Nautilus warns superyacht crews to check travel restrictions

Maritime union, Nautilus, today warned the crew of superyachts to check whether they are exempt from travel restrictions brought in by EU countries in response to the new strain of Covid-19. The EU recommends that professional mariners are exempt from travel bans, but there are reports that yacht crews have been turned away from some countries.

Nautilus says professional crew should carry documentation to prove employment on board, plus a copy of the EU commission’s “Recommendation on EU coordinated approach to travel and transport in response to new variant of coronavirus in the UK”.

In a statemen, Nautilus said: ‘It is our view that all seafarers should therefore be exempt from the travel ban, but yacht members should be aware that in some countries, including the Netherlands, commercial yachts and pleasure craft will be subject to the restrictions.’