Flag, registration and what they mean for cover

Short answer

The flag decides which law governs your boat at sea; and, together with your residence, whether we can insure it at all.

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Every boat sails under a flag, and that flag determines the legal order it carries with it. For insurance this matters in two ways: it is one of the two conditions that make you eligible with us, and it determines which registration papers exist and what a foreign authority will ask to see.

German-flagged boats may hold an Internationaler Bootsschein (IBS) or, for larger vessels, an entry in the Schiffsregister with a Flaggenzertifikat. Austrian and Spanish registration works differently again. None of this changes your cover, but it changes the paperwork we need at the outset; and the paperwork you should carry on board.

A practical point that catches people out: changing the flag during the policy term is a change we need to know about. It is not a problem in itself, but an unreported change can be treated as a material alteration of the risk, which is the last thing you want to discover after a claim.

Do I need a German flag to insure with you?

No, not if you are resident in Germany, Austria or Spain. The flag route is the alternative for owners living elsewhere.

Which papers do I need to carry?

Your registration document, the policy, and the international insurance card (IVK). The IVK is the document harbour offices across Europe recognise.

I am changing the flag. What do I do?

Tell us before it happens. We amend the policy; there is no charge and no gap in cover.

Can I insure with you? Cruising range Buying a German boat