |
Aruba | Cyprus | Ireland | Malta | Slovenia |
Australia | Czech Republic | Isle of Man | Mauritius | South Africa |
Austria | Denmark | Israel | Monaco | South Korea |
Bahamas | Estonia | Italy Jamaica | Netherlands | Spain |
Bahrain | Faroe Islands | Jamaica | Nevis | Sri Lanka |
Barbados | Finland | Japan | New Zealand | Surinam |
Belgium | France | Jersey | Nigeria | Sweden |
Belize | Germany | Kenya | Norway | Switzerland |
Brazil | Gibraltar | Lativa | Panama | UAE (United Arab Emirates) |
Bulgaria | Greece | Liberia | Poland | UK (United Kingdom) |
BVI (British Virgin Islands) | Guernsey | Liechtenstein | Portugal | USA (United States of AMerica) |
Cayman Islands | Haiti | Lithuania | Romania | Vanuatu |
Canada | Hong Kong | Luxembourg | Saint Vincant | |
Canary Islands | Hungary | Madeira | Seychelles |
Oceanskies is based in the Channel Islands and provides a fixed fee yacht registration service to all yacht owners wishing to take advantage of the benefits of Jersey registration for their yacht.
The registration service results in Oceanskies taking responsibility for the entire registration process on behalf of the owner.
Our fees include all registry fees and disbursements providing the internationally recognised Jersey Certificate of British Registry valid for ten years and a lifetime radio licence allocating the vessel’s call sign and MMSI number.
Our fixed fee yacht registration package for the Jersey registration of any private yacht under 24 metres in registered length lying within the EU costs only £3,000.00 for ten years and includes:
Through Oceanskies Crew Limited we are able to provide crew payroll outsourcing services from the Channel Islands for crew working onboard Jersey registered vessels.
This service is a very popular ‘bolt on’ service for our clients as it simplifies the employment of the crew of their Jersey registered yacht.
The yacht owner engages Oceanskies Crew Limited to employ and pay the crew of their vessel through a crew services agreement. As employers, Oceanskies Crew Limited issues the crew with contracts in line with the Marine Labour Convention guidelines, pays them, issues payslips, sea service testimonials etc.
For further information please refer to the crew employment and payroll section of our website at the following link:
Oceanskies are able to provide a range of stand alone fixed fee additional registration services including:
Please do not hesitate to contact for a free no obligation proposal for any of our Jersey yacht registration services or any general yacht registration query that you might have.