[Telesail]

I will be sailing a vessel that is registered in both the U.S. Virgin Islands and on the British Small Ships Register. I intend to take her into the Spanish Virgin Islands and the BVI.

While I am in the USVI, does anyone know whether I should be flying a Red Ensign with a USVI courtesy pennant, flying the Stars and Stripes or the USVI flag?

When in either of the other two jurisdictions, obviously I need the appropriate courtesy pennant but which ensign?

Any advice gratefully received

 

[Mabinogion]

I will be sailing a vessel that is registered in both the U.S. Virgin Islands and on the British Small Ships Register. I intend to take her into the Spanish Virgin Islands and the BVI.

While I am in the USVI, does anyone know whether I should be flying a Red Ensign with a USVI courtesy pennant, flying the Stars and Stripes or the USVI flag?

When in either of the other two jurisdictions, obviously I need the appropriate courtesy pennant but which ensign?

Any advice gratefully received

Buy a catamaran and register each hull in a different country:laugher

 

[Ulladh]

From my understanding it is a US boat in US waters and a British boat in British Territory waters.

Is the boat registered in the USVI and USCG documented?

If you are a dual national then this also applies to your nationality in the US you have no right to British consular services and in British territory you have no right to US consular services.

The Spanish Virgin Island are part of Puerto Rico US territory. Contact customs and immigration for BVI, USVI and Puerto Rico for specific requirements for entry.

 

[Zanshin]

As far as I know, registries are exclusive and one cannot register a boat both under the SSR in the UK and in the US. That would be akin to having both U.S. and U.K. license plates on a car - it doesn't work that way.

In the previous boats that I've had and sold, the boat had to de-flagged from the U.K. registry before the U.S. would allow it to be flagged. If you actually have 2 registrations for the same boat then one, or perhaps even both of them, is/are invalid.

Thus the question is moot - one can only fly the flag under which the ship is registered. It is not be a matter of choice, it is a matter of correct registration.

 

[SVAuspicious]

I will be sailing a vessel that is registered in both the U.S. Virgin Islands and on the British Small Ships Register.

To my knowledge you cannot legally do that. Which ever of the two was most recent probably controls and is the only legal registration or documentation.

+1 to Zanshin

 

[Ulladh]

A vessel cannot be USCG documented and Red Ensign Group Registered, but it can be state registered and Red Ensign Group Registered.

 

[SVAuspicious]

A vessel cannot be USCG documented and Red Ensign Group Registered, but it can be state registered and Red Ensign Group Registered.

No. Ultimately registration or documentation ties to ownership and you can only have one title.

I don't know of any legal way to be registered in a US State and carried on any UK Register.

 

[Ulladh]

Well I know Pennsylvania and Delaware, title is optional but registration required even if a non-US boat. PA and DE don't give a damn where your boat is titled as long as you have a title or bill of sale with notary from somewhere.

The Red Ensign Group does not care or recognise a US state registration.

I have talked with a number of cruisers from the UK (also green card holders) who have maintained UK (Red Ensign) registration and hold PA registration for their extended stay in the US.

 

[Zanshin]

Ulladh - I think that you are mixing up title and registration. A title (or flag) can never be shared, it needs to be in one country's name. The boat's titling country's ensign is the only one that may legally be flown.
If a state such as Pennsylvania (see Frequently asked questions - boat registration and titling ) requires boats that stay for extended periods, above and beyond that in the cruising permit, that is a different matter and a boat registered in the SSR or with a full Part I registry may not legally fly another ensign. It is either a U.K. vessel or it is not, there is no other option.

http://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollectio...ion in the UK/BOAT REGISTRATION IN THE UK.pdf

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/21/contents (See PART I for specifics, especially chapters 1, 2 and 3!)

 

[Telesail]

Thanks for the feedback. I will check what the legal status is. Like you, I was surprised that she can be on two registers.

She is definitely not USCG registered so sounds like USVI document is something else. I will find out and revert