SUPPORTING SUPERYACHTS IN SPAIN


T


he Spanish Association of Large Yachts, AEGY (Asociación Española de Grandes Yates), was founded in


December 2005 by Diego Colón de Carvajal, Jonathan Syrett, José García-Aubert and Pablo Comesaña, representing Astilleros de Mallorca, Camper and Nicholsons, Marina Barcelona 92 and Astilleros M. Cies respectively, with the aim of promoting the nautical industry in Spain.


Its headquarters are in Palma de Mallorca although its scope of action is national, it currently has 16 members and is made up of companies and professionals dedicated to the world of megayachts.


Since its inception AEGY has worked to raise awareness of the yachting sector and make it a reference in the national economy, an objective that has undoubtedly been achieved, since until eight or nine years ago, Spain did not exist as a charter destination for large yachts because of bureaucracy and especially because of the matriculation tax.


The success of similar associations in neighbouring countries such as MYBA, UCINA, ECPY has served as an incentive for the creation of this association whose objectives, as shown in the statutes, are the defence and promotion of all that which is related to the maritime industry and associated service activities, in particular those related to yachts of over 24 metres in length. To fully defend this sector, it is essential to have available all the necessary means to facilitate communications with both the state and the autonomous administrations.


Thanks to the action of AEGY, which participated in numerous meetings with the maritime and tax Public Administrations, improvements were achieved both in the aspect of the necessary documentation for megayachts to obtain the charter license in Spain, as well as in the matriculation tax.


Between October 2013 and March 2014, a series of legislative changes took place that marked a turning point in the recreational


boating sector in Spain. During this period, important modifications were made to the law regulating the matriculation tax, allowing megayachts to charter in Spanish waters.


President of Asociación Española de Grandes Yates (AEGY),


Carlos Ara discusses the organisation’s remit to support and promote the superyacht industry throughout the Spanish mainland and its islands. At the forefront is bringing together key


players in the industry to deliver the highest level of service, whilst looking at financial and legal matters that will make


the region more attractive to yacht owners and charterers


All those topics, that in recent years have been subjects of discussion between the founder members, are now going to be defended in an organised manner through the new association. Emphasis will be made in particular to those matters relating to flagging; VAT and matriculation tax; import procedures; inspection and registration of pleasure and commercial yachts; charter legislation; ports and marinas and their installations; manning requirements and professional training.


Since then, the activity of megayachts in Spain, charter, repair and maintenance, moorings, etc., has increased considerably and the immediate effect of the increase in megayachts has seen an increase in income in the local and national economy, as the yachting sector is a dynamic business sector and an important part of the economy and creator of employment.


In the area of repairs and transformations of large yachts, Spain has two industrial centres with great international prestige for their good work, in Palma de Mallorca (STP and Astilleros de Mallorca) and Barcelona (MB92), and they are world leaders, especially in the Mediterranean.


We also have a network of ports and marinas where yachts can berth with excellent services to meet the needs of customers, that should be considered for further expansion to cover the growing demand.


We also need to boost the construction of large yachts to try to catch up with our European neighbours.


In short, we have improved in recent years, but we have enormous growth potential to improve economic growth and quality employment. www.aegy.org


ONBOARD | AUTUMN 2022 | 119


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