Do you need an agent to bring a superyacht to London?

The master can make the pleasure craft report, book the pilot, request the Tower Bridge lift and book the berth directly. Most superyachts appoint an agent all the same, because each of those depends on the others, and all of them depend on the tide.

What does a call in London involve?

The report to Border Force is made two to twenty-four hours before the yacht sails from her last port, through the pleasure craft report for a private yacht or the National Maritime Single Window for a commercial one. Above 40 metres the yacht takes a Port of London Authority pilot, booked in advance and confirmed with the Port Control Centre six hours before the movement.

The berth is booked with the operator: the Port of London Authority's tiers on 48 hours' notice, or St Katharine Docks, whose lock works from two hours before high water to an hour and a half after. For the Upper Pool, Tower Bridge lifts on a written request made at least 24 hours ahead. Fuel comes by barge, as there is no fuel berth on the tiers, and on a tier the guests and crew land by tender or licensed launch.

Why do captains appoint an agent?

Because the bookings interlock. The time the yacht reaches Tower Bridge sets the pilot's boarding time in the estuary, the lock at St Katharine Docks sets when she can enter, and the range of about 7 metres at London Bridge sets all of them. When one changes, the others move with it, and an agent keeps them together while the captain runs the yacht.

An agent also looks after what follows the arrival: dues paid on your account, fuel, provisions, crew changes, transfers for the owner and guests, and engineers when something fails. For a commercial yacht, the FAL forms and the notifications fall to the agent as well.

What should a captain send before arrival?

The yacht's length, beam, draught and air draught, the ETA and time alongside, the crew and guest list with passport details, the certificate of registry, the insurance certificate and the last port clearance. With those we can plan the arrival and send a written estimate the same working day.

What does an agent cost in London?

Our port call fee is set by length overall and includes two hours of agent time, and supplier costs are charged at the supplier's own figure with the invoice attached. The figures, and a worked example for a 55 metre yacht from the Channel to the Upper Pool, are on the fees page.

Where does a superyacht berth in London?

Greenwich Ship Tier takes yachts of up to 228 metres, Tower Bridge Upper up to 158 metres, George Stairs Tier up to 120 metres, and St Katharine Docks up to about 42 metres. They are compared in where a superyacht can berth in central London, and the full detail is in the London pilot notes.

How can Watermans help?

We book the berth, arrange the pilot, request the bridge lift and make the report to Border Force, and we are standing by throughout your stay. Email us your dates and the yacht's details for a same-day quote.