Catamaran Shipping Overseas: Yacht Carrier or Breakbulk
Why a 40′ sailing catamaran's 6.8 m beam rules out containers and flat racks, what a yacht carrier and breakbulk cost by region from our cost model, how to prepare the twin hulls, and the duty in six markets.
On this page
Size, weight and the methods that fit
A Lagoon 40 is 11.7 m long, 6.8 m wide and 11,000 kg. That beam is nearly three times a flat rack's width, far past anything a container ship will stow, so the only ways to ship it are a yacht carrier, which lifts it onto deck, or a breakbulk ship.
Where a yacht carrier calls, it is the better buy: $30,300–47,700 to the Bahamas against $53,500–123,000 as breakbulk. Elsewhere breakbulk can be cheaper at the low end, but its sailings are less regular.
- Two cradles, one under each hull, joined so the bridgedeck carries no load.
- Lifted with spreader bars wide enough to keep the slings off the topsides.
- Mast down and carried on deck with the boom and rigging.
| Class | Reference model | L × W × H (m) | m³ | Weight (kg) | Methods |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40′ sailing catamaran | Lagoon 401 | 11.7 × 6.8 × 3.9 | 310.3 | 11,000 | Breakbulk · Yacht carrier |
Price by region
The region columns are all yacht carrier or breakbulk. The gap between the Caribbean and the Gulf is wide because carriers run frequent Florida to Caribbean loops but only occasional sailings toward the Gulf.
Each cell is the lowest-priced method for that reference boat to the region's featured destinations, from a U.S. East or Gulf Coast port: the range runs from the published "from" price to the typical high. Port-to-port; the importer's side is separate.4,5,6,7,2,8,3,9,10
| Reference boat | Mexico & Central America | Caribbean | Mediterranean Europe | UAE & Gulf |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40′ sailing catamaranLagoon 40 | $31,800–60,900BreakbulkLowest in MexicoModel estimate | $30,300–47,700Yacht carrierLowest in BahamasModel estimate | $34,900–60,900BreakbulkLowest in ItalyModel estimate | $44,200–77,900BreakbulkModel estimate |
Every method on one lane
To Panama the two methods overlap: breakbulk is cheaper at the low end, the yacht carrier at the high end. The choice usually comes down to which sailing fits the owner's dates.
Preparing it for the ship
- 1
Dinghy and davits
The tender comes off the davits and is lashed on deck or crated; the davit arms are secured so they cannot swing during the lift.
- 2
Mast and boom on deck
Unstep the mast at the loading port and cradle it on the coachroof or alongside, with spreaders and instruments removed.
- 3
Strap positions agreed
Mark sling positions clear of saildrives and rudders, from the builder's lifting plan; the loading master checks them before the lift.
- 4
Seal both hulls
Close seacocks in each hull, pump out both holding tanks, run fuel low and lock every hatch; solar panels and wind generator blades are secured or removed.
Where they ship and what it costs
Charter fleets drive the catamaran market: the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, Panama's San Blas islands, and the Italian and Croatian coasts in the Mediterranean. Australia's Whitsundays fleet buys used cats from the U.S. when local stock is short.
40′ sailing catamaran: lowest-priced method by destination
- Bahamas5,6,7,4,11,12,13$30,300–47,700by Yacht carrierDuty 0%Country guidePrice this route
- Dominican Republic5,6,7,4,14,15$30,300–47,700by Yacht carrierDuty 20% · 0% U.S.-built (CAFTA-DR)Country guidePrice this route
- Panama5,6,7,4,2,16,15,17$31,800–60,900by BreakbulkDuty 15% · 0% U.S.-built (U.S.-Panama TPA)Country guidePrice this route
- Italy5,6,7,4,2,8,3,18,19,20$34,900–60,900by BreakbulkDuty 1.7% · 0% U.S.-built (Regulation (EU) 2026/1455)Country guidePrice this route
- Croatia5,6,7,4,2,8,3,18,21,20$34,900–60,900by BreakbulkDuty 1.7% · 0% U.S.-built (Regulation (EU) 2026/1455)Country guidePrice this route
- Australia5,6,7,4,2,22,23,15,24,25$53,500–91,900by BreakbulkDuty 5% · 0% U.S.-built (AUSFTA)Country guidePrice this route
Duty and import taxes
Most cruising catamarans are built in France or South Africa, so a $450,000 CIF Lagoon pays the standard rate even when bought in the U.S.: $108,333 in Italy and $69,750 in Australia. A charter boat that stays under temporary admission avoids the bill while it remains a visiting yacht.
Duty and import taxes on a $450,000 CIF value
| Country | Tariff line | Standard duty | U.S.-built | Taxes after duty | Total, standard | Total, U.S.-built | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahamas11,12,13 | 8903 | 0% | no preference | Processing fee 1% (max $1,500) · Environmental levy · VAT 10% | $47,200 (10.5%) | — | Read on the official tariff |
| Dominican Republic14,15 | 8903 | 20% | 0%CAFTA-DR | ITBIS 18% | $187,200 (41.6%) | $81,000 (18%) | Confirm with your broker |
| Panama16,15,17 | 8903.93 / 8903.3x | 15% | 0%U.S.-Panama TPA | Selective consumption tax (ISC) 10% · ITBMS 7% | $159,098 (35.4%) | $79,650 (17.7%) | Confirm with your broker |
| Italy18,19,20 | 8903.93 / 8903.3x / 8903.2x | 1.7% | 0%Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 | VAT 22% | $108,333 (24.1%) | $99,000 (22%) | Read on the official tariff |
| Croatia18,21,20 | 8903.93 / 8903.3x / 8903.2x | 1.7% | 0%Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 | VAT 25% | $122,063 (27.1%) | $112,500 (25%) | Read on the official tariff |
| Australia23,15,24,25 | 8903 | 5% | 0%AUSFTA | GST 10% | $69,750 (15.5%) | $45,000 (10%) | Read on the official tariff |
Sources20
Prices on this page come from our boat and machinery cost model, reviewed October 26, 2026, the same figures as the rate hubs and the calculator. They are port-to-port and per unit; duty and the importer's side are shown separately.
Sources
- 1. Manufacturer boat specifications (LOA, beam, weight, bridge clearance), Boat builders' published specifications (Manufacturer), accessed October 26, 2026
- 2. Yacht transport sailing schedule and pricing guidance, Sevenstar Yacht Transport (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
- 3. Float-on/float-off yacht transport, DYT Yacht Transport (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
- 4. Seaway Export lane rate card (destination pages), Seaway Export (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 5. RoRo bunker adjustment factor and high & heavy surcharges, Wallenius Wilhelmsen (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 6. RoRo surcharges and high & heavy acceptance, Höegh Autoliners (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 7. Vessel-operating common carriers: published tariffs, Federal Maritime Commission (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 8. Yacht and powerboat shipping, Peters & May (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
- 9. Middle East and Red Sea situation: land bridge and booking status, Maersk (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
- 10. Customer Advisory 25-2026: Middle East situation update (UAE), CMA CGM (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 11. Frequently imported items: processing fee, environmental levy and VAT base, Bahamas Customs Department (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 12. Pleasure vessels: cruising permit fees by length, Bahamas Customs Department (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 13. Pleasure vessel import and cruising permits, Bahamas Customs Department (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 14. Arancel de Aduanas e ITBIS, Dirección General de Aduanas (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 15. U.S. free trade agreements: tariff schedules, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 16. Arancel Nacional de Importación, Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 17. Navigation permit for foreign-flag pleasure craft (Circular DGPIMA-009-2024), Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 18. TARIC: EU customs tariff, chapter 89, European Commission (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 19. Import VAT and pleasure craft (unità da diporto), Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 20. Guidance on pleasure craft: temporary admission for 18 months (Delegated Regulation 2015/2446, art. 217(e)), European Commission (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 21. Import of vessels and VAT, Croatian Customs Administration (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 22. BICON: used machinery and vessel import conditions, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 23. Working Tariff: chapters 84, 87 and 89, Australian Border Force (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 24. Importing a yacht: 5% duty and 10% GST, Australian Border Force (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 25. Bringing superyachts into Australia: control permits and 12-month temporary importation, Australian Border Force (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a catamaran go on a flat rack?
Not a cruising cat. At 6.8 m it would overhang a 2.4 m rack by more than two metres a side. Small beach cats with removable crossbeams are the exception.
Is float-on, float-off available for catamarans?
On some routes. A semi-submersible yacht carrier floods its deck and the boat motors in; it suits wide boats well but sails on a fixed seasonal schedule.
How long does it take to ship a catamaran to the Mediterranean?
Yacht carriers cross from Florida to the Mediterranean in roughly two to three weeks once loaded, but sail only a few times a year, so booking early matters more than transit time.
Does the U.S.-built duty rate apply?
Only if the boat was built in the U.S., which few production cats are. Origin follows where the boat was built, not where it was sold.
What survey is needed before loading?
A condition survey with photographs, which the carrier and insurer both use if there is a claim, and the builder's lifting plan for the slings.
Ready for an exact quote?
Tell us what you're shipping and where it's going — we respond with a locked-in rate within 1 business day.