Above: the British Virgin Islands
By the Caribbean Journal staff
The British Virgin Islands says it is making greater efforts to attract large commercial yachts to register in the British Overseas Territory.
“The Virgin Islands Shipping Registry (VISR) is a member of the Red Ensign Group (REG) of British Shipping Registries,” said John Samuel, director of the VI Shipping Registry. “The REG is made up from the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies such as Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey, and the UK Overseas Territories. All of which operate shipping registers from their jurisdictions.”
In a recent address at the Maria’s By the Sea hotel, Samuel urged the industry to “adopt the business of ship registration as one of their revenue streams,” as part of their corporate package within the Virgin Islands.
The plan will be accompanied by a push to attract mega yachts to the territory through pleasure boating, he said.