Superyacht Ownership & Structuring

We are trusted by yacht owners, family offices and yacht managers to simplify the complexity of yacht ownership and administration, allowing you to focus on enjoying your asset. Our work provides liability protection, optimises confidentiality, facilitates VAT efficiency and enables owners to manage complex tax and regulatory compliance worldwide.

With a globally established team, recognised for its depth of yachting expertise, operating across key jurisdictions including the Crown Dependencies, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the United Kingdom (UK), Equiom provides end to end support for clients in the European Union (EU), the UK and beyond. This international footprint enables a coordinated approach to integrated yacht management, ensuring ownership, regulatory and operational considerations are aligned across jurisdictions.

Adding a superyacht to a private client or family office portfolio is a significant decision. The structure supporting superyacht ownership directly affects governance, liability exposure, indirect tax and day to day asset oversight. We work closely with owners and their advisers, providing fiduciary, VAT, Customs and accounting expertise to help structure, manage and operate yachts efficiently and compliantly over the long term.

End to end yacht services

Our services span the full superyacht ownership lifecycle and are designed to support both private and commercial arrangements, including:

Ownership structuring and entity establishment enhancing the superyacht ownership experience
Governance and ongoing administration services, including professional directors, responsible officers, registered agent and registered office services
Yacht registration support and regulatory coordination
Operational and financial administration, including liaison support, charter support, banking, accounting, statutory reporting and financial management as part of a broader integrated superyacht management approach
UK and EU VAT and Customs support, including planning for yacht importation and customs suspension, as well as VAT optimisation for operations, chartering, overheads and refits
Crewing services: providing tailored and compliant crew employment support for vessel owners and operators engaged in professional yacht management

Supporting superyacht ownership across its lifecycle

Owning and operating a superyacht represents a substantial investment, and the structure behind the asset plays a central role in protecting value and ensuring effective governance. Sound structuring underpins sustainable luxury asset ownership, particularly where they are held and operated across multiple jurisdictions.

We support owners, family offices and yacht managers throughout the lifecycle of the asset, from acquisition and structuring, through operation and refit, including yacht refit management oversight, to sale or transition. Working alongside legal, tax and brokerage advisers, we ensure ownership vehicles remain well governed and properly administered.

We also facilitate the buying, selling and financing of superyachts, working closely with leading industry intermediaries to ensure seamless coordination throughout the transaction and support well-structured, lender-ready ownership arrangements.

Yacht importation & free circulation

Effective planning for yacht importation is a critical element of compliant superyacht ownership, particularly in the context of integrated cross border management structures.

Following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, yacht importation and free circulation must be addressed separately within UK and EU VAT and Customs territories. Careful planning and complete documentation are essential to achieving timely and VAT optimal outcomes.

Our specialist team supports formal importation and customs suspension reliefs, with extensive experience establishing and administering yacht holding structures and managing UK and EU importation workstreams. We regularly work in collaboration with yacht managers to achieve compliant and efficient outcomes.

UK and/ or EU importation services

Representation for UK and non-UK, or EU and non-EU yacht holding entities
Documentation collation and technical assurance for liaison and pre-clearance with the relevant authority such as HMRC (UK) or the respective EU Tax authorities
Ozone Depleting Substance and or Fluorinated Gases licensing compliance support prior to UK and or EU importation
Post import certification (C88 / SAD where applicable)

If you are considering the acquisition, operation or long-term structuring of a superyacht, our team can provide discreet, jurisdiction led guidance to support well governed yacht ownership across its lifecycle.

This content has been carefully prepared and is provided for general information purposes only. It offers a high-level overview of certain services available across the Equiom Group and does not constitute legal, tax, regulatory, investment or other professional advice.
Not all services are provided by every Equiom Group office or entity. For advice specific to your circumstances, please contact our team or an Equiom Group office of your choosing