Beyond the Monaco Yacht Show: Structuring and managing yacht ownership for long-term peace of mind
Each September, the Monaco Yacht Show sets the stage for the world’s most impressive vessels, drawing UHNW families, their advisors, and industry specialists together in one of the most glamorous showcases of luxury yachting.
Yet behind the sparkle of new launches and record-breaking builds lies a more complex reality: yacht ownership is as much about careful structuring and compliance as it is about lifestyle and leisure.
For family offices and trusted advisors, the challenge is to ensure that these unique assets are managed strategically, aligned not only with lifestyle aspirations but also with long-term wealth planning objectives.
A resilient market shaped by evolving demand
Despite a softer mid-market, the luxury and superyacht segments remain resilient. Demand for large new builds over 30 metres continues to grow, even as the broader market shows signs of cooling (Financial Times, Sept 2025). This resilience reflects the positioning of yachts as enduring lifestyle assets for UHNW families, increasingly viewed as part of a diversified portfolio rather than discretionary purchases.
At the same time, the charter market is evolving. Clients are seeking ultra-personalised, multigenerational, and less-travelled itineraries (IYC, 2025). For advisors, this creates new structuring considerations: how best to accommodate flexible use, whether for private enjoyment, occasional charter, or hybrid models, while maintaining efficiency, compliance, and tax effectiveness.
Key considerations for advisors and family offices
Advisors and family offices play a critical role in ensuring that yacht ownership is not only seamless but also sustainable. Among the most important considerations are:
1. Ownership structures
Selecting the right entity is central to liability management, succession planning, and operational efficiency. Furthermore, a poorly chosen structure can create unnecessary tax exposure and or potentially limit flexibility for future use.
2. VAT and tax planning
Navigating VAT rules across jurisdictions, structuring for charter use, and anticipating changes in regulatory frameworks are essential to avoid unexpected costs and potential fiscal penalties.
3. Registration and flagging
Choosing the appropriate flag state has implications for compliance, operational requirements, and international recognition. Representative services ensure obligations are met consistently.
4. Crew employment and payroll
Managing a global workforce brings employment law, tax, and compliance obligations. Outsourcing payroll and HR functions ensures crews are paid correctly and owners remain compliant.
5. Charter structuring
For families considering occasional charter activity, ensuring that ownership and VAT arrangements align with charter objectives is crucial to maintaining compliance and optimising returns.
Equiom’s role as a trusted partner
At Equiom, we support yacht owners, family offices, and their advisors with bespoke end-to-end solutions, including:
- Yacht ownership structures and corporate administration
- VAT registration, administration, and tax advisory services
- Crew employment and payroll solutions
- Yacht registration and representative services
- Coordination of legal and compliance support
- Financial planning, reporting and ensuring appropriate insurance cover is maintained.
Our director-led approach, global expertise, and decades-long network of trusted advisors mean clients can be confident that their yacht ownership is in safe hands.
Looking beyond the show
The Monaco Yacht Show reflects the prestige and excitement of luxury yachting, but the true measure of ownership success lies in the strategy behind the scenes.
As yachts become larger, more sophisticated, and more experience-driven, the role of advisors and family offices in future-proofing ownership structures will only grow in importance.
At Equiom, we provide the peace of mind that comes from knowing every aspect of yacht ownership, from ringfencing your wider asset portfolio from unforeseen yacht related risks to tax planning to crew management, is carefully managed as part of a client’s wider wealth strategy.
If you advise UHNW clients or family offices considering yacht ownership, our specialist team would be delighted to discuss how we can support you.
This article has been carefully prepared, but it has been written in general terms and should be seen as broad guidance only. This article cannot be relied upon to cover specific situations and you should not act, or refrain from acting, upon the information contained within this article without obtaining specific professional advice. Please contact Equiom Group to discuss these matters in the context of your particular circumstance. Equiom Group, its partners, employees, and agents do not accept or assume any liability or duty of care for any loss arising from any action taken or not taken by anyone in reliance on the information in this article or for any decision based on it.
