Spain has relaxed its ‘use and enjoyment’ rule for charters beginning in Melilla, enabling the country’s exclave on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast to reduce its VAT rate to just 0.5% this coming season. The rate is available to yachts that have ‘Union goods’ status, on...
Law and Regulations
Caribbean Yacht Destinations Update
Prepared: 10th December In advance of the Caribbean season, we present an overview of the COVID situation in most of the region’s most popular yacht destinations. Regulations are subject to change, so in order to ensure you have the most accurate and up-to-date...
On-Board Health Control Certificate (SSC) now required for ALL yachts (Over 400GT) in the Balearics
Under WHO health regulations issued in 2007, the Europe-wide requirement for Ship Sanitation Certificates had been applied by Spanish authorities, until now, only to commercial vessels over 500 GT. We have been advised by the Balearic branch of the Department for...
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CREW FLYING HOME ON TRANSIT VISAS
Spanish police issue new guidance for issuance of transit visas Spanish immigration police have issued new guidelines for the issuance of Schengen transit visas to seafarers departing the zone or travelling to join another vessel within the territory. Stipulations...
Mallorca is OPEN!
Last week Spain re-opened its borders to tourists from the EU/Schengen zone, as well as a select number of non-European countries, including the United Kingdom. Without quarantine or COVID-testing requirements, Spain is one of the most easily-accessible places for...
Need to clear out this year?
Looking beyond the imminent Mediterranean cruising and charter season, you may need to complete your TA and exit EU waters later this year. Consider doing this by visiting Melilla. Melilla is part of Spain, but is not in the Customs Territory of the EU (TAU) or the...
Heading to Spain from the Atlantic? Need quarantine exemption?
There have been many discussions in the past week about quarantine requirements for yachts arriving in Spain from the Caribbean. By the letter of the law, as issued by the central government, all seafarers are exempt, without exception. This ruling does not...
Recreational boating enters phase 1
May 11, 2020 Today, Monday, May 11, the de-escalation for recreational navigation begins for Spain’s autonomous communities moving to Phase I, including the Balearic and Canary islands. The Order TMA/400/2020, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE,...
CLEARANCE COMPULSORY FROM EU TO MONACO
Cruising to Monaco next week for the #MonacoYachtShow? Any yachts sailing from the Balearics to the non-EU waters of Monaco need to obtain clearance to exit the EU from border authorities. Upon return, documentation must likewise be presented in order re-enter....
WARNING: Posidonia Vandals Named and Shamed on Twitter
The Twitter feed of the Balearic Islands’ Ministry of Agriculture, the Environment and Regional Planning (CAIB) has been working overtime the past few weeks. The Ministry tracks, names and shames yachts that fall foul of the area’s strict anchoring laws, designed to...