Tag: yachting

Yacht Charter Season Support: Asteria’s Role Behind the Scenes

The Start of the Yacht Charter Season

Summer has arrived—and with it, the Mediterranean yacht charter season is in full swing. Ports are filling, crews are mobilised, and charters are underway. It’s a vibrant time, but also a demanding one. Asteria provides yacht charter season support to guide owners and operators through this busy time.

While guests enjoy turquoise bays and fine service, support teams work tirelessly in the background. Every successful summer on the water depends on expert planning and precise execution.

Why Behind-the-Scenes Support Matters

This is where yacht charter season support becomes essential.

Yacht managers and owners face tight schedules and increasing regulatory demands. Flag registration, crewing compliance, and documentation must be handled without delay. The smallest oversight can ripple into larger operational issues.

Having a reliable support team makes all the difference.

Asteria’s Role in Keeping Yachts Operational

At Asteria Advisory, we help our clients stay prepared. We offer:

  • Yacht and ship registration
  • Flag advice and administration
  • Corporate structuring for ownership
  • Crewing and compliance coordination
  • Documentation management for charters and operations

We understand how the marine environment works—because we’ve lived it, structured it, and supported it for years.

Our goal? To give owners, managers, and family offices peace of mind during their busiest season.

Building Bridges for a Successful Season

Our tagline, Building Bridges, reflects how we connect clients with the right solutions—across borders, time zones, and jurisdictions. Whether you’re preparing a vessel for charter or ensuring flag compliance mid-season, we’re here to help.

We work behind the scenes to support you during the yacht charter season so that your operations remain calm, clear, and compliant.

Wishing You a Smooth Season

To all our clients, collaborators, and colleagues in the maritime sector—we wish you a safe and successful summer. We have more updates coming – follow our Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

Let’s make this yacht charter season one to remember.

Asteria Advisory | Building Bridges
#YachtCharterSeasonSupport #SuperyachtLaw #YachtRegistration #FlagSupport #MaritimeAdvisory #AsteriaAdvisory

Yachting Update: Commercial Yacht Code

Transport Malta has issued a new Commercial Yacht Code, applicable as of the 01 July 2025. This comes after months consultation and effort to bring together an updated standard for the industry.

🛥️ Scope & Applicability

  • Applies to all commercial yachts over 24 m in length, with any gross tonnage, replacing CYC 2020.
  • Small Commercial Yacht Code (sCYC) remains in effect for yachts under 24 m.

🔍 Key Updates & Enhancements

1. Regulatory Alignment & Streamlining

  • Reflects international safety standards, updated technologies, and industry practices.
  • Aims to streamline the regulatory framework, making compliance more operationally effective.

2. Enhanced Safety Measures

  • Greater emphasis on safety systems, including improvements in navigation, firefighting, and structural integrity (though specific clauses are in the full Code).

3. Environmental & Operational Efficiency

  • Introduces stricter provisions on pollution prevention, waste handling, and fuel safety for onboard aviation refuelling, reflecting modern environmental best practices.

4. Technological Advancements

  • Broadened acceptance and specific requirements for battery-powered and hybrid vessels, with mandatory classification throughout certification.
  • Updated provisions for helidecks, including CCTV coverage and fuel handling protocols.

5. Surveying & Certification Regime

  • Maintains existing structure: initial, intermediate, and annual surveys for vessels ≥ 24 m, renewing every five years.
  • Potential allowance for alternative compliance agreements, enhancing flexibility.

6. Crew & Operational Management

  • While details are in the Code, improved clarity is suggested for manning, training, and crew welfare.

🧭 Why This Matters

  • Regulatory consistency: Harmonises Malta’s code with global standards and advances in marine design.
  • Ongoing compliance: Existing vessels are given a clear update pathway, minimizing disruptions.
  • Environmental leadership: Demonstrates Malta’s dedication to marine ecology through enhanced pollution controls.
  • Tech readiness: Encourages adoption of eco-friendly propulsion and modern safety systems.

✅ What You Should Do:

  1. Familiarize yourself with the full CYC 2025 document, especially chapters relevant to safety, environment, and systems integration.
  2. Schedule your vessel’s first renewal survey after 31 Dec 2025 to ensure compliance.
  3. Discuss with your surveyor/RO about updated battery and helideck requirements, classification needs, and operational policies.
  4. Follow this page, or our profile on LinkedIn, or see what Geraldine is up to in the yachting world.

Launching Asteria Advisory

Asteria Advisory is pleased to announce its official launch as a boutique legal practice. Areas of specialisation include marine and aviation law, as well as tailored commercial legal services. With a commitment to Building Bridges, Asteria Advisory connects clients with the legal solutions, industry professionals, and opportunities necessary for success.

Asteria Advisory was formerly operated as a corporate services provider under the name of Asteria Management Limited, which is no longer in existence.

The firm is managed by Dr Geraldine Spiteri, founder, who is also a Malta-warranted advocate of 20 years’ standing.

Legal Solutions That Move Your Business Forward

With a strong focus on the maritime and aviation law sectors, Asteria Advisory provides expert legal guidance in ship, yacht and aircraft registration, asset management, regulatory compliance, and business setup. Whether working with shipowners, operators, investors, or aviation professionals, or helping the yacht or jet owner to manage the needs of these highly specialised assets, we ensure a seamless and efficient approach to navigating complex legal and regulatory frameworks.

We also provide general legal, advisory and consultancy services to businesses.

📅 Official launch: March 28, 2025—a strategic date chosen to mark a new chapter of growth and opportunity.

On this day Dr Geraldine Spiteri will also attend and moderate the Mediterranean Business Aviation conference in Malta.

Clients and industry professionals are invited to connect and explore how Asteria Advisory can provide expert guidance in the marine and aviation sectors.

🔹 For inquiries: Speak to Dr Geraldine Spiteri – gs@asteria.mt – or use our Contact form.

🔹 For Updates: We will continue to update our news feed with posts of interest.

Asteria Logo
A – Asteria;s Logo


Sanctioned Russian Oligarch wins right to use yacht on the French Riviera

A sanctioned Russian oligarch has won the right to use his yacht on the French Riviera. Rather, he has successfully challenged French customs due to a number of errors made in the procedure when they boarded the yacht.

Originally published in 2022, this article discusses the legal complexities around asset control and EU sanctions. As of 2025, such cases remain highly relevant in the evolving landscape of international law and yacht management.

The EU sanctions apply across EU member states. French customs authorities are reported to have failed to follow the correct procedures. The court ordered the release of the yacht.

Read the article here.

A superyacht lies at anchor. Image taken from stock - (C) Shutterstock
A superyacht – image from stock.

Legal professionals from different parts of the world have argued that individuals facing such sanctions should succeed in these challenges. Assets are being seized without due process of law. Further, these seizures are taking effect without following any proper court process.

Clearly, there could be a deprivation of the right to one’s own property, without the proper court case to establish whether anyone has committed a crime.

These actions, merely on the basis that an individual has links to (in this case) the Russian government, appear to constitute a right about turn from the fundamental human right to property. This is arguable. The use of wealth to continue to back up the atrocities of war remains worrying. Sanctions of this type might be the only way to stop this practice.

Asteria Advisory’s services include ship & yacht registration, and management & representatation for yachts. We also provide legal support on a more general basis.

Best in Yachting Awards 2018

The Malta Business Review recently nominated our Geraldine Spiteri to sit on a panel of judges during the Malta Best In Business Awards 2018. The event took place at Castello Dei Baroni in Wardija, Malta. Among the wide range of awards given, the nominations included a number of Best in Yachting Awards.

Besides Geraldine, the adjudication panel was composed of other reputable members of the business community.  The Awards formed  part of the Malta Best in Business Awards, an annual event hosted by Malta Business Review.

Participants hailed from a wide variety of service providers in the industry – lawyers, ship operators and agents, shipping companies and businesses. Indeed, there was a wide range of Maltese enterprises that have achieved high standards of excellence during the year. Some of the entities participating have a long-standing business history.

At this year’s event, the pool of nominees was highly varied and interesting. The participants had a few very close wins and there was some tough competition. Needless to say, the judges all expressed difficulties in choosing the winners because of the high degree of achievement displayed.

Closing the ceremony, the hosts wished everyone a prosperous year. Naturally, everyone is excited for the Best in Yachting Awards 2019.