Apr 28
by admin in SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

16 Reasons to cruise the Balearics this season

Being located in Palma de Mallorca, we’ll always be the first to promote the virtues of the Balearic Islands. But with many popular yacht destinations subject to restrictions and the Mediterranean season looming into view, let us make a case why the Balearics should be at the top of your list this summer… © The Aviation Centre www.theaviationcentre.com 1 Carry on cruising The islands are open to private and commercial yachts of any flag. Yachts are able to arrive into Spanish waters and can cruise as normal with up to ten guests on board. 2 Hospitality is open Yes, restrictions remain, to keep everybody safe, but restaurants, cafés, salons, spas, shops, markets and public spaces are all open to be enjoyed. 3 Mother nature Our waters and coastline have enjoyed their enforced rest over the past year. Our natural assets have been revitalised and our waters are looking clearer than ever. 4 the best of everything Whether it’s the finest ingredients you need, or specialist supplies and support, Mallorca is more than a naturally stunning destination. Our backyard has everything the chef, crew and engineer need. 5 World class medical care Never before has medical support been at the forefront […]
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Apr 28
by admin in Events, SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

ESTELA Captains’ Breakfast at the Palma Superyacht Show, June 3-6, 2021

On the occasion of the Palma Superyacht Show, ESTELA will be hosting two free, invitation-only breakfast seminars at a neighbouring venue. Aside from an agreeable way to start the day and meet up with friends and colleagues, we will host brief presentations and Q&A on topical issues affecting the superyacht industry. Suggested topics of interest include: Chartering in Spain (licensing, VAT and regulations); Brexit effects on yachting (VAT, RYA, employment, travel, taxation, goods importation, flag state issues); COVID challenges and best practice on board. If you have a suggestion for a topic you would like to learn more about from a relevant expert, please tell us at palma@estelashipping.net If your organisation is interested in sponsoring the event and any other of our activities around the Palma Superyacht Show, please contact francesco.gennai@estelashipping.net or telephone +34 638 81 68 03.
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Apr 28
by admin in SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

On-Board Health Control Certificate (SSC) now required for all yachts over 400GT

First announced last October, in the Balearics an On-Board Health Control Certificate (SSC) is now a requirement for all yachts over 400GT, private or commercial. Previously, the threshold stood at 500GT.Yachts below 400GT are exempt, though it may be advisable — particularly for charter yachts — to certify that the vessel complies with WHO sanitary standards.The SSC covers items such as air, water, aircon, oil and waste systems, medical facilities, food sanitation and bathing facilities. Vessels over 400GT must be able to present a valid SSC to Sanidad, logged on the SHIPSAN platform. For any queries or to arrange your inspection, please contact us onpalma@estelashipping.net
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Apr 16
by admin in SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

COVID rules/regs around the Med

SPAIN No yacht restrictions, subject to health declarations and PCR tests (<72 hrs) Hospitality is open only on terraces, until 5pm, curfew at 10pm Groups may be no more than 10 (no restrictions on household mixing), including on board Shops are open, with some capacity restrictions and closing at 8pm for non-essential items Arrivals by air from South Africa and Brazil, including crew, must quarantine for 10 days, or release after 7 days with PCR Non-Schengen tourism is not allowed, with some exceptions (incl Australia, NZ, China/HK, S. Korea) ITALY Restrictions depend on colour classification (white, yellow, orange, red) No cruising permitted and crew may only disembark for essential shopping and medical reasons On shore, hospitality may open until 6pm, with curfew from 10pm Crew arriving from the Schengen area are not obliged to quarantine, but a PCR test (<48hrs) is required. A maritime health declaration is required for all yachts arriving from other countries Authorities are planning a drive to fully vaccinate Italy’s smaller islands to re-boot tourism. Islands planned include Ischia, Procida and Capri, as well as Elba. Sardinia and Sicily are out of scope. FRANCE, CORSICA & MONACO Non-European flagged yachts may not enter or anchor in […]
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Apr 16
by admin in SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

Order toiletries and consumables from the UK?

Creams, lotions and other toiletries are considered pharmaceutical products in Spain and can only be imported from outside the EU by licensed medical agencies. If you have previously ordered dermatological or toiletry products directly from UK suppliers, please note that these will now be intercepted and returned by customs, or destroyed. To avoid problems with importation of pharmaceuticals from the UK, please order via the likes of Amazon.co.uk (not third parties on the platform), as these still appear to arrive unhindered. However, please check shipment terms before ordering. Better still; if your products are available from eg. Amazon.de/.es/.fr, order from there instead, to ensure smooth delivery. A handy tool is https://euzon.eu/, which enables you to search all of Amazon’s European sites in one go. If we can help you source anything, please contact us: palma@estelashipping.net
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Apr 15
by admin in Coronavirus, Crew Assistance & Support, SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

Need a PCR test in the UK? Get a home test kit from Randox for just £60!

Travelling to or from the UK and need to obtain a PCR test? Courtesy of ESTELA SHIPPING, yacht crew can now get 50% off home test kits from the UK’s largest test provider, RANDOX. The full price of the kit is £120, but apply code ‘estela’ to reduce the price to only £60! For more information and to order your kit, visit https://www.randoxhealth.com/covid-19-home-testing-kit/. At checkout, simply enter the code estela to receive the discounted price.  Please feel free to share this post with any friends, family or colleagues in need of a test.
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Mar 25
by admin in Crew Assistance & Support, SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

Global Airfreight Forwarding by ESTELA Shipping

As the ESTELA Shipping name suggests, we provide worldwide freight forwarding services. But did you know we also do airfreight? Whether it is delivering spare parts to berthed or anchored vessels, or the return of spare parts, we can arrange for transportation and documentation. We also offer global end-to-end large cargo services, from Full Container Load (FCL), Less than Container Load (LCL) to Airfreight, completing all import/export formalities along the way. ESTELA handles special customs operations, including bonded and free warehouse storage and distribution, as well as temporary imports. Contact us for freight forwarding at: ESTELA Barcelona              forwarding.bcn@estelashipping.net ESTELA Palma    forwarding.pmi@estelashipping.net
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Mar 02
by admin in Coronavirus, Crew Assistance & Support, Law and Regulations, SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

OFFICIAL travel information sources for crew (and non-crew)

Global travel eligibility checker: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/#(note that all airlines’ policy is guided by IATA)Travel to Spain, general:For general travel to Spain: https://reopen.europa.eu/en/map/ESP/7001Spain health declaration: https://www.spth.gob.es/Balearic health declaration: https://viajarabaleares.ibsalut.es/formulario/Travel to Spain from the UK (any nationality):Spain/UK travel ban (in force until 31-Mar): https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2021/01/01/pdfs/BOE-A-2021-1.pdf(note that crew joining vessels are exempt, subject to requisite docs)UK government COVID travel guidance for Spain: https://www.gov.uk/foreign…/spain/entry-requirementsBREXIT: NOTICE FOR BRITISH CREW IN SPAINPlease note the following stamping requirements, issued by Spanish immigration police today:Active British crew members already appearing on a crew list DO NOT need to visit immigration to stamp on board and out of Spain. Only when they leave the vessel either temporarily or permanently, must the crew list be updated with the authorities and passports stamped.Non-active crew members currently in Spain, not appearing on any crew list, ARE NOT required to have their passports stamped, until they join a vessel.In summary, any change in crew list involving British crew, requires a stamp*. A representative can visit immigration on crew’s behalf; they are not required to attend in person.*Except official residents of SpainSpain’s UK Travel Ban Excludes SeafarersA new BOE was issued on 1st Jan by the Spanish government, stating that crew are now exempt from the […]
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Feb 03
by admin in SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

UK-flagged yachts, British crew and VAT after Brexit

Brexit: UK-flagged yachts and VAT Having left the EU customs territory from the start of 2021, the UK is now considered a ‘third country’, affecting the VAT treatment of UK-flagged yachts in EU waters. Likewise, the treatment of EU-flagged yachts entering British waters is also affected. The change means UK-flagged vessels are now treated by the EU like any other non-EU flagged pleasure craft. A UK resident buying a new boat from a UK dealer for export A resident of the UK can buy a new yacht from a dealer in the UK ex-VAT, as long as the boat is delivered to the buyer outside of British waters. If bringing the boat into the EU, it can be imported under the Temporary Admission (TA) regime without paying VAT for up to 18 months. The boat can not charter or change ownership while in the EU under TA. Taking a UK VAT-paid yacht into EU waters The yacht is entitled to enter EU waters under TA, provided that the owner and/or captain are UK residents and the owner is on board upon entry. (Vice versa, EU residents may enter British waters under TA VAT-free for up to 18 months). Where a […]
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Nov 05
by admin in Crew Assistance & Support, SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

NEED CASH ON BOARD?

As official ‘consignatario’ port agents, ESTELA is authorised to offer Cast-to-Master service. Owners and managers can send money to us by bank transfer, enabling captains to withdraw cash on demand, as and when they need it. CTM is available in all ESTELA locations. For more details about our CTM service, please contact us. palma@estelashipping.net
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Nov 05
by admin in Crew Assistance & Support, SUPERYACHT AGENCY, Visa and immigration 0 comments

DO YOU REQUIRE A TRAVEL LETTER?

With national lockdowns and border closures on the increase, international travel is again becoming more complicated. While seafarers are generally exempt from restrictions designed to curtail tourism, carrying a travel letter from a licensed ‘consignatario’, setting out your reason for travel, can be helpful when boarding flights and crossing borders. For more information or to request your travel letter, please get in touch. Equally, when stamping off your boat and re-entering the Schengen zone, we can assist with the documentation required by Spain’s immigration police. palma@superyachts.agency
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Nov 04
by admin in Itineraries, SUPERYACHT AGENCY, what's on 0 comments

ESTELA opens in Lanzarote

So confident of the Canaries’ potential as a superyacht destination are we, that ESTELA Shipping have now opened an office in Lanzarote! In partnership with Calero Marinas, we have appointed Monica Iren Lungard as our local representative, to support our superyacht clients and provide the same high standard of service that ESTELA already offers in Palma, Gibraltar, Barcelona and Panama. Monica joined Calero as an administrator two years ago and has been living in the Canary Islands for eight years, the past six of which in Lanzarote. She has also lived in Tenerife and Gran Canaria, giving her great insight into what the islands have to offer. A Norwegian national, Monica speaks fluent English and Spanish. She can be reached by telephone/WhatsApp on: +34 660 54 89 74 or by email at: monica.iren@estelashipping.net
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Oct 09
by admin in Melilla, SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

Wintering closer to home? Check out Melilla’s unbeatable proposition 50-metre berths start from just €60 per day!

For yachts planning on spending the winter in Europe, consider berthing in Melilla.  The Spanish city on the North African Med coast offers a multitude of benefits to visiting yachts, for short or long stays. Just 95 nautical miles from Almería, Melilla’s airport is only 2.5 kilometers from the city with direct flights to Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Seville and Almería. The port enjoys state-of-the-art security, with 400 berths, 12m draft and a dock of 240m, suitable for yachts of any length. There are fifteen moorings to accommodate yachts of up to 50 meters. For yachts up to 50m LOA and 10m beam, a 30-day stay costs just €2,263. The 90-day rate falls to €6,790, or €21,969 for a full year. For smaller yachts up to 30m LOA and 7m beam, these rates are respectively €978, €2,933 and €9,491, inclusive of taxes. Melilla is part of the EU, but not of the Customs Territory of the Union (TAU) or the Territory of VAT application (TAIVA), making it a useful point in the exit of TAU, for the purpose of finalising ‘Temporary Admission’ (RIT) and the Inward Processing Regime (RPA). Neither is Melilla part of the Territory of Application of […]
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Sep 25
by admin in Crew Assistance & Support, SUPERYACHT AGENCY, Visa and immigration 0 comments

Did you know that Spain now issues 90-day Schengen tourist visas?

Any non-European crew requiring a visa in order to fly in and join a yacht will know that Spain has not been the optimal Schengen zone country to arrive in first. Spanish authorities have in the past offered only Transit Visas with two-day validity to travel through the zone. However, this changed earlier this year… While there was no fanfare at the time, the introduction of a new Schengen Visa Code in February meant that Spain joined other Schengen members in issuing 90-day, multi-entry Schengen visas! No longer must you plan to arrive first in France, Germany or elsewhere for your 90-day ‘golden’ visa, to enjoy the freedom to move freely around Europe or leave and re-enter in your time off. Another change the new code brought in is that you can now apply SIX MONTHS in advance of your intended arrival, compared with three months previously. This means that you can start planning your 2021 season already and get your visa in place. (The latest you can apply for it is 15 calendar days before your trip) For assistance with your 90-day Schengen visa application and to obtain the required invitation letter, please contact us at palma@estelashipping.net
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Aug 27
by admin in Itineraries, SUPERYACHT AGENCY, The Y - Yachting Handbook 0 comments

Season almost over? Consider the Canary Islands this autumn, really.

September is looming into view already, signalling the final weeks of the usual Mediterranean season. But this season has been anything but ‘usual’, with many trips curtailed or cancelled altogether, due to the wretched coronavirus. So, here’s a suggestion for owners and charterers to spend some bonus time on board this year, in a safe destination and with warm weather. Without crossing the Atlantic. The Canary Islands have much to offer cruising yachts and their guests. Long established as a stop-off for passing transatlantic traffic, this archipelago boasts enormous biodiversity and natural beauty, as well as cultural and architectural variety. The icing on the cake is a year-round warm climate and more Michelin-starred restaurants per square inch than you’ll find in many yachting hotspots. Click here to read the Canary Islands chapter of the latest edition of ‘The Y Yachting Itineraries’. Hard copies of the guide are now available, so please contact us for your copy. 
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Jun 24
by admin in Law and Regulations, Melilla, SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

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 Territory of VAT application (TAIVA). This makes it a useful point in finalising Temporary Admission, as part of the Inward Processing Regime (RPA). Why not spare yourself the usual ‘cost of doing business’ in Algeria, with the associated inconvenience, and instead enjoy Melilla’s renowned hospitality and professionalism! And, in the event that coronavirus is still a cross-border problem to contend with, you will also avoid the need to quarantine upon your return to Spain. Oh, and as Melilla is part of the Territory of Application of Special Taxes (TAIIEE), you’ll find it very advantageous for tax-free refuelling and provisioning too! Contact us for assistance or information.
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Jun 24
by Estella in SUPERYACHT AGENCY, The Y - Yachting Handbook 0 comments

Grab YOUR last-minute placement in The Y Yachting Itineraries 2021!

Here at Estela, we normally print the 330-page ‘The Y Yachting Itineraries’ every April, but this year is like no other. The coronavirus lockdown meant we were forced to stop the clock, until now… We are printing the 2021 edition at the end of next week, which gives us the unusual opportunity to share a complete draft of the book with you ahead of printing. And, if you like what you see, it’s not too late to get involved! Today, the back cover, inside front cover and inside back cover are all available and you can make them yours at last-minute prices. Obviously, time is running out, so these prime slots are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. We know many plans and budgets have been affected by the COVID emergency. At our end, we unfortunately lost some advertisers when budgets were suddenly frozen, so we now have some prime slots still available. Distribution will extend into next year’s season, making up for the months lost this year and providing a longer shelf life than ever before. And with fewer pages of advertising throughout the book, your placement will stand out even more. The Y 2021 highlights: Extend your Mediterranean season! Melilla to Tangier; Mediterranean itineraries with an exotic twist Canary Islands; The forgotten year-round cruising destination Balearics; Gastronomy special Panama; An extraordinary […]
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Jun 03
by Estella in SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

‘Yachting in a global pandemic’

Coronavirus protocols and best practice for captains, crew, owners and guests The coronavirus outbreak has thrown the maritime industry into turmoil, with no vaccine or treatment available for the time being, and testing not yet universally available. It’s fair to say that yachting has some unique challenges with COVID-19 on the scene. We asked some specialist maritime medical experts how captains can mitigate the risks of cruising with owners or chartering with guests. Specifically, what steps can captains take to minimise the health risk to crew in the day-to-day operation of their yacht? Dr. John Ross is an emergency physician at the Halifax Infirmary, Nova Scotia, Canada, and serves as medical director of Praxes Medical Group, a private sector telemedicine provider to remote sites around the world, and as provincial advisor on emergency care to the Deputy Minister of Health. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC) in emergency medicine and is a professor of emergency medicine at Dalhousie University, with a focus on acute airway management. He also works as a trauma team leader, teaching rural trauma team development courses throughout the Maritimes. Michelle Currie is Operations Manager for Praxes Medical Group. Michelle […]
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May 15
by Estella in SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

Visas

Given the current border closures, restrictions on travel and uncertainty about the Mediterranean season, we are understandably receiving MANY queries from crew about their visa status. Anyone in Spain currently, stamped onto a boat but with an expired tourist or Schengen visa, should not worry about overstaying. Visas are currently suspended and no punitive action will be taken by authorities upon inspection. However, travelling to anywhere that is not your country of residence on an expired visa, or stamping off a boat without departing the country, may prove problematic. There are no easy answers, but if you have a specific question about your visa status, we will do our best to find you an answer.
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May 15
by Estella in SUPERYACHT AGENCY 0 comments

Testing, testing…

The issue of coronavirus testing is a live one, with much information and disinformation being shared on social media and, worryingly, by some agencies. The Balearic government has approved the provision of clinical tests by just two private hospital laboratories in Mallorca. The PCR test (checking for coronavirus) has an efficacy of 80-90%, with results available after 24-48 hours. The price of the PCR test is capped at €200 for non-residents, or €150 for permanent residents. In addition, an immunological test is available, checking for antibodies, to indicate whether someone has had the virus. This test is available additionally or separately, at €50. The two tests are carried out by physicians at a private hospital after carrying out a general medical check, costing €103.42. In total, we offer the following procedure: Medical check             €103.42 PCR test                     €200.00 Immunological test      €  50.00 Additionally, Estela charges a €35.00 + VAT fee for agency assistance and administration. Best practice is to take both tests after 6/7 days of arrival into Mallorca, to allow time for coronavirus cells to develop following possible infection. Optionally, new arrivals may choose to take the immunological test immediately upon arrival, where the presence of antibodies would […]
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Yachting Itineraries 2021
Yachting Itineraries 2019
Yachting Itineraries 2018
Handbook 2017
Categories
ESTELA SHIPPING PALMA, S.A

Avenida Gabriel Roca, 37 local C, entrada Carrer de la Pedrera
07014 Palma de Mallorca (Spain) – P.O. box 415
Tel. +34971722532
Fax. +34971511726
Email: palma@estelashipping.net

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