Most yacht registries require non-resident owners to appoint a local Representative Person, Resident Agent, or equivalent. This ensures that the flag administration has a physical, locally-based point of contact responsible for handling statutory filings, receiving official notices, coordinating surveys, and liaising with maritime and port authorities.
For professional yacht owners, captains, brokers, managers and legal or tax advisors, understanding the role of the representative under each flag is essential to ensuring smooth and compliant yacht ownership.
BVI – British Virgin Islands
In the BVI, any yacht owned by a non-resident individual or company must appoint a Representative Person who is either a BVI-resident individual or a BVI-incorporated company. The representative receives official correspondence, maintains ownership and compliance records, files registration documents, and coordinates statutory requirements such as surveys and tonnage measurements. They also assist with charter licensing, importation paperwork, and ongoing regulatory compliance.
Cayman Islands
Cayman requires non-resident owners to appoint a locally resident Representative Person. This representative manages registry correspondence, prepares and submits registration and transfer documentation, updates the registry regarding ownership changes or mortgages, and coordinates safety and classification surveys. They also assist with operational documentation, Cayman charter arrangements, YET permissions, and customs or importation processes where relevant.
Marshall Islands
Although the Marshall Islands does not use the title “Representative Person,” the effect is the same. Yachts must be owned by an RMI entity or a qualifying foreign maritime entity, which must have a local registered office and an appointed local maritime agent. This agent handles all registry filings, survey coordination, technical certification, charter endorsements, documentation updates and compliance with RMI safety and crew certification requirements. They operate as the owner’s interface with the RMI Maritime Administrator.
Malta
Malta mandates a Resident Agent for any yacht owned by a non-Maltese resident or company. The agent acts as the owner’s authorized local representative, handling provisional and permanent registration, filing statutory forms, maintaining communication with Transport Malta, paying fees, and assisting with classification surveys. For commercial yachts, the agent supports compliance with the Commercial Yacht Code, charter licensing, EU importation and VAT formalities, and ongoing statutory renewals.
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man requires a Representative Person for vessels of 24 metres and above when the owner is not resident on the island. The representative must be an Isle of Man resident individual or a Manx-incorporated company. While their legal duty focuses on providing a local address for service of official notices, in practice they handle a wide range of administrative tasks including registration filings, survey arrangements, crew certification support, payment of registry fees, and communication with the Isle of Man Ship Registry and classification societies.
Jersey
Jersey requires a Representative Person when the owner does not have a Jersey address. Although the legal function is primarily to act as the local address for official notices and registry communication, representative firms typically assist owners with registration documentation, coordinating tonnage surveys, facilitating charter and operational permissions, and managing customs or importation requirements. Jersey offers VAT-efficient import options, and the representative commonly supports owners in navigating these procedures.
Common duties of Representative Persons (all flags)
Even though each jurisdiction uses slightly different terminology, the core functions of Representative Persons and Resident Agents are broadly consistent across the major yacht registries:
- Registry Liaison: Filing registration, transfer, mortgage and renewal documentation, and notifying the registry of any change of ownership, address or management.
- Surveys and Certifications: Coordinating classification and statutory surveys, arranging local surveyors or recognised organisations, and managing the issuance or renewal of certificates.
- Charter and Operational Licensing: Assisting with applications for commercial operation, Minimum Safe Manning documents, and charter licensing under the relevant yacht codes.
- Import, Customs and VAT Formalities: Managing temporary import permits, customs clearance, VAT documentation and transit requirements.
- Communication with Authorities: Acting as the local point of contact for maritime authorities, port officials, and government agencies, and ensuring timely payment of registry fees and statutory dues.
Rosemont Yacht Services as TCSP
Rosemont Yacht Services acts as a Trust and Company Service Provider (TCSP) working with yacht owners, family offices, brokers, yacht managers and advisors. Through its network of trusted local professionals, Rosemont arranges the appointment of Representative Persons and Resident Agents in each jurisdiction as appropriate, ensures all statutory filings are completed correctly, and manages communication with flag administrations and classification societies.
Rosemont also supports owners with yacht ownership structuring, company formation and ongoing administration, registration strategy, advice on charter structuring and the use of the YET scheme, import/VAT processes, fiscal agent and ongoing compliance across jurisdictions such as Cayman Islands, Marshall Islands, Malta, BVI, Isle of Man and Jersey.
By working with Rosemont, clients benefit from a central, experienced coordinator while maintaining full compliance with each flag’s local representative requirements.
For more information, please contact: rys@rosemont-yacht.com
Follow us on LinkedIn and don't miss our regular updates.
02/2026