“The MYBA Charter Agreement (published by the Worldwide Yachting Association, formerly the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) is the international gold-standard contract for crewed superyacht charters. High-quality yachts in Greece and the Mediterranean are expected to operate under standard MYBA Western Mediterranean Terms, where the weekly base charter fee covers the vessel, full crew, and marine insurance, while running expenses are managed transparently through a 30%–40% APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) and applicable charter VAT.
Why High-Quality Yachts Operate Under MYBA Terms
When chartering a crewed motor yacht, sailing yacht, or superyacht in Greece or the wider Mediterranean, the contract you sign determines how your funds are held, what happens in the event of mechanical delay, and how fuel and provisioning costs are accounted for.
Aris Drivas Yachting has been a Corporate Member of MYBA since 2005. Across our verified fleet of 20m to 50m+ yachts, MYBA Western Mediterranean Terms are the expected standard because they separate fixed vessel ownership costs from variable guest consumption:
| Cost Component | Covered Under Base MYBA Fee? | Typical Amount / Rule | How It Is Settled |
|---|
| Yacht, Crew & Ship Insurance | Yes (Included) | 100% of weekly base rate | 50% deposit on signing; 50% balance 30 days before embarkation |
| Greek Charter VAT | No (Added to Base Fee) | 6.5%–13% (20–30m) · Usually 5.2%–6.5% up to 13% (30m+) | Itemised on Page 1 of the MYBA contract; paid with charter fee |
| APA (Fuel, Food, Drink, Ports) | No (Working Guest Fund) | 25%–35% (20–30m) · 35%–40% (30m+ motor yachts) | Paid with final balance; Captain provides full receipts; unused balance refunded |
| Crew Gratuity | Discretionary | Customarily 10%–15% of base charter fee | Paid at the Charterer's discretion after disembarkation |
Key Clauses Every Charterer Should Know
Clause 1 & Page 1 Schedule: Embarkation, Disembarkation & Cruising Area
Page 1 of the MYBA E-Contract locks in the exact embarkation port (such as Athens — Alimos, Flisvos, or Lavrion), disembarkation port, embarkation/disembarkation times, maximum number of guests sleeping aboard, weekly charter fee, applicable Greek or Mediterranean VAT rate, and the agreed APA percentage.
Clause 2 & Clause 7: Delivery, Crew & Captain's Authority
The Owner warrants that the yacht will be delivered at the embarkation port clean, seaworthy, fully insured, and crewed by a properly qualified Captain and crew. While the Captain follows the Charterer's reasonable itinerary requests, Clause 7 empowers the Captain to alter routes if wind (such as a strong July/August Meltemi in the Cyclades) or sea conditions would compromise guest or vessel safety.
Clause 8: Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) Accounting
Unlike all-inclusive packages that bake a hidden margin into food and fuel, the MYBA APA is strictly a pass-through working fund:
- Paid 30 days prior to embarkation alongside the final 50% charter balance.
- Held in a regulated Stakeholder escrow account and transferred to the Captain before provisioning begins.
- Covers fuel for main engines, generators, and tenders; food and beverages requested on your Preference Sheet; Corinth Canal transit fees; marina berthing; and customs formalities.
- Prior to disembarkation, the Captain presents a complete ledger with original receipts. Any unspent APA balance is refunded to you in full, and any overrun is settled directly.
Clause 9 & Clause 12: Delay in Delivery & Breakdown Protection
One of the primary reasons experienced charterers insist on MYBA contracts is mechanical remedies:
- Delay in Delivery (Clause 9): If the yacht is delayed at embarkation due to mechanical failure, the Owner must either provide a pro-rata refund for the lost time or, if the delay exceeds the contractual threshold (typically 24–48 hours on a 7-day charter), the Charterer may cancel with a 100% refund of all monies paid.
- Breakdown or Disablement (Clause 12): If the yacht suffers machinery failure after embarkation that disables cruising for more than 12–24 consecutive hours, the Charterer is entitled to a pro-rata refund of the charter fee for the period of disablement (or termination and return to port if disablement exceeds 48 hours).
Clause 20 & Clause 23: Stakeholder Escrow & Arbitration
Funds paid under a MYBA Charter Agreement are held by an accredited Stakeholder in a designated client escrow account. The Owner typically receives only the initial deposit for positioning/preparation as permitted by contract terms, while the balance is safeguarded until embarkation.
Greek VAT Rules Under a MYBA Charter Agreement
In Greece, commercial charter VAT is governed by Greek maritime tax law and applied strictly to the base charter fee (never to the APA):
- 20m – 30m Crewed Yachts: Commercial Greek charter VAT is 6.5% to 13%, depending on the approved cruising itinerary.
- 30m – 50m & 50m+ Superyachts: Commercial Greek charter VAT is usually 5.2% to 6.5% (and up to 13% depending on vessel registry, commercial certification, and high-seas routing).
- Static / Single-Day Port Events: The full 24% Greek VAT rate is rare for multi-day charters and applies only to static events in port or daily charters without high-seas passage.
For a full breakdown of weekly base rates across size categories and build eras, see our 2027 Yacht Charter Cost Guide or explore our Greece Yacht Charter Fleet.