Madeira (MAR)

The Madeira International Ship Register (MAR) is Portugal's international register: vessels entered in it fly the Portuguese flag, and therefore that of a European Union member state. Agenzia Magnum helps you register your yacht, pleasure or commercial, in the MAR register.

Who runs the register

The MAR was established in 1989 (Decreto-Lei no. 96/89) in the Madeira Free Trade Zone. Registration, crew composition and the application of safety requirements are the responsibility of a Technical Commission, made up of a chairman appointed by the Portuguese government, a representative of the Autonomous Region of Madeira and a representative of the DGRM. The register is promoted by SDM, Sociedade de Desenvolvimento da Madeira. Official information is available on the IBC Madeira website.

Who can register

Owners are not required to have their principal place of business in Madeira, but for vessels owned and managed from abroad a legal representative in Madeira with adequate powers must be appointed.

Which vessels

• pleasure yachts with a hull length of more than 7 metres;
• commercial yachts with a hull length between 7 and 50 metres and a maximum capacity of 12 passengers in addition to the crew.

Advantages for an Italian owner

• the Portuguese flag, with EU register status and full access to European waters;
• no nationality requirement for the crew of pleasure and commercial yachts, provided they are qualified and certified;
• a register also designed for commercial yachting;
• possible specific tax regimes for companies based in the International Business Centre of Madeira, to be assessed with a tax adviser.

As with any flag, registration in the MAR does not in itself change the vessel's VAT and customs status in the EU.

How we help

We assess the vessel's eligibility with you, prepare the documents for the Technical Commission (proof of ownership, deletion from the previous register, technical certificates) and coordinate the procedure with the legal representative in Madeira until registration is complete.

Contact us using the form at the bottom of the page with the yacht's size, intended use and current flag.

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