COVID-19: SUPERYACHT MARINAS REGULATIONS
Covid-19
Ports of entry for ships and marinas are now being monitored and new regulations have been updated from day to day as all countries react to Corona Virus in an attempt to stop the spreading and go back to business as usual.
Please consider all the following regulations are constantly changing and being updated on a day to day basis. Here is the list of countries and their regulations as per 19.03.20
ITALY
What can a crew member/contractor do and what it is forbidden?
According to Italian legislation, crews and contractors must comply with the Prime Ministerial Decree of 9 March, transfers are allowed only for:
- proven working needs - situations of necessity (food shopping / pharmacy) - health reasons
- return to your home residence
all equipped with self-certification
Can the crew/guest embark/disembark?
What kind of documents will they need, other than the self declaration?
YES - Crews and guests can only embark or disembark for proven needs. real emergencies, such as medical reasons.
Shore passes are not issued and in / out stamps are not granted in all ports.
Please note that from March the 17th (noon) until further notice, SCHENGEN boundaries are closed; Meaning all travels between non-European and European countries for a month at least are suspended.
For each individual movement, crew members and contractors must have their own self-declaration to show the reason for their movement, in case of checks by the police authorities.
Is it compulsory to provide a maritime declaration of health upon arrival/departure?
YES - Maritime Health has imposed for all YACHTS (commercial / private), no matter where they are coming from, the completion of maritime declaration of health.
Ministry of Health Circular no. 3821 of 06/02/2020
Can a yacht depart/arrive? What documents are necessary, other than the regular practice?
YES - Yachts are allowed to leave/arrive in/from Italian ports.
In addition to normal clearance procedures, all crew members must fill in the Italian self-declaration, explaining the reasons for moving to another port.
Also, Captains must, no matter where the yacht is coming from, 12 to 6 hours prior arrival in port (depending on the area), send an email, through Agent, to Port Health Authority including:
1) Health Declaration, specific for Covid-19 (see attached);
2) Crew list and pax list;
3) Sanitation Exemption certificate;
4) Last 14 ports of call;
5) LPS request
6) Captain’s declaration all crew on board are in good health and where/when they embarked.
In case of a negative report, the Port Health Authority will grant the maritime declaration of health, reserving the right to verify, with access on board, if the declarations made are true. Until no notice from Port Health Authority, entrance in port is not allowed.
From March the 17th Europe isolates itself from the rest of the world. For at least a month, you will not be able to enter the European continent or even leave the Schengen area.
Exemptions for European citizens who return home, for commuters, but also for healthcare workers and researchers apply.
Are exempted from the maritime declaration of health: the units that fall in the same port from which they left or that in any case make journeys on national ports provided that during navigation they did not embark other people in offshore operations or rescue at sea .
Is there a quarantine expected for them upon arrival?
YES - all persons entering Italy by air, rail, sea and road transport, even if asymptomatic, are obliged to immediately communicate their entry to the prevention department of health company responsible for the territory, and are subject to health surveillance and fiduciary isolation for a period of 14 days. If COVID-19 symptoms arise, they must report this situation promptly to the Health Authority. (Decr. 120 17/03/20 Min Sal + Min Trasp.)
Other countries in the European continent are aligning to the Italian regulations in terms of limiting the free movement of persons, blocked on March the 17th for a month, due to COVID 19
FRANCE
Blocked any arrival and departure. All ports and some French airports are closed and many flights cancelled until further notice, including The Principality of Monaco.
Regarding crew members leaving the boat to return home, before departure please make sure to be in touch with the relevant Embassy and flight company in order to have confirmation of the permission to fly.
Starting from 19/03/2020, third-country nationals will be not admitted to the SCHENGEN area. Sailors in transit are affected by this prohibition. STAMP IN and Transit Visa are suspended on French territory.
SPAIN
Closes land borders, except for goods, for a minimum of 15 days.
Access will be only allowed for: Spanish people, residents, cross-border citizens, people who prove they are moving for emergency reasons and diplomatic personnel. Crews resident in Spain must return immediately to their home address. Arrivals in the Spanish islands are forbidden even to disembark guests.
Spanish ports remain open for goods only.
Yachts located in Spain can only depart in case of force majeure but must request permission.
MALTA
In Malta due to the Covid19 virus all is changing everyday.
The latest news up-date (still to be confirmed) is that all in-coming flights into Malta may be suspended as from next Saturday and until further notice.
With regards to yachts visiting Malta unfortunately the local Port and Health Authorities are treating each request on a case by case basis therefore there is no hard and fast rule in place at present.
Any yacht arriving in Malta subject to Port and Health Department confirmation will be placed in immediately Quarantine for 2 weeks and that means that no crew shall be allowed to go ashore and no crew changes shall be possible during the quarantine period.
Only provisions (until they last) shall be allowed to be delivered on board.
CROATIA
Currently waiting to hear in the next few days what the new rules will be for all civilians living in Croatia and an update on the border movement.
Right now foreigners arriving must go in quarantine for 14 days and that’s all on their own expense.
Few small boats arrived and crew/passengers were taken into quarantine.
Boarders aren’t closed yet.
MONTENEGRO
All ports are closed until 03/04, as well as all borders with Croatia, Albania and Serbia. Even though Montenegro hasn’t had any COVID-19 yet (being the only country in Europe at the moment), all measures have been put in place, in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
Restaurants, pubs and bars have been closed.
Citizens are not allowed to travel to FRANCE, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, DENMARK and ITALY.
Whoever is coming back from those countries is set into compulsory quarantine.
GREECE
All ports and marinas are closed until 19/04.
CARIBBEANS
Closed ports and airport travels restricted to residents in:
Anguilla, Saba, St Marteen, St Barths, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Curaçao, St Lucia
Islands that have started restriction procedures – but are still open for the time being (restricted access to arrivals from few countries):
St Vincent, Florida, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, The Bahamas, Grenada, The Grenadines, Turks and Caicos, Florida and the USA, Puerto Rico, Florida.
Islands that are still open – with no / few restrictions in place yet (restricted access to arrivals from few countries):
St Thomas (no restrictions yet) /Cuba (no restrictions yet) /Dominica/Barbados.
Our team is constantly monitoring the situation and will keep sending updated information.