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Opportunity Charters (opportunitycharters.com)
Jurisdiction: England & Wales
A division of: UNIVERSAL MARINE SERVICES LIMITED Company number 08179836
These Terms and Conditions govern all bookings, charters, and services provided by Opportunity Charters (“the Company”). By paying a deposit, confirming a booking, or boarding the vessel, the client (“the Customer”) agrees to be bound by these terms on behalf of themselves and all members of their party.
● Deposit: A non-refundable £200 is required to secure the date of the charter. No booking is confirmed until this deposit is received cleared.
● Final Balance: The remaining balance must be paid at least 30 days prior to the scheduled departure date. Or in cash/card on-site immediately before boarding, at the absolute discretion of the Company.
● No-Shows and Lateness: If a customer fails to arrive at the designated departure point at the agreed time, the trip will not be delayed past a reasonable window, and the full charter fee remains payable. No refunds or partial credits will be issued for no-shows.
● Skipper’s Authority: The Skipper has absolute statutory authority under UK maritime regulations to cancel or curtail a trip if weather, sea conditions, or visibility are deemed unsafe for sailing or fishing.
● Adverse Weather Rescheduling: In the event that a charter is cancelled by the Skipper due to adverse weather or mechanical failure, the Customer will be offered an alternative date or a full refund of all monies paid to date. The Company is not liable for any secondary accommodation, travel, or consequential costs incurred by the Customer. If the Customer has purchased a ‘fish and stay’ package at the dedicated company accommodation, any reschedule by the Skipper will include a rescheduling of the accommodation, and where this is not possible, a refund of the accommodation portion of the charter package fee.
● Customer Cancellations: Cancellations made by the Customer less 30 days before the scheduled trip forfeit the deposit. Cancellations 7 days of departure require full payment of the total charter fee.
● MCA Compliance: The vessel is strictly coded and inspected under the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Small Commercial Vessel Code of Practice. All persons on board must comply immediately with all safety instructions delivered by the Skipper and crew.
● Skipper’s Lawful Command: The Skipper retains absolute authority over the vessel’s navigation, itinerary, and passenger safety. The Skipper reserves the right to terminate the charter immediately and return to port if any passenger behaves recklessly, aggressively, or fails to comply with safety orders. No refund will be given.
● Alcohol and Substance Policy: The Company operates a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal drugs and substances. The consumption of alcohol is heavily restricted and permitted entirely at the discretion of the Skipper. Drunkenness or intoxication will result in immediate termination of the trip without refund.
● Safety Briefing: All passengers must attend and actively listen to the mandatory safety briefing conducted before the vessel gets underway.
● Catch and Release Licence: Where the charter is targeting Big Game species, specifically Atlantic Bluefin Tuna or Shark species, fishing is strictly governed by a Catch and Release licence in force under UK law and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
● Fish Wellbeing & Handling: To protect the wellbeing and conservation status of these species, all fish must be handled in strict accordance with scientific and welfare guidelines as directed by the crew. This includes minimal handling, avoiding removing large specimens from the water is prohibited, and ensuring swift processing and hook release
● Mandatory Release: All Tuna and Shark specimens will be measured and photographed beside or inside the boat as permitted by regulations, and must be returned safely and alive to the sea immediately thereafter. No retained catch of these species is permitted.
● General MMO Compliance: All other angling activities must strictly comply with UK Marine Management Organisation (MMO) fishery limits, including Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) and bag limits (such as European Seabass retention restrictions). All illegal catches must be returned to the sea immediately.
● Business Promotion and Angling Reports: The Company regularly takes photographs and videos of key catches, angling activity, and life on board during the charter. These media elements may be published on our official website (opportunitycharters.com) and
social media channels to promote the business, showcase customer experiences, and inform the angling community of current catch sizes and trends.
● Customer Right to Opt-Out: Customers who do not wish to be photographed, or do not want their image or their catch’s image used on public platforms, must explicitly advise the Skipper before or at the start of the charter. The Skipper and crew will fully respect and act upon these wishes, ensuring such images are not captured or published.
● Under-18 Media Restriction: To ensure complete compliance with UK child protection guidelines and GDPR, the Company will not publish photographs or video footage of children under the age of 18 on social media channels or the public website under any
circumstances.
● Privacy Policy Reference: For detailed information regarding how the Company processes personal data, handles digital media, and protects your rights, Customers should refer to the Privacy Policy available on the website at opportunitycharters.com.
This disclosure is mandatory for any medical information that is reasonably likely to impact an individual’s health and safety during the charter or affect their safety and extraction in the event of an emergency. It is not necessary to tell us information that is not reasonably likely to impact upon your trip or your extraction in an emergency situation.
For the health and safety of all people on board, customers are required to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions, physical limitations, severe allergies, or other pertinent information at the point of booking and always prior to boarding the vessel, to a member of Opportunity Charters staff.
In an emergency, should an individual become incapacitated or otherwise unable to relay their own medical history due to unforeseen events, Opportunity Charters and its crew will disclose this relevant medical information to emergency medical services and first responders. All medical information provided under this clause is processed with the highest level of
confidentiality and in strict accordance with UK GDPR; customers should refer to the Privacy Policy on the website at opportunitycharters.com to understand how this safety data is protected.
● Limitation of Liability: The Company maintains comprehensive public liability insurance as required by UK maritime law. However, passengers join the charter entirely at their own risk. The sea environment is inherently unstable; the Company, Skipper, and crew accept no liability for personal injury, illness, or medical emergencies unless directly caused by the negligence of the crew.
● Personal Property: The Company is not responsible for the loss of, or damage to, any personal belongings, electronics, clothing, or equipment brought on board by Customers.
● Gear Loss and Tackle Damage: All high-quality rods, reels, and specialized tackle provided by the Company are loaned in good faith. If any gear is lost overboard or broken due to customer negligence, misuse, or failure to follow instructions, the Customer may be financially responsible for the replacement cost of the items, at the Skippers discretion.
These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The parties irrevocably agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim