The past 20 years has seen steady growth in the numbers and size of pleasure yachts and other leisure craft coupled with an explosion in the numbers of professionally crewed superyachts and megayachts, many of which are operated on a commercial basis for charter by the wealthy. Many of these vessels rely upon cutting edge technology, innovative design and state of the art communications systems. Built by a growing number of specialist yacht builders, managed, crewed and operated by superyacht professionals, the superyacht industry has in recent years evolved as a distinct and separate industry alongside mainstream shipping, but with subtle differences of approach and traps for the non-specialist.
Against this background, this book offers a comprehensive analysis of the many aspects of yachting law. Written by a team of leading yachting practitioners and researchers, this book covers the legal issues arising during the life of a yacht from conception to the scrapyard. It is a practitioners’ book, to be used by lawyers and other professionals involved in all aspects of yachting, from design, construction, registration, financing and operation and many related issues.
