How do BVI licensing changes affect a Caribbean charter quote?
Ask for the yacht’s licence category, not a generic “new BVI fee.” The Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing (Amendment) Act took effect on June 1, 2025 and contains distinct schedules for home-based vessels, foreign-based term charters and large yachts. (bvimaritime.vg)
- Suggested negotiating question:
For the statutory large-yacht category:
| Vessel length | Annual licence fee | Per-cruise fee |
|---|---|---|
| More than 115 ft, up to 150 ft | $7,500 | $2,000 |
| More than 150 ft, up to 250 ft | $8,500 | $2,500 |
| More than 250 ft | $10,000 | $3,500 |
These are the Act’s published alternatives, not a statement that every charterer owes both amounts. (bvimaritime.vg)
For boats at or below 115 ft, the foreign-based term-charter schedule distinguishes restricted and unrestricted arrangements. A single large-yacht tariff therefore cannot be applied across every yacht in the desk’s 24-metre-plus remit. (bvimaritime.vg)
What should a USVI–BVI organiser do now?
Before approving a route or deposit, request:
- The current licence or the documented application plan.
- The category and vessel length used to determine charges.
- Confirmation that the proposed embarkation, disembarkation and border crossings fit the permissions.
- An itemised distinction between licensing, cruising, clearance, park and agency charges.
- The contractual basis for passing any yacht-level annual fee to this booking.
Suggested negotiating question: “If this yacht already has an annual licence, what additional government charge does our itinerary create?”
This is a procurement question, not an assertion that an owner must absorb every regulatory expense. Agree the allocation before signature rather than debating it after the trip.