yacht delivery uk

International yacht delivery

Our passion, your peace of mind.

Halcyon Yachts is one of the UK’s leading yacht delivery companies. Whether you have a sailing yacht or motor boat, a super yacht or a family cruiser, you can ALWAYS trust Halcyon Yachts to deliver with care and professionalism.

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean or higher

Comprehensive delivery insurance

Yacht tracking facility

24 hour engineer service

Professional service, delivering excellence as standard.

Our yacht delivery skippers are all qualified to RYA Yachtmaster Ocean or higher. Our yacht delivery crew are also highly experienced and qualified. We have an extensive network of sailors based around the UK and internationally. Halcyon Yachts ensures that all yacht deliveries are made safely, securely and with utmost respect of the owners wishes. We are on hand 7 days a week to help guide you through the delivery process and to ensure an excellent service from start to finish.

We do not charge for delays caused by the weather. We also have a full 24hr engineer support service which helps to ensure that any glitches are resolved quickly and cost effectively. Our yacht delivery Skippers and crew are meticulous and thorough and will take every step to ensure your boat arrives in the best possible condition. Decisions are always based on good seamanship and not pressures of time. The safety and well being of both yacht and crew are paramount.

Halcyon Yachts prestige

A prestige yacht delivery service that specialises in the delivery of larger and more luxurious yachts. If you own a yacht in excess of 50ft then this service is definitely for you. At Halcyon Yachts we have vast experience of vessels of all shapes and size, our prestige service recognises the additional skill set required when handling a more valuable and larger vessel. We have a select group of captains and crew that are extremely familiar with high tech modern systems and have the experience required with boat handling and seamanship on board prestigious and luxury yachts. Click the button below for more details. 

Yacht delivery

Halcyon Yachts ensures that all yacht deliveries are made safely, securely and with utmost respect of the owners wishes.

Halcyon Yachts Crew Clothing

Due to the popularity of our crew clothing, our T-shirts and hoodies are now available to buy online.

Testimonials

What our clients say.

Best decision we made to employ Halycon, for a yacht delivery from the UK to Portugal. Couldn't fault the professionalism. Would highly recommend.

Having had Halcyon Yachts recommended to us by a friend who had used their services we engaged Halcyon Yachts to deliver our recently purchased Beneteau 331 from Bangor Marina in Northern Ireland to Falmouth Marina in Cornwall. We were very impressed with the helpful friendly service from initial contact with the office team to meeting the delivery crew upon arrival in Cornwall. By chance the Skipper selected was based not far from where we live, and we took the opportunity to meet with him prior to the voyage. Prior to the start of the voyage the Skipper made excellent decisions to find and take best advantage of a small weather window in the weather forecast. His decisions proved to be spot on. We are happy to recommend Halcyon Yachts because of their attention to detail and the fact that everything operated and worked as it should when they left Northern Ireland and everything operated and worked as it should upon handover in Cornwall.

This company offers a well-priced and truly professional service, highly recommended. They delivered our boat from Plymouth to Brightlingsea. Great skipper and crew.

Great service, great communication and video highlights of the trip.

Halcyon Yachts organised the delivery of our sailboat from the UK to France and all went very well. Very professional skippers. Highly recommend their custom delivery service.

We are really happy with the delivery.  Professionalism all the way, from booking to mooring at the delivery harbour.  Good communication all through the transport sail and a really trustful skipper and crew. I am happy to recommend Halcyon Yachts if you need transportation of your boat.

I found the whole experience to be thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. The skipper displayed great knowledge and calmness throughout the trip, whilst I had a great opportunity to learn and get to know the boat. I would absolutely recommend Halcyon for a professional and trustworthy delivery and I will use again in the future.

Extremely happy with Halcyon Yachts and their team for assisting me with the delivery of a 44 ft catamaran from Hamble to Kip Marina in Scotland. Flexible, professional, reliable and great value for money. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

I have used these guys a few times and they definitely are the team to use if you want prompt, safe efficient delivery of your yacht. Thanks Halcyon Yachts for a great service!

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Yacht delivery services

Ocean yacht.

Ocean yacht Delivery

Ocean yacht delivery can help you move your yacht quickly and easily..

Put your Yacht in safe hands with Ocean Yacht Delivery, all deliveries of Yachts are only handled by professional Skippers and on our standard terms we are insured up to £10m.

Dedicated specialist team for sailing vessels of all ages and sizes.

Dealing directly with private Yacht Owners and Brokers we are based in Whitehaven, England, UK from where we cover the whole of the UK, Europe, Mediterranean & Atlantic crossings.

All deliveries at Ocean Yacht Delivery have live tracking, they are GPS tracked from the moment they leave the collection location giving an interesting insight into the delivery and peace of mind.

Contact Ocean yacht Delivery for a no obligation quote to move your yacht or clients Yacht with confidence.

Delivery Options

Skippered deliveries

Set your timeframe and sit back while your Yacht is delivered to your required location.

Assisted deliveries

Be part of the journey, gain experience on your Yacht safe in the knowledge there is an experienced skipper with you.

road deliveries

Have a road delivery managed for you from sea to sea, including de-rigging, loading, transportations and re-rigging.

Delivery Service Features

Ocean Yacht Delivery consists of an experienced team which together offers a friendly, professional, reliable & timely service to meet your specific requirements.

Tailored service

At Ocean Yacht Delivery we understand that each delivery is different.  From the vessel type, size and age, weather factors and personal factors from our clients which can influence the timeframe required. 

Sailing experience

1000’s of miles experience on Yachts of varying size and shapes makes Ocean Yacht Delivery a first choice for your Yacht delivery requirements whether you are a private owner, broker or manufacturer.

Live GPS Tracking

All deliveries at Ocean Yacht Delivery are tracked by GPS, this enables the client as well as the shore based team to monitor the progress of the delivery at all times giving peace of mind. 

Geographic locations

Based in Cumbria on the North West Coast of England, as well as local deliveries we cover the whole of the UK, Europe, Mediterranean & Atlantic crossings..

Quality Insurance

Insured up to £10 million with a premium Uk broker, Although we have never had to make a claim we are confident our insurance providers will be there if we were ever to need them.

Assisted Deliveries

For private Yacht owners sometimes an assisted delivery may be the best solution.  This enables the owner to stay with the vessel and enjoy the passage but safe in the knowledge that they have an experienced skipper with them. 

In safe hands

Please contact Ocean Yacht Delivery to discuss your requirements.

For your delivery needs please do not hesitate to contact Ocean yacht deliveries.

It is a simple process which can be started by email, the contact form or phone call to begin discussing the relevant details of your requirements for a Yacht delivery.

"Thanks for your flexibility on the delivery of our new to us yacht, was fantastic you could get it here in time for the holidays."

"we have worked with gareth from ocean yacht deliveries without any issues and can happily recommend the company.".

Angela ★★★★★

"Yacht arrived on time with no problems, communicaton was good and live tracking was interesting to see."

Jason ★★★★★

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will it take for my yacht to be delivered.

Ocean Yacht Delivery aim to collect your Yacht within an agreed timeframe to meet your requirements and then deliver on the shortest possible route.  Although some trips will of course be weather dependant.

How will I know where my Yacht is and what is happening?

You will receive updates on the scheduling and progress of your yacht delivery based on your pre-agreed requirements.  When the Yacht is collected there will be live GPS tracking detailing the progress of the delivery.

How much will it cost to have my Yacht delivered?

Each delivery has different requirements but the framework for pricing includes factoring Yacht location, timeframe, travel cost, crew required and time / distance of delivery.

Can I go along with the delivery crew?

Yes it is not a problem to go attend the delivery and can be very interesting and enjoyable to spend time with an experienced skipper.

WORLDWIDE YACHT DELIVERIES

WELCOME TO OCEANTRAX

At OceanTrax our objective is simple, to offer a first class worldwide yacht delivery service at an affordable price with the personal touch.

Based on the south coast of the UK and established in 2016, OceanTrax provides high quality skippers and crew for a variety of vessels from monohulls, catamarans, motor boats and classic sailing vessels.

We have worked hard to build relationships with brokers and are used by many prestigious  yacht manufactures and private yacht owners.

Our worldwide yacht delivery service has many repeat customers and their reviews are testament to the professionalism and quality of our service.

For all our services we keep our pricing as clear as possible and ensure a high level of professionalism from initial contact to end handover.

Whether you are looking for a short local coastal delivery or a Trans Atlantic to warmer climates, we can help.

“I used Dieter and his team a couple of times, the biggest job was to sail a boat back from Corfu to Swansea but no job is too big or too small. He kept me updated through the whole process, the boat arrived safely, I was confident in his sailing abilities and trusted his decision making. I’d definitely use and recommend him and his team." Catrin Hughs - Private Client

"OceanTrax undertook the delivery of our Hallberg-Rassy from Oslo to La Coruna. From initial contact to completion we found OceanTrax to be highly professional and we were kept informed of progress throughout. Our vessel arrived ahead of schedule, cleaned and ready for us to continue to the Mediterranean".

Andrew Murphy - Private Client

OUR CLIENTS INCLUDE

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The number 1 delivery company of Europe

Track & trace, reliable boat delivery, to france, to portugal, to the netherlands, spain to the netherlands, florida to newyork, to several boat shows & yacht of the year test days, experiences.

Welcome to Wright Marine

Experts in yacht delivery &  bespoke maritime training.

Our Services

Crew / Skipper Provision

Tuition & Guidance Tailored to your Vessel

Marine Consultancy

Project Management 

Get to Know Us

Wright Marine are specialists in yacht delivery, crew supply, maritime training and marine project management, our staffing team includes experienced mariners, many holding MCA & RYA qualifications along with qualified engineers, project managers and logistic specialists. 

Our yacht delivery skippers are based throughout the UK and the Mediterranean, however our yacht delivery crew are happy to travel globally to move your vessel in a timely and efficient manner. All our Skippers are RYA Yachtmaster & Cruising Instructor certified as a minimum. We are able to cater for a wide variety of Sail and Power vessels including classic vessels.  

Our yacht delivery customers include both commercial and private individuals from a wide variety of departure ports. We understand how important your vessel is to you, as such our delivery skippers and crew take every effort to ensure your vessel arrives in the best possible condition. During delivery preparation all surfaces are wrapped to protect delicate interior edges.

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Wright Marine LTD

Our yacht delivery skippers are based throughout the UK and the Mediterranean, however our yacht delivery crew are happy to travel globally to move your vessel in a timely and efficient manner. All our Skippers are RYA Yachtmaster & Cruising Instructor certified as a minimum. We are able to cater for a wide variety of Sail and Power vessels including classic vessels.  Our yacht delivery customers include both commercial and private individuals from a wide variety of departure ports. We understand how important your vessel is to you, as such our delivery skippers and crew take every effort to ensure your vessel arrives in the best possible condition. During delivery preparation all surfaces are wrapped to protect delicate interior edges.

The Service

An in-depth description of the services we offer can be found on our services page . As a leading international yacht delivery company, Wright Marine can transport yachts of any calibre throughout the globe. Regardless of their age or size, we offer yacht transport for both sail and powerboats. 

Both our skippers available for hire and our marine trade professionals are dedicated to ensuring that your vessel can be delivered in a timely and efficient manner. Furthermore, many of our skippers meet higher standards that exceed the basic requirements. Examples include our leading skippers who are also qualified RYA instructors.

Within our global yacht delivery package, customers can expect to receive a number of extra services. This includes a 190+ point safety check of your vessel, technical office support for our delivery teams from the UK, live satellite tracking of your vessel and reports upon completion of both national and international yacht deliveries.

Why choose Wright Marine?

We understand the importance of two-way communication during the process of yacht delivery. That’s why our service offers yacht owners the opportunity to monitor the yacht transportation process from start to finish. But our services don’t finish there. Wright Marine also has highly sought-after connections with those running RYA certified courses and can assist in accessing tuition covering sail and power cruising schemes and personal watercraft and powerboat tuition. 

Skipper Hiring Opportunities

At Wright Marine, our valuable and trusted crew is at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we offer a number of hiring opportunities for those in the UK who meet our set standards to gain valuable experience in global yacht transportation. 

Those who are interested should be prepared to travel internationally and adhere to all requirements that ensure the safe delivery of the vessel as well as demonstrating the principal values that relate being a skipper in the UK.  

As professionally certified individuals our delivery skippers and crew have exemption status as professional mariners. This allows them to travel to and from the vessel to undertake the deliveries. In addition we also undertake a through clean of all internal surfaces and external surfaces. All delivery crew take additional sheets to cover bunks to ensure clients soft furnishings are not marked in any way.

Customer Satisfaction as Standard

From start to finish our dedicated delivery team will be in touch throughout the whole process, we try to ensure you are fully satisfied with routes and processes prior to passage being undertaken. Our senior skippers are more than happy to introduce themselves and discuss any questions you may have. Our satellite tracking facility ensures you can monitor your vessel during the passage, upon completion our office team will be in touch to gauge your feedback and pass on any concerns which the crew may have expressed. Our office crew are on hand 7 days a week to answer any questions you may have.

If there are any unforeseen issues our yacht delivery skippers are experts in working with and liaising with marine services to ensure any delays are minimised. Wright Marine also has dedicated and highly experienced marine engineers on hand to offer expert remote assistance on all manner of engine and power issues. All decisions regarding the delivery are taken with seamanship and the safety of both the crew and vessel in mind.

Wright Marine LTD Yacht Delivery Skippers are renowned worldwide for their professionalism, seamanship and dedication to service, our feedback and repeat custom speaks for itself.   

Yacht Delivery Excellence

At wright marine we specialise in u.k & international yacht deliveries. our dedicated team ensures that we fully understand your yacht delivery needs.  we work with you at every step of your voyage to ensure your vessel is delivered in the safest  possible way.  our highly experienced and qualified team of professional skippers and crew ensure the highest standards are maintained for your vessel throughout the delivery process. our satellite tracking facility allows you, as the owner to view the progress of your delivery, giving you peace of mind throughout the whole process..

70,000 Nautical Miles Logged in 2024

See below some of our most memorable Yacht Deliveries. 

Contact us today for a Quote and add your Vessel to the list!

Yacht Delivery 

Cartagena SPAIN - ANTIGUA 

4000 Nautical Miles

Yacht Delivery

LAGOON 46 

Larochelle FRANCE - SEYCHELLES

7000 Nautical Miles

Nautilus Pilothouse 40 

Nova Scotia CANADA - IRELAND 

5000 Nautical Miles

JEANNEAU 60 

Gruissan FRANCE to Athens GREECE

1250 Nautical Miles

SEAHORSE DIESEL DUCK 462

Sai Kung HONG KONG SAR - Subic PHILLIPINES

750 Nautical Miles

LAGOON 42 

Get in Touch

Find out more about our Yacht Delivery Services today

[email protected]

+44 0203 951 2030

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Dock to Dock 

Yacht delivery, yacht delivery  worldwide.

Welcome to the world of elevated yachting experiences at  Dock to Dock

Voyage support, sailing course.

Yacht delivery

Lovely boat but in the wrong place? Consider our yacht delivery services

Thank you, Graham and crew. What proof of excellent and professional service. (Mr H Vitters, S/Y Adventure)

Your Yacht Skipper can provide an experienced, fully insured commercial RYA Yachtmaster/ MCA Master 200 to deliver your yacht to the perfect location to begin your next cruise or compete in the next regatta.  Yacht delivery can be the most efficient and cost-effective way of relocating your yacht – whether you are on board or not.  Your skipper will look after the boat as if it were his own and deliver it in a seaman-like and timely way to your preferred location.  Typical delivery destinations are

• To and from the Solent
• Along the south and east coasts of the UK
• Channel Islands
• Northern France and Brittany.

Read a report on a recent successful UK yacht delivery.

Please note that Your Yacht Skipper does not provide yacht delivery services to and from destinations in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean.

All yacht deliveries will be undertaken by Graham – who speaks fluent French – or another suitably qualified and experienced commercial RYA Yachtmaster as skipper.  The client can provide the crew or we will find crew if necessary.   Contact us to discuss your needs and to receive an estimate of the costs involved.

Deliveries completed in 2020 and 2021 included the following, with links to Facebook posts and photos:

For your peace of mind, all our skippers have Skipper’s Liability Insurance which covers €6million liability for damage to the yacht and €3million for injury to a crewman or a 3rd party in the event of gross negligence. This supplements the yacht’s own insurance whilst a delivery is being undertaken.

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SW Yacht Delivery

Sail and power, yacht delivery.

Simon has been delivering yachts safely for over 20 years.

We provide a professional yet personal service to our clients, ensuring yachts are delivered with minimum stress. We achieve this with diligent pre planning, keeping our clients informed at every stage and taking great care of the precious vessels entrusted to us.

Assisted Delivery

This is a bespoke service to fit the experience and objectives of our clients. Many yacht owners like to be on board when relocating their yacht. Planning takes into account the abilities of those coming on the trip to ensure a safe, enjoyable and rewarding passage.

Own boat tuition

Helping the less experienced sailor gain the confidence to skipper their own yacht or those with more experience push themselves further.  Simon will help clients to nail take offs and landings, improve boat handling, passage planning and execution.

Simon is an RYA/MCA Yacht Master Ocean Sail and Power who has been on the water since childhood and has over 30 years in the trade.

An accomplished seafarer and professional yacht charter and delivery skipper with over 60,000 sea miles. Simon has had a long and varied career incorporating sail training, international deliveries and charter work in a range of craft including performance yachts, multi-hulls, gaff rigs and power vessels. Bringing a professional knowledge of marine vessel systems, ship & crew safety management meteorology, navigation and seamanship.

Louise, Simon’s wife and business partner, is his main crew or dedicated person ashore. We also have regular crew who join us for longer passages.

We can guide you through the processes and logistics involved and give you a realistic overview of how we will manage the delivery of your vessel.

Simon also offers own boat tuition and assisted delivery

Maurice Griffiths Ketch

‘Good Hope’ and Jono safely delivered to their new Mooring

In August 2021, Simon and Louise took me and my newly aquired 1968 39ft wooden ketch from Plymouth to Largs in the Firth of Clyde.

Simon’s depth of experience combined with Louise’s organisational skills resulted in an enjoyable stress-free passage.

A very efficient delivery team and also good company.

Jono Stokes

August 2021.

Simon from swyachtdelivery.com helped me on my newly aquired sailing yacht from Lochinver to Peterhead and did a fantastic job.

Simon is very experienced and professional which shows in all aspects around a boat. Furthermore, he fitted right in with the family who also appreciated him very much.

My highest recommendation to you Simon for any kind of boat delivery and I will certainly call on him again should I be in need for another delivery.

August 2019

Assisted Claus with the delivery of his Najad 380 from Lochinver to Peterhead.

Delivery from Pwllheli to Falmouth

From the first phone call to the yacht arriving safe and sound into Falmouth we were never less than 100% satisfied with Simon and his team.

Throughout the whole process Simon was the consummate Pro and never gave us a single  moment to be concerned. He has the unusual knack of at the same time being extremely laid back and chilled whilst leaving you in no doubt that everything was very much under control. This combined with his very personable approach made the whole experience a lot less stressful than it might ordinarily have been.

Overall, a great Skipper who delivered an excellent service and one in whom we’d have no reservations at all in using ourselves again or indeed recommending to others.

Simon Bennett

[email protected], simon: 44 (0) 7916 076 191, louise: 44 (0) 7411 463 969, simon willoughby yacht delivery partnership.

Simon Willoughby and Louise grieg-gran

greenhill, Burgmanns Hill, lympstone, devon, EX8 5HP

Recent deliveries

Some of our favourites.

Newlyn to Lisbon on a 70s Joemarin 34

They don’t build them like they used to! We loved sailing this small Finnish yacht. Even after the steering cable had snapped mid biscay, and we were forced to steer with the emergency tiller for approx 500Nm! 

On a side note, if you need to sign into the EU, go to Cascais Marina! Without a doubt the easiest place to get your passport stamped in Portugal.

829Nm – 7 days

Southampton - Sardinia on the new Swan 48

Another fantastic delivery with more than its fair share of complications! 

Autopilot malfunctions, electronic helix furler failures and elusive Sardinian customs officials in Alghero were some of the challenges, however the 8.5 knot average speed, freshly caught tuna and minimal engine use easily made up for it. 

2089 Nm – 17 days including a pitstop in Gibraltar 

Ipswich - Isle of Wight on a Tradewinds 35

Captain Jim took command of this yacht delivery. The yacht’s new owner needed her transported to the River Medina for maintenance before they embarking on their trip south to the Mediterranean. With the changing weather, timing was crucial and allowed us to sail for the majority of the passage across the Thames and then west along the South coast.

200Nm – 2 days

February 2024

Eastbourne - Hayling on a Trident Voyager 35

Leaving Sovereign Harbour at the crack of dawn to catch the west bound tide, Skipper Toby and crew Johanna rounded Beachy Head dressed for the weather! Anchoring in Chichester Harbour overnight, awaiting high tide and sunrise before making shallow and unlit approach to Hayling Island Yacht Company Marina. Our first yacht delivery of 2024 was a great success!

60Nm – 2 days 

January 2024

Plymouth - South Portugal on a Clipper Ketch 42

One of our favourite yacht deliveries of 2024. After an exhilarating beam reach Biscay crossing, including a very close encounter with a breaching Sperm Whale, thick fog engulfed us for 24 hours and we felt very fortunate to have RADAR. 3 days later we were greeted in Vila Real de Santo António by a delighted Owner. Good luck to Inca and her owners on their Mediterranean adventures, glad we could help.

1018 Nm – 8 days in  October 2023

Apha 42 commissioning, tuition and delivery!

Before our team set off to deliver this Alpa 42 ketch to Plymouth, Our Skipper, Toby, was in Lisbon readying her for sea after a major refit. Once ready, Owner and family jumped onboard for a windy week of Own Boat Tuition on the Portuguese coast. After which the rest of the YDUK team arrived in Cascais for the delivery to Plymouth, UK. Check out the delivery video, featuring friendly dolphins, Man O war jellyfish and even fireworks, on our Instagram or Facebook profile!

760 Nm –  5 days plus 7 days Own Boat Tuition 

September 2024

Falmouth to Pwllheli on Tandx Lady

Having carried out extensive checks on this motorsailer before  delivery, we set off to round the Lizard peninsula on a beautiful Sunday morning. Before we were even past the Helford river, the engine battery light had come on due to a fault in the alternator wiring. After a quick diagnosis we fixed the problem using jump cables and rejoiced at seeing the battery back at 14V and charging. Check out the delivery video on our Instagram or Facebook page!

240 Nm – 2 days in  August 2023

Owner assisted delivery Swansea to Isle of Man

Our client of course did not want to miss out on his first sailing yacht’s maiden voyage and he did not regret it. Both skipper, Toby and the client were marine wildlife enthusiasts and so, took many short detours to observe bait balls and feeding dolphins whilst rounding St. Davids Head in the Westerly. Then came an exhilarating 24 hour run north to the West coasts of the Isle of Man. 

Check out the yacht delivery video on our Instagram or Facebook page!

245 Nm –  2 days

• Yachting Monthly
• Digital edition

Yacht deliveries: How to get your yacht from A to B

• August 15, 2023

If you need help getting your boat from A to B after a purchase or for a cruise, a delivery crew might be the solution, says Ben Lowings

Perhaps your treasured yacht is in the wrong place at the wrong time? Does it need to be somewhere else, soon? Don’t have the time, crew, or experience to remedy this yourself? Well, it might be time to look into yacht deliveries.

While it sounds simple, handing over your pride and joy to another skipper you’ve never met before can be a daunting prospect, so I’ve collated some advice on what the process would look like. We’re talking about sailing your vessel from one port to another here, as opposed to loading it on a larger vessel, for which a range of choices are available.

This article concentrates on hiring a crew to sail your yacht to its destination. While it is possible to hire private individuals (more on that later) we’ve spoken in depth to three popular UK companies you’d be likely to come across in your search.

The largest is Wirral-based Professional Yacht Deliveries Ltd. PYD – set up in 1995 – which completes 180 deliveries a year. ‘We deliver most yachts around the UK, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean,’ PYD’s snazzy website declares. Another option – also with slick homepage, social media presence and international reach but with European focus: Halcyon Yacht Delivery Ltd, established in 2010, based in Falmouth. A smaller outfit is Merseyside-based Wright Marine Ltd. They’re doing good business in the wake of the pandemic.

Other operators are out there. Amsterdam-based Sevenstar Yacht Transport’s a popular choice for transporting your yacht by ship.

Some boats and passages will need particular experience from a crew

Choosing a yacht delivery company and skipper

In general, it’ll be the company that selects a skipper, so you need to pick the company you most feel happy with. They’ll forward you, the owner, the candidate skipper’s sailing CV. Naturally, you’ll be given the right of refusal. Peter Kloezeman, PYD’s operations director, says they have 40 skippers on the books who are ‘some of the most qualified in the industry. All are RYA Yachtmaster Offshore as a minimum. Our most experienced skippers have over 400,000 miles logged.’

With PYD, your delivery crew will be allocated based on whether they have experience of your proposed trip and experience sailing your make, model and size of yacht. ‘For a transatlantic [crossing] we’d allocate a skipper with extensive ocean experience,’ says Kloezeman. ‘The skipper will usually have completed the crossing several times.’ For her owners, a yacht is often a member of the family. Handing her over can be disconcerting. It’s something the industry is keenly cognisant of.

Peter Green, managing director of Halcyon Yacht Delivery acknowledges this. ‘Having your yacht delivered and entrusting it to another skipper is clearly a big decision. It’s crucial you find a delivery company or skipper that’ll care for her as you would.’ As an owner you’ll not be alone if, when departing the marina, you waggle your loved one’s anchor and whisper a few words of endearment. But it’s best to leave the delivery crew to do their work. ‘Owners must trust the company to look after the yacht as if it were their own,’ says Kloezeman.

It’s no different with Wright Marine. Simon Pendlebury, managing director, explains: ‘We look at the vessel’s particulars. Is it a classic? Pre-1900s? Does it have any quirks?’ The job’s offered out to skippers felt best suited to the role.’

As an owner you could expect a call from Wright with the particulars of the skipper and their past work. You would then be contacted by the Wright Marine skipper, who will introduce themselves.

Ben Ainslie’s yacht Rita, being delivered by PYD

Solo skipper setups

But what about selecting a skipper and contacting them directly oneself? ‘It can be the cheapest option,’ says Halcyon’s Peter Green, but ‘it’s not without risk.’ A solo skipper-for-hire, he argues, won’t have backup. A shore support team is preferable, he says. ‘If the [freelancer] has to cancel the job you could be left in the lurch.’ Green recalls one yacht left in Spain.

A panicked owner had engaged a solo skipper to bring the boat from Greece to the UK. ‘For personal reasons we assume, he decided to end the journey early and tied the yacht up in a random marina in Spain. The owner was sent an email with the address of the marina and little else. We stepped in quickly and sent a team out to finish the delivery.’

You need to check crew references. ‘Always check testimonials,’ Green says. The firms’ dedicated staff have a CV bank. The list is curated. New applicants are reviewed. Resumes of sailing experience will have been updated before they are sent on to you for information. Qualifications will have to have been recorded accurately and kept valid, and RYA course certificates do expire.

The gig economy we’ve become used to is relevant here. Hiring a freelancer is akin to paying a courier or a driver for a ‘ride-sharing’ service. One unnamed ‘lone wolf’ worked UK deliveries around Caribbean seasons. He took a boat from Plymouth to the Solent, where he picked up another yacht and brought her back. ‘Two deliveries in 24 hours.’ An adventurous seadog’s boast. Fun to sail with maybe, but there’s a risk they’re a bounty hunter with less of a plan about safety.

You’ll need to make sure paperwork, navigation and safety equipment is all in order, or ask the skipper to provide them

How to prepare your boat

You’ll be sent an extensive pre-delivery checklist. Should you plump for Halcyon, you’re likely to get a verified checklist which will also be received by the skipper who then checks this upon arriving at the boat. As an owner, you’ll need to be clear about where you’ll be if you’re not planning to be on or next to your yacht at the agreed handover time.

You’ll be expected to have settled bills at the departure berth. The same goes for bookings and customs arrangements made at the destination – although Halcyon, as with the other companies, will be able to provide as much assistance towards this as appropriate. ‘The process at PYD is the same,’ Peter Kloezeman affirms. Should you be engaging PYD, your checklist will be the starting point for PYD to ‘build an overall picture of how prepared the yacht is, depending on the intended passage.’

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Prep for an ocean crossing differs from a Channel hop. ‘PYD can supply certain equipment if it is missing from the yacht such as EPIRBs, satellite phones and communications, and jackstays,’ explains Kloezeman. ‘Ideally you – as the owner – will arrange for the yacht to be fully equipped for the intended delivery passage.’

You’ll need to have checked – or organised someone to do so in lieu of the owner, particularly if you’re getting a new purchase delivered – the engine, generators, electrical and charging systems, and batteries. Kloezeman says they ought to have been well maintained and checked before the crew arrives. You will need to have cleaned the sails, hull and propellers. ‘If there’s an issue with the yacht when the crew arrive – such as the batteries are dead or the hull is covered with growth – this will incur delays whilst these issues are dealt with, which increases the overall costs to the client.’ If you’ve engaged Halcyon, their rules echo PYD’s. ‘Check systems work and are serviced,’ says Peter Green. ‘If it’s a new yacht to you then have a survey. It’s also best to have an engine serviced.’

If you’re buying a second hand boat, get a full survey done before the delivery

Yacht deliveries insurance cover

In the UK you are legally bound to insure the vessel for the duration of the delivery for the waters to be traversed, in the appropriate coding. The skipper provides for themselves and the crew. Skipper Liability Insurance covers damage to third parties while the delivery captain is in charge. Check your skipper has it.

Prices for this product have shot up since Brexit. For UK work, it’s obtainable from Pantaenius (through its German arm). Delivery companies will check these documents and take the owner through the policy wording. Peter Kloezeman explains: ‘Liability insurance will cover the yacht for skipper/crew negligence only. The yacht needs to have its own hull policy.’

Experienced crews can help with complexities and paperwork, such as when navigating the Panama Canal

Hull insurance is standard practice. It’s rare indeed for a yacht to put to sea without some sort of insurance policy. Peter Green explains: ‘Owners should be able to lodge an appropriate claim with a reputable insurance company if something doesn’t go to plan. If something does go wrong, then you should be able to make a claim with your insurers. All reputable skippers will have liability insurance. Make sure that your insurance coverage is suitable for the trip. Inform them that a delivery company or skipper will be taking charge.’

Simon Pendlebury puts it most succinctly. ‘Unfortunately, there is no insurance product on the market which would effectively allow the same asset to be insured twice (once for owner, once for the delivery skipper).’ Mr Pendlebury confirms all Wright Marine skippers have their own Skipper Liability insurance. ‘We ask all owners to ensure the skipper is also noted on their policy.’

A good skipper will go over the boat thoroughly

Taking responsibility

The skipper must know if the vessel’s seaworthy, how much fuel, water and battery there is, and any technical issues, or temporary fixes. There’ll be phone conversations, notes taken, and usually the company, the skipper and the owner create a WhatsApp group to exchange photos. These could be anything from the thousand bits-and-bobs on a yacht. But they often feature the log impeller, notes on the chart table, and the whereabouts of the keys.

‘The collection of keys’ is top of Simon Pendlebury’s catalogue of items for your pre-delivery checklist. Alongside the delivery company documents is your vessel paperwork – registration papers, liferaft certificates, etc.

If your vessel’s been sold to you, for instance, through a brokerage, then the broker’s name and contact details must be supplied. A contract is drawn up, specifying when payments are required plus any extra advance payments such as for fuel. This, notes Pendlebury, is common when delivering diesel-thirsty motor vessels.

You’ll need to ensure passports and papers are in order. C1331 UK immigration forms and forms for departure clearing ports are vital for EU trips. Brexit has complicated things too. A skipper with good local language skills (and EU citizenship) is, if not worth their weight in gold, at least a great saving of your time.

Skippers will have their own comprehensive lists to work through

If you have contacts made through reciprocal membership of foreign yacht clubs, for instance, they’re helpful to delivery skippers trying to source items or surmount red tape. Individual skippers’ resourcefulness comes into its own here, which Kloezeman recognises. ‘[PYD’s] skippers have a good understanding of the processes involved and are well versed in presenting and obtaining the correct paperwork when required, particularly where VAT is concerned. At PYD we also have links with several other yacht management companies who can advise further on VAT and vessel, import and export from the EU.’

Of course, the circumstances vary with vessel and voyage. For his part, Pendlebury promises Wright Marine will work with you to assist in ‘ensuring all Customs arrangements are completed on time and according to countries’ rules. A lot of owners find this as valuable as the delivery itself.’

Paperwork is irksome but necessary, for as Kloezeman notes, it sometimes isn’t practical for you to be physically present for the handover. ‘We’re happy for clients to speak to the skippers on the phone whilst they’re on board if they need to discuss anything.’ PYD’s office takes over liaison between you and the skipper once the delivery has started. ‘We will keep them updated on the delivery progress. We have a GPS tracker that we send on our deliveries.’ You can expect to receive a link that updates daily.

Proper navigation kit on board will help the skipper do their job properly

Safety kit and spares

Your safety gear must be compliant with SOLAS V, insists Halcyon’s Peter Green. This includes an in-date liferaft, in-date flares, fire extinguishers, a first aid kit, man overboard recovery equipment, radar reflector and jackstays. ‘We always do engine checks before we leave anywhere,’ affirms Halcyon regular Mark Treacher (a prominent social media skipper with excellent YouTube videos).

If you’ve bought a second-hand yacht, everything should have been taken off the vessel after the point of sale. This underlines the necessity for delivery crews to keep tools. You will probably have tools of your own, but it might not be practicable to get them to the boat. The crew might have, for example, their own spare impeller (complete with service kit), not to mention suitable pliers for prising out defunct blades.

You can expect help if required from PYD, Wright Marine and Halcyon. Peter Green says, ‘We encourage our clients to send a full inventory list.’ Green also advises you to ‘make sure there is sufficient domestic equipment’ such as cooking pans, plates and cups.

This applies to vessels with these items in the existing inventory. In the situation where a yacht has been acquired recently from a broker, these items may be missing, in which case the skipper would normally purchase them and invoice you. The skipper could equally bring their own reserve stock and take it off the boat afterwards. Most delivery crews will only need a bare minimum of galley equipment to minimise on washing up. It follows that the skipper would not be buying a walnut chopping board and pricey Damascus steel cooking knife and then invoicing you for them!

Navigation will be carried out by highly experienced crew

You needn’t worry about your pristine upholstery either. Crews for these three delivery firms supply their own sleeping bags. Halcyon advises using double sheets to protect soft furnishings. Peter Green’s crews are warned to be watchful for harness clips scratching saloon fittings.

Kloezeman specifies that PYD crews ‘spend at least 24 hours checking all the systems and preparing the boat for passage, even for short deliveries.’ A good chunk of this time might well be given over to a job shown on PYD’s website: enthusiastically bubble-wrapping everything in the saloon. ‘All vulnerable areas of woodwork and upholstery below decks are encased in protective cladding,’

PYD’s ops director explains, ‘to avoid any inadvertent damage while at sea in rough conditions. It’s a long and time-consuming process but very worthwhile to ensure that the joinery stays well protected during the delivery passage. Similarly, mast spreaders are normally wrapped and taped to avoid making alloy rub marks on the main sail that can frequently occur when sailing downwind for extended periods.’

Working as delivery crew is a great way to build experience and sea miles

Become a delivery crew

On the flip side of the coin, it’s relatively easy to become a member of a yacht delivery crew, and this is a great way to build sea miles, gain experience, and sail with some highly qualified skippers.

Most yacht delivery companies will insist on delivery skippers being commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Ocean or above. Unsurprisingly, many will also be RYA Yachtmaster Instructors. If you want to be a skipper, you’ll need to be highly qualified. If you want to crew, however, it’s a great way to learn, as well as sail on passages and to destinations you may otherwise never get to visit.

First mates will be qualified skippers, though requirements for qualifications vary. Crew need to be able to competently stand a solo watch at night. This means you’ll generally have an RYA Day Skipper certificate.

Yacht delivery agencies will ask for a fee to join their list and will want to see a sailing CV. You will then be notified of opportunities as and when they come up. You may also receive discounts on further training as well as equipment.

A delivery boat will be actively sailed, but shouldn’t be pushed too hard

Will my boat be safe?

You’ll find that communication before, during and after the trip is paramount. WhatsApp, a text, a request to the destination marina over VHF radio to relay all is well to you via phone, even a check call relayed by the Coastguard – all of these may be used.

PYD claims its quotations are ‘calculated conservatively’ to give an estimated passage time. The Wirral-based market leader says allowance for weather delays and boat prep is built in. ‘Skippers will sail as much as possible but will not push the yacht unnecessarily. A delivery passage is not a race.’

PYD’s rivals in Falmouth and St. Helens would absolutely agree. ‘On arrival at the destination,’ Kloezeman says, ‘the crew will usually spend around 24 hours completing the final wash and clean down before departing.’

If bad weather is encountered, crews will sail conservatively and not push too hard

Problems and damage

As an owner, you’d be advised not to worry unduly. Things do go wrong, but severe damage is extremely rare, and loss almost unheard of. Peter Green admits the element of risk can ‘never be fully eliminated’. A delivery company worth its salt will be striving to keep that quantity as close to zero as possible. ‘With any sailing journey,’ says Green, ‘there is of course some risk.’

Halcyon, PYD and Wright Marine skippers must report to you at the delivery’s conclusion on the condition of general maintenance items, any general wear and tear, any recommendations or improvements or any damage caused during the passage by the crew.

You can expect to be told straight away of incidents resulting in damage. Green points to Halcyon’s engineer support service, whereby crew can phone for help diagnosing and making repairs. ‘One of the most common problems we see is dirty fuel,’ he says. ‘If you’ve bought a yacht that hasn’t been used for a while, the risk of diesel bug increases. It’s often something that won’t come to light until the fuel tank’s been shaken around a bit at sea.’

A lot of Wright’s deliveries involve vessels which have recently changed hands. ‘As such,’ Pendlebury says, delicately, ‘defects may not be known.’ On one trip from Southampton to Newcastle upon Tyne, diesel bug clogged the injectors and the engine gave in just past Chichester. The boat was brought alongside under sail to Haslar marina. ‘The vessel required a complete polishing of its fuel and an overhaul of injector assembly but was able to resume the delivery a week later.’

Deliveries continue overnight. You will get tracking updates about the boat’s whereabouts

Avoiding problems

Making your expectations clear and having your consents in writing beforehand is key when resolving issues arising from company procedures and insurance. ‘Any pre-existing damage is photographed,’ assures Pendlebury. ‘This is then chatted through with the owner, or photos are sent to them prior to departure. This helps to prevent any misunderstandings later down the line.’

Similarly – and Kloezeman and Green would undoubtedly agree – ‘If skippers feel conditions don’t permit safe passage, they’ll seek shelter. The easiest way to avoid misunderstandings is to carefully read the contract and ask questions.’ Delivery firms emphasise that the crew’s only task is moving a vessel from A to B in seamanlike fashion. ‘Owners are welcome to join a delivery,’ says Kloezeman, ‘although the delivery crew will routinely sail 24 hours a day with only brief stops as necessary for fuel, provisions or to avoid severe weather.’

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When considering the procedure for transporting a yacht there are two options to take into account. You can decide to go down the delivery by road option or, you can arrange delivery by sea. Transporting yachts from one destination to another by sea will always be carried out by a fully qualified RYA captain.

The type of boat transport you opt for will be dependent upon your budget, as well as the current location and planned destination for the yacht. Reputable yacht delivery companies will be able to advise you of the best options; choosing a company that transports your yacht safely and securely, is where deliveryquotecompare.com can help.

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Delivery Skippers and Crew

What qualifications do you need to get a delivery job?

Many delivery skippers operate on a freelance basis but there are also delivery companies that coordinate deliveries and use a pool of regular skippers and crew. The arrangements concerning payment for deliveries to either skipper or crew will vary greatly from one company or delivery to the next so it is always best to ensure you are clear on what has been agreed prior to committing to anything.

The delivery of a private yacht by a paid or unpaid delivery skipper and crew is not of itself commercial use of the yacht. However, if there are paying passengers on board then the voyage is indeed classified as commercial in which case the vessel, skipper and crew will need to comply with any relevant commercial codes of practice and manning requirements relevant to the flag state under which the vessel is registered.

In the case of commercial passages under the UK codes of practice, the vessel will need to be coded and the skipper will also require a commercial endorsement on their Certificate of Competence. If the yacht is already coded and the only people on board are the delivery skipper and crew then it is likely that the voyage will still be treated as commercial.

The qualifications required to skipper a delivery will depend on where the delivery will take place and also the nature of the passage. However, the skipper will owe a duty of care to the owner of the yacht and, as such, even for non-commercial passages, as a minimum it is recommended that the skipper holds the RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore Certificate of Competence and should also have a significant amount of experience on vessels of a similar style and size to that being delivered. For longer passages and transocean deliveries, it is strongly recommended that the skipper holds the RYA Yachtmaster™ Ocean Certificate of Competence. The higher your qualification and greater your experience the more appealing you will be to a potential delivery company.

Delivery skippers and companies will often require crew. This is a great way to get some extra miles and experience under your belt. First Mates are genrally paid, but for deck crew more often than not you only expect to be reimbursed for your travel costs rather than receiving payment for the delivery. The RYA provides a range of courses across many subjects that will assist in preparing you well for a role as a delivery crew member. Experience gained on a passage is invaluable and coupled with some quality training will see you grow in confidence in your boating abilities. You can find opportunities for delivery skippers and crew here on Crewseekers in our Sailing Opportunities section.

Qualifications, experience, endorsements and other aspects of this information can change on a regular basis - for the very latest information consult:

www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/careersadvice www.gov.uk/topic/working-sea/training-certification

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Uk & european yacht delivery service, skipper and crewing opportunities call me..

We have a need for commercially indorsed skippers and experienced crew. Call or email for details, pay etc.

We pride ourselves in our professional approach to yacht deliveries. Our professional skippers strive to complete the safe and efficient delivery of every yacht we handle and every single boat we deliver is handled with kid gloves. Our Captains are all licensed by the USCG and are familiar with most systems found on board today. 

PYD will never "push the vessel" or rush a delivery unless absolutely necessary for the safety of the crew and the vessel. If heading out to sea is the prudent decision to avoid dangerous weather or coast lines, we will do so. If ducking into a protected harbor to ride out a storm is the right thing to do, we will do that as well. We are professional sailors with lots of experience and will always put the care and safety of your pride and joy as our highest priority.

Whether you want your vessel delivered down the coast or across an ocean, PYD will provide you the same professional care, reliability, and safety in every delivery made.

Areas of Operation

We currently have Skippers and crew that are familiar with the US East Coast, Bahamas, Caribbean, US West Coast, Mexico, Panama, Central America and Canada's West Coast to Alaska as well as Indonesia. We can also deliver trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific. We keep in touch with skippers and crews from all parts of the world so if we don't have a knowledgeable skipper for the areas in which you wish to sail, we can usually find one that is reputable, knowledgeable and trustworthy for you.

Professional Captains and Crew

Our captains have a USCG 100T Master's license or better. They also have more than 20 years of experience overall and at least five years experience in the waters of the related delivery. They are honest and prudent sailors that will never take unnecessary risks with your boat.

Fair and Transparent Fees

Our delivery fees and associated costs are not the lowest in this business, but they are certainly competitive for what you get. We are completely transparent and upfront with all our fees and estimated costs. A written estimate will be provided before you make a commitment to use our services.

Local Knowledge

Our delivery skippers and crews all have a solid knowledge of the local waters they will be sailing in. They are also up to date with all foreign customs, laws and regulations of the local countries and ports of call.

Our Service

Every delivery begins with an estimate of the delivery. We will send you a questionnaire that will help us develop the estimate. If the estimate is accepted, we will provide a sailing contract and a quote for our fees along with payment terms.

The next step is an inspection of your vessel. We do charge for this service but will wave this fee if you have a current USCG Inspection Certificate. Nevertheless, we need to be confident that the vessel is capable of making the journey at hand as well as familiarize ourselves with the vessel and its equipment. We may make a recommendation to repair certain items or remedy certain deficiencies. An estimate of this work will also be provided if necessary and, if approved, performed before departure.

Once we are comfortable that the vessel seaworthy and safe to sail, we will provide a final sailing plan with our predictions of weather and contingencies. While underway, if something breaks, we will attempt to repair it ourselves. If necessary, we may have to pull into an appropriate port and hire the necessary work. This will also be done with the owners full approval.

We will make every attempt to reduce stress on your boat by avoiding bad weather, holing up or even heaving to. If the seas are rough we slow down so the vessel doesn't pound (we like to sleep, too!) We are never in a hurry with our deliveries unless the weather forces us do so.

On arrival, we will make all the necessary reports to the local officials and clear the vessel for sailing in the local waters. We will also perform a thorough wash down of the exterior and clean the interior leaving the vessel in as good a condition as possible.

Pregnant woman among 12 who drowned after overcrowded boat capsizes in English Channel

A pregnant woman and six children were among 12 people who died after their boat sank trying to cross the English Channel.

The French coastguard confirmed the deaths after up to 65 people were rescued off the coast of Cap Gris-Nez on Tuesday.

The local prosecutor’s office said 10 females and two males were killed in the incident, according to the BBC .

French interior minister Gerald Darmanin wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that dozens of people had been crammed in a boat less than seven metres long.

“I came to Boulogne-sur-Mer to meet and thank the emergency services, the police and the sailors who were able to save 51 people from drowning by intervening very quickly and very courageously,” he said.

Mr Darmanin described it as a “terrible shipwreck”, adding: “The provisional toll stands at 12 dead, two missing and several injured.

Je suis venu à Boulogne-sur-Mer rencontrer et remercier les secours, les forces de l’ordre et les marins qui ont pu sauver 51 personnes de la noyade en intervenant très vite et très courageusement. Une « embarcation » de moins de 7 mètres de long où 70 personnes se sont… — Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) September 3, 2024

“All government services are mobilised to find the missing and take care of the victims.”

UK home secretary Yvette Cooper branded the incident “horrifying and deeply tragic” as she said “vital” efforts to dismantle “dangerous and criminal smuggler gangs” and to boost border security “must proceed apace”.

Mr Darmanin said most of the people on the boat were believed to have been from Eritrea, and most of the victims were women.

Speaking to reporters at Boulogne-sur-Mer, where the casualties are being treated, he said as many as 75 people can be put on boats ahead of a crossing attempt.

“These boats go down very, very quickly, this is the reason why a lot of people get killed on these journeys,” he said, according to a BBC News translation.

Olivier Barbarin, the mayor of Le Portel near Boulogne-sur-Mer, said that the bottom of the boat “ripped open”.

All of the people on board the dinghy ended up in the water, many of whom were not wearing life jackets, and several of the migrants needed emergency medical care, according to the French coastguard.

Ms Cooper said she was in touch with Mr Darmanin and was being kept updated on the situation, adding: “Our hearts go out to the loved ones of all those who have lost their lives, and all those who have been seriously injured.”

The latest casualties mean more than 30 people have died in Channel crossings so far this year.

Before Tuesday, the French coastguard had recorded at least 19 Channel crossing deaths in 2024, including nine since the start of July. Last year, 12 migrants were thought to have died or were recorded as missing.

The International Organisation for Migration, which records Channel crossing deaths as part of its Missing Migrant Project, estimates 226 people including 35 children are missing or have died after attempting the crossing as of January this year.

Ministers have raised fears about people smugglers cramming more and more migrants onto increasingly poor boats to risk the crossing.

Last month in its annual assessment of crime threats to Britain, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said the dangerous journeys were a “persistent and high-volume threat” and the number of people attempting the crossing – coupled with people-smuggler tactics which see migrants “wading out to boats or transferring from taxi boats” – had “increased the likelihood of fatalities”.

Charities and campaigners reiterated calls for urgent changes to curb Channel crossings as they lamented the latest loss of life at sea.

Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said the number of deaths in the Channel this year had been “shockingly high” and the “devastating trend shows the urgent need for a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to reduce dangerous crossings”.

“Enforcement alone is not the solution,” he added, as he called on the Government to open up more safe and legal routes for asylum seekers.

Terrible naufrage dans le Pas-de-Calais, au large de Wimereux. Le bilan provisoire s’élève à 12 personnes décédées, 2 disparus et plusieurs blessés. Tous les services de l’État sont mobilisés pour retrouver les disparus et prendre en charge les victimes. Je me rends auprès des… — Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) September 3, 2024

Anna Kettley, deputy executive director of the UK Committee for Unicef, said: “We are deeply saddened to learn that children were amongst those that lost their lives in the Channel today.

“Every child, no matter where they are from, deserves safety, protection and a chance for a better future.

“We urge the UK Government to put the protection of children at the heart of their policies and to ensure there are safe and legal routes to enter the UK.”

The incident comes as more migrants arrived in the UK after making the journey and the number of Channel crossings reached the highest seven-day total for the year so far.

Pictures showed men, women and children being brought ashore in Dover, Kent, by lifeboats and Border Force on Tuesday.

Home Office figures show 351 people made the journey in six boats on Monday, taking the provisional total for 2024 to date 21,403.

This is 2% higher than this time last year (20,973) and 16% lower than at the same point in 2022 (25,387), according to PA news agency analysis of government data.

The latest figures also mean 2,109 migrants arrived between August 27 and September 2 – the highest number recorded for any seven-day period so far in 2024.

The previous highest number of arrivals in a seven-day period this year was 1,758, which occurred as recently as August 26 to September 1, PA analysis shows.

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