Michelle Terorotua Presents on Yacht Compliance at SEALI 2025

Last week, CLM’s Director of Maritime, Aviation & Compliance, Michelle Terorotua, had the honor of presenting at the **Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute’s (SEALI) 2025 Seminar** in San Antonio, Texas.

The annual SEALI Seminar brings together admiralty attorneys from across the United States for in-depth discussions on maritime law and practice. As the global yacht industry expands — and with vessels increasing in size, complexity, and value — there is growing demand for technical expertise at the intersection of customs, compliance, and high-value marine assets.

Michelle Terorotua presenting at the SEALI 2025 Seminar

Bringing Real-World Customs Insight to the Legal Community

Michelle’s presentation, “When Your Ship Comes In,” offered a comprehensive overview of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requirements for yachts entering U.S. waters. She covered pre-arrival documentation, entry classifications based on vessel purpose, and the operational realities of customs processing.

Highlights included:

• Understanding Entry Options — How the intended use of the vessel — sale, demonstration, repair, or pleasure cruising — dictates the type of customs entry, such as formal entry, Temporary Importation under Bond (TIB), Boat Show Bonds (BSB), or Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) admission.
• Environmental and Materials Compliance — Michelle touched on emerging regulatory requirements related to materials used in yacht construction, emphasizing the importance of transparency and documentation when importing vessels.
• Tariff Exposure and Trade Policy — With shifting U.S. tariff rules and reciprocal trade measures in effect, she reviewed key policy changes impacting yacht imports and onboard goods.
• Insights on Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs) — Drawing on her vast experience overseeing FTZ operations, Michelle explained how these zones provide a compliant framework for deferring formal entry while maintaining full Customs oversight. She emphasized the importance of proper documentation, supervision, and strict adherence to usage restrictions.

Her session helped bridge operational reality with regulatory frameworks, offering the audience actionable context they can bring back to clients navigating yacht entry or ownership transitions.

The Growing Relevance of Yacht Compliance

As the U.S. becomes a more active hub for superyacht ownership, service, and charter activity, compliance is no longer just a back-office concern — it’s a strategic priority. Michelle’s perspective underscored the need for close coordination between legal counsel, customs brokers, and logistics professionals to ensure vessels enter and operate in U.S. waters lawfully and efficiently.

We’re proud to have Michelle representing the CLM team and contributing her deep industry knowledge to conversations that shape the future of maritime law and operations.

Compass Logistics & Marine (CLM) is a Fort Lauderdale-based, veteran-owned logistics company that specializes in customs brokerage, import/export, trucking, and warehousing services. With a worldwide partner/agent network and key certifications — including IATA and FMC, CLM provides customized, cost-effective, and compliant logistics solutions through specialized divisions — CLM Tech, Yacht, Marine & Aviation, General, and Industrial.

Check out our website or email us at quotes@compasslogisticsmarine.com to get a quote on your next order today.