Vessel sale and purchase agreements can be highly complicated. An often overlooked part of the process is around anti money laundering (AML) requirements, which presents an area of not-insignificant risk for clients and agents alike.

The Tourist Refund Scheme offers international travellers leaving Australia to claim a GST refund on Australian purchase goods taken out of the country, and it is possible for private yacht owners to access the programme to take advantage of the GST refund.

New Zealand Customs’ recent change of position on the sale of vessels in New Zealand under TIE (Temporary Import Entry) could have potentially significant impacts for yacht owners wanting to bring their vessels into New Zealand, including for marketing and sale purposes.

The recent MLAANZ conference in Auckland had a range of speakers with notable subjects that provided an exciting opportunity to deepen understanding of developments in maritime law.