Customs checklist launched for captains and owners
Ince & Co. and Arrow Services Monaco have teamed up to produce a customs checklist for owners and captains. The checklist offers guidance or customs inspections, and comes in response to more frequent and stringent checks.…
Ince & Co. has partnered S.A.R.L Arrow Services Monaco to launch a Customs Control Checklist for Owners and Captains to assist with the myriad regulations that must be addressed when chartering a yacht.
The checklist helps to ensure that Owners and Captains fulfil the necessary measures to protect themselves and their vessels, whilst avoiding penalties incurred during customs inspections. It is organised in a straightforward format, acting as a guide to every piece of documentation that is required, as well as specifying the correct practices to adopt during an inspection.
Speaking exclusively to SuperyachtNews.com, Paul Archer, Arrow’s Chief Executive explained that the checklist was compiled in response to a rapidly changing European landscape, with the introduction of new VAT legislation and more frequent and stringent custom controls outpacing the training offered to managers and captains. The well documented New Inspection Regime has also been a cause for concern throughout the industry, as Archer explained:
“Port State controls have also been behind our production of the guides as they will increasingly become a matter of concern with wide reaching implications. The impact of the Paris MOU on yachts is only just starting so we have yet to see what the outcome will be, but yacht owners and managers must be aware and prepared for this, or face the consequences.
“We have aimed to raise industry awareness of the need to be prepared for controls and thereby minimize costly fines and delays.”
The first section of the checklist covers documentation required onbaord commercial vessels. “We advocate that the Captain has a folio of all the information readily available to be presented to the Customs officers”, said Archer. “This shows an awareness of the rules and usually has the effect of minimising the time taken for the visit…and tends to eliminate detailed questioning.”
The second section outlines the powers of a customs officer and what a captain is entitled to, and not entitled to do during the course of an inspection. There is also a broad checklist of documents required for flag or port state purposes.
Ince & Co partner Jérôme Cohen and senior associate Freddy Desplanques explained the motivation behind their company’s involvement:
“The fact that a yacht or superyacht can be subject to a customs inspection is something that should always be considered when owning or managing a vessel. Owners and their Captains face a significant number of regulations when chartering their yachts and it is vital for their business and reputation that they are familiar with the legal framework relating to customs inspections. This new Customs Control Checklist sets out in simple and easily referable terms the documents that charter yachts should carry. It will help identify the actions that owners and captains should take when they find themselves facing a customs inspection.”
Archer used a case in point to highlight the checklist’s relevance: “What Arrow and Ince are doing is offering clients a service to assist in minimising risks by conducting a review of the yacht documentation and where necessary to make suggested changes.
“This season on the yachts we manage there have been many controls. In one case a commercial yacht was controlled and the Captain presented, what we term his captain’s "Fiscal Grab Bag", which was seen by the Douane. Total time of the control was 15 minutes with minimum disruption to the charter guests.”
Arrow Services will be at the Monaco Yacht Show - Stand QE16 - to discuss the checklist.
Related Links
Ince & Co Profile | Ince & Co Website
Arrow Profile | Arrow Website
The checklist helps to ensure that Owners and Captains fulfil the necessary measures to protect themselves and their vessels, whilst avoiding penalties incurred during customs inspections. It is organised in a straightforward format, acting as a guide to every piece of documentation that is required, as well as specifying the correct practices to adopt during an inspection.
Speaking exclusively to SuperyachtNews.com, Paul Archer, Arrow’s Chief Executive explained that the checklist was compiled in response to a rapidly changing European landscape, with the introduction of new VAT legislation and more frequent and stringent custom controls outpacing the training offered to managers and captains. The well documented New Inspection Regime has also been a cause for concern throughout the industry, as Archer explained:
“Port State controls have also been behind our production of the guides as they will increasingly become a matter of concern with wide reaching implications. The impact of the Paris MOU on yachts is only just starting so we have yet to see what the outcome will be, but yacht owners and managers must be aware and prepared for this, or face the consequences.
“We have aimed to raise industry awareness of the need to be prepared for controls and thereby minimize costly fines and delays.”
The first section of the checklist covers documentation required onbaord commercial vessels. “We advocate that the Captain has a folio of all the information readily available to be presented to the Customs officers”, said Archer. “This shows an awareness of the rules and usually has the effect of minimising the time taken for the visit…and tends to eliminate detailed questioning.”
The second section outlines the powers of a customs officer and what a captain is entitled to, and not entitled to do during the course of an inspection. There is also a broad checklist of documents required for flag or port state purposes.
Ince & Co partner Jérôme Cohen and senior associate Freddy Desplanques explained the motivation behind their company’s involvement:
“The fact that a yacht or superyacht can be subject to a customs inspection is something that should always be considered when owning or managing a vessel. Owners and their Captains face a significant number of regulations when chartering their yachts and it is vital for their business and reputation that they are familiar with the legal framework relating to customs inspections. This new Customs Control Checklist sets out in simple and easily referable terms the documents that charter yachts should carry. It will help identify the actions that owners and captains should take when they find themselves facing a customs inspection.”
Archer used a case in point to highlight the checklist’s relevance: “What Arrow and Ince are doing is offering clients a service to assist in minimising risks by conducting a review of the yacht documentation and where necessary to make suggested changes.
“This season on the yachts we manage there have been many controls. In one case a commercial yacht was controlled and the Captain presented, what we term his captain’s "Fiscal Grab Bag", which was seen by the Douane. Total time of the control was 15 minutes with minimum disruption to the charter guests.”
Arrow Services will be at the Monaco Yacht Show - Stand QE16 - to discuss the checklist.
Related Links
Ince & Co Profile | Ince & Co Website
Arrow Profile | Arrow Website
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