COVID-19 PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
** See below for current openings and updates **
As the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak evolves and has the prospects of changing the yacht charter seasons, AQUAZEAL would like to reassure current and prospective clients of our commitment to their safety and well-being during this dynamic and constantly changing environment and when many of the popular destinations are again declared safe to travel.
Cruising on a yacht is actually one of the safest and most enjoyable vacations in idyllic, isolated bays and far away from the crowds. Measures that owners and crew of all yachts are taking immediately and we foresee them maintaining into the future include some of the following:
• Ensuring that the crews have not visited any “Affected areas”, as determined by the World Health Organization (WHO), within the past 2 weeks.
• Crew hygiene is guaranteed as they will be thoroughly checked for COVID-19 before the charterers’ and the embarkation of ALL charters guests.
• Exceptional sanitary measures such as enhanced routine cleaning and increased disinfection practices including biological treatment/cleaning will be taken on board before each charter starts.
• Precautions also being taken on the ground, where staff at the private terminals as well as all drivers performing ground transfers on our behalf are adhering to Government recommendations in order to reduce risk.
For a more exclusive (and direct) way to get to and from your charter yacht, Aquazeal can also offer private jet services. Please contact us for rates from your departure location.
DESTINATION UPDATES
BAHAMAS: Officially announced they will be opening borders to tourism starting July 1, 2020.
US VIRGIN ISLANDS: The first destination to open in the Caribbean as of June 1, 2020.
ST BARTHS: Starting May 18th, St Barths is welcoming Motor and Sailing Yachts again, only with the assistance of an Agent. Requests must be previously sent by the Agent and await for approval from the Prefecture:
Estimated date of arrival
Certificate of registration
Captain’s name and nationality + number of crew and guests (if any onboard)
Confirm that the captain commits to keep his crew and guests onboard for quarantine
Confirm that the vessel will remain at anchor outside in the bay
Confirm that only the agent will handle administrative tasks with the capitainerie and all provisioning/other requests without allowing the crew and guests ashore, during the time of the quarantine.
Quarantine time will be a strictly enforced 14 days onboard
(Side note – most of St Barth’s restaurants are open again. The island is pretty much fully open internally and there are no positive covid-19 cases. )
GRENADA: Grenada has officially re-opened its Seaports to allow yachts entry into the country
Note: ALL yachts will have to meet a number of requirements and follow strict health protocols. These will be published imminently by the Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada ( MAYAG) in collaboration with the Grenada Ports Authority.
Mandatory quarantine offshore for a period of 14 days BEFORE being allowed entry into approved boatyards and marinas.
Yacht operators AND teams interacting with the yachts MUST wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment including face masks.
ALL major testing, which will be paid for by the crew, will be conducted by the Ministry of Health onboard the yacht, at the END of the quarantine period.
Formal clearance will be given by Customs and Immigration, only AFTER the Ministry of Health confirms a COVID-19 NEGATIVE test and issues a formal laboratory result.
ANGUILLA: The latest government bulletin which advises that the borders will not open before end of May and is likely to be longer.
ANTIGUA: Not too much definitive out of here yet except that the government is hoping to announce that we are Covid-19 free very shortly. The airport will reopen on the 1st of June and airlines will supposedly start fly in tourists from Miami shortly after so we will see. No news on letting yachts back in at the moment. Everything apart from Restaurants (only takeaway so far), bars and nightclubs is open and the curfew is now 2100 to 0500 every day.
BAHAMAS: The Bahamas also has a 5 phase plan for reopening laid out by the government that list the reopening of borders to leisure travel in the last phase, but our Prime Minister has noted no timeline will be given as the final reopening will be contingent on the advise of the Health Authorities. The Association of Bahamas Marinas as a body has been actively engaging the PM and Minister of Tourism about ways to reopen to the yachting industry trying to explain to them that yachters probably are the most concerned about health and safety of any traveller. Talks have been positive but for us, the earliest we see something happening might be the middle of June fingers crossed.
BVI: Unfortunately the borders are still closed and government have yet to provide a reopening plan for the borders, the only think we do know is that Belongers will be allowed to return to the BVI via beef island airport on the 1st June with Pre approval from the ministry of Health.
CURACAO: Curacao has been de escalating from our lock down measures and slowly we are allowed to "move " with less restrictions.
The industry has been dealing with government and port authority in order for them to understand a bit of the yacht life and explaining a take on this Covid 19 situation on how to safely allow yachts back into Curacao.
Last night it has been confirmed that our maritime borders will gently open up for yachts for "lay up" thus those two would like to come for a longer while and await orders or for repairs. This period has not been specified so we can take some sort of advantage of the fact that yachts are being allowed in.
This does come with some rules;
all yachts are allowed into the main port
mandatory quarantine of 14 days for crew/pax
crew change is not yet allowed but they will ease up on that after the Q period
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Previous measures were extended until June 2nd as final date informed by dominican Government.
Important to note we can handle to seek permission to anchor / berth any yacht in territorial waters of Dominican Republic, Force majeure 'assistance for the following reasons: weather, fuel or provisions need. Crew does not come to shore and remain in quarantine.
Curfew remains, from 5pm to 6am
During the rest of the day people can move to carry out their activities or essential purchases, inside or outside their locality.
Social isolation is maintained for all citizens
All borders remain closed
Marine and air traffic is suspended
The only commercial activities permitted are those carried out to maintain the food chain, health facilities and essential services, such as banks.
Shore leave pass and crew change is not permitted.
ST KITTS AND NEVIS: As such all remains relatively the same:
All borders remain closed. There has been no indication when this will change.
ST MAARTEN: There is still no verification on when incoming flights with passengers will be accepted – but internal opening between the Dutch and French side is carefully continuing.
FLORIDA: Open for business with restrictions. Receive current updates here: https://www.miasf.org/news-events/a-special-section-on-covid-19
CROATIA: Actively open and ready for the Summer charter season, Schengen visa is not required.