What is the 12 person yacht rule?

The 12 person yacht rule limits crewed charter yachts to a maximum of 12 guests — a threshold set by SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations adopted by the International Maritime Organization. Beyond 12 guests, the vessel is classified as a commercial passenger vessel and faces a far more demanding regulatory regime: SOLAS-compliant safety equipment, expanded crew certifications, additional inspections, and commercial insurance. The 12-guest limit is why nearly every charter yacht advertises eight to twelve passenger capacity — boats designed to carry more would require fundamental redesigns. Most charterers don’t notice the rule because comfort caps capacity well before regulation does: 10 guests on most yachts is already crowded. Browse yachts by guest count.