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ESTELA Breakfast Seminars at the Palma Superyacht Show, 2021
On the occasion of the Palma Superyacht Show, ESTELA is pleased to invite you to aseries of free breakfast seminars on Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning.Come and join us for a pre-Show breakfast and listen to panel discussions on topics that we are regularly asked about by captains and crew. Not only are these events designed as a great way to start the day and meet up with friends and...
ESTELA events at the Palma Superyacht Show, June 3-6
It’s three weeks to go until the Palma Superyacht Show opens its doors! The excitement here is palpable, as hotels and hospitality have reopened and the Show itself is under construction. Spain’s vaccination programme has gathered pace and life is gradually returning to normal, so we hope to see you here.Aside from our usual (or unusual) stand at the Show, we have a programme of new side events...
Hospitality restrictions eased in the Balearics
The Balearic Government has introduced new de-escalation measures, in effect now:● Night-time curfew now starts one hour later, at 23:00h, until 06:00h● Outdoor bar/restaurant terraces may open Mon-Thu from 20:00h until 22:30h● Mixing of households is now permitted without limitation, though overall restrictions on group/table sizes remain● Shopping centres may reopen on Sundays and...
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...
Carry out rapid, reliable PCR testing on board!
The world’s first fully-automated PCR test analyser from Bosch is now available to order from ESTELA.Operating on the ‘Vivalytic’ platform from Bosch Healthcare Solutions, the device returns accurate PCR test results in just 39 minutes. Swabs are inserted into a cartridge containing all the required reagents and the machine does the rest. With an accuracy of over 95%,...
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...
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...
COVID vaccinations
We receive many calls from captains and crew, asking about COVID vaccinations. There is no vaccination-on-demand available anywhere in the world that we are aware of, except the UAE and Russia.The UN’s ILO and IMO agencies, as well as various maritime unions and organisations, are pressuring governments to make vaccinations a priority for displaced seafarers. There is, as yet, no framework in...
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...
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...
UK removes COVID testing exemption for seafarers
Since April 6th, seafarers arriving in the UK and staying more than two days have been obliged to undergo rapid ‘lateral flow’ tests during their stay. While remaining exempt from the 10-day quarantine/self-isolation rules that apply to other travellers, crew must submit tests on Day 2 and Day 8 after entering the UK. Tests can be carried out and submitted in a variety of ways. A list of...
Latest fiscal amendments with impact on the superyacht chartering season 2021 in the Mediterranean
The below is a summary of the most relevant fiscal amendments with effect on the superyacht chartering activity in the Mediterranean in 2021:France: The new situation for summer season 2021 is that full VAT rate - 20% - will be charged for time spent in EU waters. Only the part of the journey taking place in international waters will be exempt from VAT.Italy: As in France, the new law will be...
Balearic Islands ban single-use plastic
A ban on disposable plastics in the Balearics came into force this month. The sale, distribution and use of disposable plastic products is now prohibited, such as non-recyclable coffee capsules, plates, cutlery, cups, trays, drinking straws, disposable wipes and rings for holding together drinks cans. Some single-use items are still permitted and will be for as long as the current state of alarm...
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)...
Easter 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 5pmGroups may be no more than 6, from no more than two households, including on boardShops are open, with some capacity restrictions and closing at 8pm for non-essential itemsArrivals by air from South Africa and Brazil, including crew, must quarantine for 10 days, or...
Spain introduces 10-day quarantine for arrivals from South Africa
With effect from 8th March 2021, all arrivals from South Africa in Spain will be required to quarantine for 10 days following arrival. Please note that seafarers are NOT exempt from this requirement, though are permitted to self-isolate on board. Quarantine must be spent at a designated accommodation, restricting movements and outside contact only to essential activities (eg. shopping for food,...
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...
Clearing out of TA without COVID hassles
Many non-EU flagged yachts in the Mediterranean complete an 18-monthly ‘VAT dash’ to Algeria, to clear out of the EU zone ahead of their TA deadline. This year, the clearance dash has been complicated by restricted movements of both yachts and crew, while UK-flagged vessels are having to plan around this for the first time. We have been advising clients to ‘clear out’ in Melilla instead. This...
The ‘Seaman’s Book’: should you get one?
This guide to the Seaman’s Book explains what it is, why yacht crew should get one and how to obtain one.
EU immigration impact of Brexit on UK crew
Now that the UK has left the EU, there are some extra hoops for British passport holders to jump through when arriving in, or leaving, the EU. British crew members in Spain (or France) who already appear on a crew list are not required to visit immigration in order to stamp on board and out of the EU. Only when they leave the vessel either temporarily or permanently, must the crew list be...
Enjoy near VAT-free chartering from Melilla in 2021
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 any flag. Melilla is part of Spain, but is not in the Customs Territory of the EU (TAU) or the Territory of VAT application...
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...
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 information, we would always recommend using an accredited AYSS member yacht agent wherever possible. In the Caribbean, AYSS agents can...
Yacht Destinations Report
https://youtu.be/k86G8sTun0g In this episode, we report on the challenging 2020 summer season in the Mediterranean and the forthcoming winter in the Caribbean. Featuring Nani Mas of Port Adriano and Tom Filby, Captain of popular charter yacht, M/Y Axioma.
Spain introduces PCR test requirement for arrivals from high risk countries
The move affects travellers coming from more than 60 countries from 23rd November, including most EU member states. The negative PCR test must be taken no more than 72 hours before arrival in Spain and must be issued in English or Spanish, in paper or electronic format.Who is affected?This measure applies to travellers coming by sea or air, not to arrivals through land borders. Exemptions may...
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
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...
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...
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...
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 Health (‘Sanidad’) that with immediate effect, the SSC, or ‘Certificado de Control de Sanidad a Bordo’ is now a legal requirement for...