Tonnage Measurement · Mediterranean
Tonnage Measurement Mediterranean
Authorised tonnage measurer covering the Mediterranean — gross and net tonnage to the UK Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) Regulations for UK Part 1 and Red Ensign Group registries.
What this service involves
For UK-flagged and Red Ensign Group registered yachts based in the Mediterranean, tonnage measurement is the statutory volumetric calculation that underpins registration, port and canal dues, commercial coding and certain class requirements. It is not a weight — it is a measure of the vessel's enclosed spaces, expressed as Gross Tonnage (GT) and Net Tonnage (NT), and it must be carried out by a Tonnage Measurer authorised by the flag administration.
SVG Marine is an authorised Tonnage Measurer working throughout the Mediterranean. Measurements are accepted by the UK Ship Register and by Red Ensign Group registries including Cayman, BVI, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Bermuda and Jersey / Guernsey. We coordinate directly with the owner's registry agent so the tonnage documentation lands in the format and sequence the registry needs.
The most common Mediterranean triggers for tonnage measurement are new ownership and registration (UK Part 1 or Red Ensign), change of flag, fly-bridge enclosures, transom extensions and saloon expansions on motor yachts, and below-decks volume changes on sailing yachts. Tonnage measurement is also often required as a prerequisite to MCA coding for charter operation.
Mobilisation is normally arranged within two to three weeks. Where possible we combine multiple yachts in a trip — for example a Palma block in March or an Athens block in April — to keep mobilisation costs proportionate.
Where we work
We attend the major Mediterranean yachting hubs as standard and travel onwards within the region on request. Coordination with shipyard schedules — STP Palma, Astilleros de Mallorca, La Ciotat, Viareggio — is built into the planning.
- Palma de Mallorca
- Ibiza
- Menorca
- Barcelona
- Valencia
- Antibes
- Cannes
- Nice
- Monaco
- La Ciotat
- Viareggio
- Genoa
- Naples
- Athens / Lavrion
- Corfu / Lefkada
- Malta
- Cyprus
- Turkey
Recent projects
A selection of recent assignments — vessel and client details anonymised where required by our duty of confidentiality to owners, insurers and buyers.
62ft motor yacht — Palma
UK Part 1 tonnage measurement following a saloon and fly-bridge refit; certificate updated and resubmitted to the UK Ship Register.
78ft motor yacht — Antibes
Cayman Islands tonnage measurement on a yacht moving from BVI to Cayman registration; coordinated with the Cayman registry agent.
55ft sailing yacht — Athens
First-time UK Part 1 measurement on a yacht acquired in Greece. Combined with insurance survey in the same mobilisation.
85ft motor yacht — Viareggio
New-build tonnage worked from compliant drawings and verified on board at delivery from an Italian yard.
44ft catamaran — La Ciotat
Multihull tonnage measurement for UK Part 1 registration; multihull enclosed-spaces geometry handled in calculation.
70ft motor yacht — Valletta
Isle of Man tonnage measurement on a yacht based in Malta; documentation issued ahead of charter season.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have my yacht's tonnage measured in the Mediterranean?
Yes. Tonnage measurement for UK Part 1 and Red Ensign Group registries can be carried out wherever the vessel happens to be. SVG Marine attends yachts throughout the Mediterranean — most frequently Palma, Athens, the Côte d'Azur, Italy and Greece.
Which registries do you measure for?
UK Part 1, Cayman Islands, BVI, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Bermuda, Jersey, Guernsey — all Red Ensign Group registries that accept measurement under the UK Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) Regulations.
Why is tonnage measurement needed?
Tonnage is the basis for vessel registration, port and canal dues, certain certification regimes, and is referenced in commercial coding and class. Volume changes (refits, extensions, fly-bridge enclosures) typically trigger re-measurement.
How long does the measurement take?
Most measurements take half a day to a day on board. Allow one to two weeks for the certificate documentation to be issued and submitted to the registry.
Where do you typically attend in the Mediterranean?
Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Barcelona, Valencia, Côte d'Azur (Antibes, Cannes, Nice, Monaco, La Ciotat), Italy (Viareggio, Genoa, Naples), Greece (Athens, Lavrion, Corfu, Lefkada), Malta, Cyprus and Turkey.
Can you combine tonnage with an MCA coding examination?
Yes. For UK-flagged commercial yachts it is efficient to combine tonnage measurement with the MCA coding examination — one mobilisation, two pieces of statutory work, one certification pack.
Do you work with the registry agent directly?
Yes. We routinely coordinate with the registry agent appointed by the owner — UK Part 1 agents, Cayman maritime services, BVI agents and others — to ensure the tonnage documentation lands in the format and format-sequence the registry needs.
Can tonnage be calculated from drawings for new builds?
For new builds with compliant general-arrangement and capacity drawings, tonnage can often be calculated and provisionally certified from drawings, with an on-board verification at delivery. The flag administration's acceptance is confirmed before drawings work is started.
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