CHECK LIST
Before committing to purchasing or shipping your boat, please ensure you have taken into account all of the below points. If you can’t provide one of these documents then please contact us to discuss before committing to purchase your boat. As some of these are pre-requests to importing, and without them you can’t import your boat.
1. Import Approval - (Boats with Trailers ONLY)
You CAN NOT import a boat on trailer without an import Permit.
All boats on trailers must have an import permit for the trailer prior to arriving in Australia, you will need to apply for this directly to the Department of Infrastructure.
You must have this permit approved for your trailer before the yacht arrives in Australia, if you don’t then your yacht or boat won’t be able to be removed from the port and will incur storage charges which could cost you thousands of dollars.
Taurus Logistics takes no responsibility for boats that are shipped without obtaining a permit
2. Bill of Sale
If purchasing your boat, we will need a copy of the Bill of Sale from the seller. If you already own the boat, then we need a copy of the original purchase Bill of Sale.
If this has been misplaced then it will need to have a valuation done on arrival.
3. Boats with Wooden Cradles
If your boat is not on its own trailer, then it will require a cradle to be carried on any vessel. We can construct a custom cradle for your boat from either steel or timber, depending on your hull design. If your yacht comes with its own cradle, or you are commissioning a bespoke cradle elsewhere, it needs to be either steel, or ISPM15 compliant timber, or fumigation fees and cradle destruction will apply on arrival into Australia.
4. Photo ID
2 forms of photo id are required for Australian Customs. i.e. Passport photopage and drivers licence.
5. Air Conditioning / Refrigeration
Boats with on-board refrigeration or air conditioning will need to be degassed and decommissioned prior to export. You’ll also require a certificate from the company responsible for the degassing to this effect.
6. Wash and de-foul your boat.
Its very important that the boat is spotless both inside and out. All dirt etc on the tariler needs to be water blasted off, and the hull should be clean and free of any organic matter, such as barnicals etc. The inside should be washed and vacuumed so there is no dirt or leaves etc inside the boat. This includes engine bays and hatches.
7. Have you taken out Marine Insurance?
Not compulsory, but worth asking us for a quote. Your road insurance will not cover any damage that may occur while in transit.
8. Have you taken into account GST/Duty?
Import GST and Duties are payable in addition to any quotation we provide, GST is 10% and Duty is based on the country of manufacture. Boats manufactured in the USA are duty free if accompanied with an appropriate Certificate of Origin. Also see next section.
9. Boat title / Ownership papers
Depending on the country of purchase, and in some cases the state, the boat wil have a title or ownership paper. DO NOT have these sent to you or altered until our agent instructs the seller. In many cases the original documents are needed in order to export the country of origin.
10. Certificate of Origin
If importing a boat from a country with a free trade agreement, in order to import free of Duty, you will need to have a Certificate of Origin completed by either the dealer or the manufacture. The certificate must be based on wording as per this Sample Certificate of Origin.
11. Inside your Boat
Make sure all items have been battened down securely including hatches, the open sea can have some tremendous forces that do considerable damage if something comes loose.
Any valuable items should be secured in lockable hatches with the keys kept by you, you’ll be required to have the keys available on arrival for customs and quarantine inspection.
Check all drain plugs, there should be no water in the bilge as this becomes a quarantine issue on arrival.
The batteries should be disconnected and the cables tied off to prevent contact.
Drain the fuel and water tanks as much as possible, ensuring the tank is no more than 1/4 full. If your boat is being shipped during winter months then water should be drained from water systems, pumps and air conditioners.
12. Outside your Boat
Consider removing anything that will reduce the overall volume of your yacht like swim platforms, radar arches, flybridges, keels and bowspirits. The smaller you can make your boat the lower the shipping price will normally be.
Hatches should be tightly secured and sealed with tape to prevent damage from wind/sea driven water and prevent the hatch from coming open while in transit.
Summary
If you have ticked off all of the above, then your boat is ready to ship to Australia. Congratulations and enjoy happy boating!
