What is yacht shipping?
Yacht shipping means your boat travels as cargo, usually on the deck of a cargo ship, instead of sailing there. It is the usual choice for ocean routes, for motor yachts without the range for a long passage, and for owners who would rather avoid the sea miles, engine hours and wear of a delivery.
How it works
- Book a sailing. Carriers run scheduled sailings on popular routes, such as northern Europe to the Mediterranean, and between Europe and the Caribbean. Space is booked per yacht.
- Get to the load port. The yacht is delivered to the port by sea or road on the loading date.
- Loading. The yacht is lifted aboard in a cradle, often by the ship's own cranes, and secured on deck.
- The voyage. For example, around ten days from northern Europe to the western Mediterranean.
- Discharge. The yacht is lifted off at the destination port and handed over, ready to motor or sail away, or to travel on by road.
What a quote usually includes
- Freight, priced mainly on the yacht's length and beam.
- Loading and discharge, and securing the yacht on deck.
- Sometimes cradle hire and cargo insurance. Check both.
Often extra: getting to and from the ports, port and handling charges at each end, customs and import formalities, mast work, and berthing while you wait for the ship.
What affects the cost
Shipping is priced per yacht, and carriers don't publish price lists. The main drivers are the yacht's length and beam (the deck space it takes), the route and how often it is sailed, the sailing date, and whether the cradle, port charges and insurance are included. Catamarans and larger yachts cost more because they take up more deck space.
Which boats suit shipping?
- Sailing yachts and motor yachts on ocean or long international routes.
- Motor yachts where fuel for the passage would cost thousands of pounds.
- New or high-value yachts where owners want to avoid sea miles.
- Boats that are not set up for an offshore passage.
For shorter moves within the UK and Europe, a skippered delivery or road transport is usually cheaper.
How to prepare your yacht for shipping
- Give accurate dimensions: length overall, beam, draught, air draught and weight.
- Remove or secure loose gear, canvas, sails and anything that could blow away on deck.
- Secure hatches, ports and lockers, and protect deck gear and instruments.
- Follow the carrier's instructions on fuel levels, batteries and water tanks.
- Check insurance cover for the yacht as cargo, and organise paperwork for the destination.
- Photograph the boat's condition before loading.
How it works on BoatMove
- Describe the move. Your yacht, its size, and the load and discharge ports or areas. Free, with no obligation.
- Vetted partners quote. Partners approved for yacht shipping send quotes with the price, dates and what's included.
- Compare and choose. Compare quotes side by side and accept the one that suits you.
You can also ask for a sea delivery quote for the same move and compare the two. See is it cheaper to sail or ship?