Door opens to foreign charterboats

Australia is open for business to foreign-flagged superyachts wishing to charter in Australia. That's the message Superyacht Australia wants to circulate after  lobbying government to allow easier access to foreign-flagged vessels to charter in Australia. 

A working group of stakeholders from lobby group Superyacht Australia has been meeting with Australian government officials to help make the current 'temporary licencing system' workable and welcoming for foreign flagged superyachts wishing to charter here.

Currently, vessels can charter in Australia under the temporary licence system issued under the Coastal Trading Act 2012 by the Department of infrastructure. 

Vessels operating under this licence can also undertake refits and repairs and are not required to fully import the vessel. By the end of the Australian parliamentary winter sitting it is expected a new simpler regime will be in place.

In simple terms, the new licencing system will involve:
>> Licence fee of $400
>> 12-month charter available currently voyage-based
>> Superyacht crew visa for 12 months
>> 10% GST is payable on charters
>> 4-month minimum lead time for applications that wish to charter in the GBR Marine Park
>> 1-month minimum lead time for applicants that wish to operate in the rest of Australia
>> A resident agent can establish all the permits required from various departments and arrange taxation collection for GST
>> Vessel does not need to be imported and refit can be conducted during stay.

The Australian government is determined to ensure easy access and simplify regulations for foreign flagged vessels wishing to charter in Australia. 

The Hon Warren Truss MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, has announced the current Act will be amended to make it even easier for foreign flagged superyachts to charter in Australia and it is hoped this will occur by the end of the Parliamentary winter sitting. 

So Australia is now open for business with the current coastal trading act allowing superyachts to charter in Australia under the temporary permit system.  Whilst this is relatively straightforward, Superyacht Australia CEO M Edwards issued some advice to foreign superyachts: "to ensure you get it right and don’t make any errors we strongly recommend using an Australian agent."

The Superyacht Australia members involved in the working group are Bray Management, Ocean Alliance, Abell Point Marina, Ports North (Cairns Marlin Marina) and Aurora Logistics.

Superyacht Australia agents are currently listed at www.superyacht-australia.com.au.