Written by Fraz Butt, Senior Director · SRA-regulated · Last reviewed 30 September 2026
Specialist legal advice for yacht and superyacht owners, buyers, sellers and lenders – from the first offer to the day your vessel is registered, financed, chartered or passed on.
A yacht is rarely just a purchase. It is a floating home, a tax position, a registered ship, an employer of crew and, often, a significant item of security. Each of those carries its own legal risk, and most of it is set in the first few weeks of a transaction.
Saracens Solicitors’ yacht and maritime team advises private owners, family offices, brokers and lenders from our London office on the Strand and our UAE office in the DIFC. We act on yachts of every size, from sailing yachts to superyachts over 24 metres, across the UK, the Mediterranean and the Gulf.
Prefer to speak to someone now? Call our team on +44 (0)20 3588 3500, or press the Enquire button at the top of this page and we will call you back.
Buying a Yacht
The acquisition contract decides almost everything that follows: when the deposit is at risk, what the sea trial and survey can reject, who pays for defects and when title passes. We draft and negotiate these agreements, most often on the MYBA Memorandum of Agreement, and amend the standard terms so they protect you rather than the seller.
We work alongside your broker and surveyor, hold funds on a secure basis and manage the closing so that payment and a clean bill of sale change hands at the same moment. For new builds we review the shipbuilding contract, stage payments, refund guarantees and delivery terms.
Read our guides: Buying a Yacht? 5 Steps for Success and Top 3 Tips for Smooth Sailing – Buying a Yacht.
Selling a Yacht
A seller must describe the vessel accurately and deliver clear title, or risk a claim long after the sale. We advise on broker agreements (including exclusive versus central listings and commission), vet buyers and offers, and draft sale terms that limit your warranties to what you can stand behind.
We also handle the closing documents: the bill of sale, deletion or transfer of registration, discharge of any mortgage and the protocol of delivery and acceptance.
Read our guide: Your Step by Step Guide to Selling a Yacht.
Yacht Due Diligence
You should know exactly what you are buying before you are bound to buy it. Our checks cover title and chain of ownership, registered mortgages and maritime liens, builder’s certificate and bills of sale, VAT and customs status, class and flag certificates, and any outstanding crew, yard or berth debts.
Where several people are buying together, we also set out who owns what and what happens if one wants out.
Read our guide: Before Setting Sail – Yacht Due Diligence Checks.
Yacht Finance and Lending
We act for borrowers and lenders on yacht mortgages, refinancing and loans secured on a yacht or other luxury assets. That includes the loan agreement, the registered ship mortgage, deed of covenants, insurance assignment and any guarantees from the owning company.
For clients who need it, our Shari’ah-compliant finance team structures yacht acquisitions without interest-bearing debt. More on our asset-based finance work.
Read our guides: How To Plan Your Finances When Purchasing a Yacht and Can I Leverage My Luxury Asset as Security for a Loan?
Yacht Registration, Flag and VAT
Where a yacht is registered, and whether it is registered for private or commercial use, affects its tax position, its crew and safety requirements and where it can charter. We advise on flag choice across the UK Ship Register and Red Ensign jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands and the Isle of Man, and on alternatives such as Malta.
We also advise on VAT-paid status, temporary admission and the customs position when a yacht moves between the UK, the EU and the Gulf. Losing VAT-paid status by accident is one of the costliest mistakes an owner can make.
Ownership Structures
Most larger yachts are held through a company rather than personally. The right structure can limit personal liability, simplify a future sale and support finance and charter. We set up and maintain owning companies and advise on the tax consequences of each option.
Vessel Arrest and Maritime Disputes
A yacht can be arrested in port over an unpaid yard bill, crew wages, a collision or a disputed sale. We act quickly to secure release, usually by negotiating security, and we arrest vessels for clients who are owed money.
We also handle disputes over defective refits, broker commission, survey negligence, charter cancellations and failed sales.
Read our guide: Keep Your Yacht Out of Jail This Summer – An Overview of the Arrest of a Vessel.
Crew, Charter and Operations
We draft crew employment contracts, management agreements and charter agreements, and advise on the extra compliance a yacht takes on when it charters commercially. If a guest or crew member is injured on board or abroad, our accident abroad team can help.
Succession, Divorce and Asset Protection
A yacht should be planned for like any other major asset. We advise on asset protection planning and wills that deal with the vessel and its owning company, and on how a yacht is treated in divorce and financial settlements.
See all our luxury asset services, including private jets and helicopters.
Why Owners Choose Saracens for Yacht Law
- One firm for the whole vessel. Purchase, finance, company structure, crew, disputes, tax, succession and divorce sit under one roof, so nothing falls between advisers.
- London and the Gulf. Offices on the Strand and in the DIFC, advising owners who keep yachts in the Mediterranean, the UK and the UAE.
- Private-client focus. We act for owners and families, not shipping lines, so your matter is never the smallest file on the desk.
- Proof points: [insert years advising on yachts, number or value of transactions, languages spoken, directory rankings or client quotes]
How a Yacht Purchase Works With Us
- Initial call – we discuss the vessel, your intended use and your budget, and confirm our fee.
- Offer and contract – we review or draft the MYBA Memorandum of Agreement and secure the deposit.
- Due diligence – title, mortgages, VAT, flag and class checks run alongside the survey and sea trial.
- Structure and finance – owning company, registration and any loan documents are prepared.
- Closing – funds, bill of sale and delivery documents are exchanged at the same moment.
- After completion – registration, insurance, crew contracts and ongoing advice.
Yacht Legal Guides
Free guides from our team:
- Buying a Yacht? 5 Steps for Success
- Top 3 Tips for Smooth Sailing – Buying a Yacht
- Before Setting Sail – Yacht Due Diligence Checks
- How To Plan Your Finances When Purchasing a Yacht
- Your Step by Step Guide to Selling a Yacht
- Keep Your Yacht Out of Jail This Summer – An Overview of the Arrest of a Vessel
- Can I Leverage My Luxury Asset as Security for a Loan?
Have a question about your specific situation? Call us on +44 (0)20 3588 3500 or press Enquire at the top of this page, our team responds quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions / Questions & Answers
Do I need a solicitor to buy a yacht?
It is not a legal requirement, but a broker acts for the sale, not for you. A solicitor protects your deposit, checks title and debts, and makes sure you can walk away if the survey finds defects.
What is the MYBA Memorandum of Agreement?
It is the standard contract used for most brokerage yacht sales worldwide. It is a sound starting point, but its default terms often need amending to suit a particular buyer or seller.
How long does it take to buy a yacht?
A straightforward brokerage purchase usually takes a few weeks from signed agreement to closing. Survey and sea trial dates, finance and re-registration are what most often extend it.
What counts as a superyacht?
The industry generally uses the term for yachts of 24 metres or more in load line length. Larger yachts face stricter safety, crew and registration rules, especially when chartered.
Where should I register my yacht?
It depends on how you will use it, where it will cruise and your tax position. Popular choices include the UK, the Cayman Islands, the Isle of Man and Malta. We compare the options for your circumstances.
Do I pay VAT on a second-hand yacht?
It depends on whether the yacht is VAT-paid, where it is kept and who is selling it. Always check VAT evidence during due diligence, because losing VAT-paid status can cost 20% of the vessel’s value.
Can a yacht be arrested in the UK?
Yes. The Admiralty Court can arrest a vessel as security for certain maritime claims, such as unpaid wages, repairs or collision damage. The owner usually secures release by providing a guarantee or payment into court.
Can you help if my yacht is outside the UK?
Yes. We advise on yachts wherever they are berthed, working from London and our DIFC office and alongside local lawyers where a foreign court or registry is involved.
