The Malta Chamber welcomes the lifting of travel ban for yachts calling to Malta with only crew on board

The Health Authorities have advised that as from the 1st July, crew changes to and from Malta will be permitted with respect to persons (including crew members) travelling from the list of countries as listed in the Travel Ban (Extension to all Countries) (Amendment) Order 2020 (Legal Notice 244 of 2020). These countries include France (with the exception of Ile-de-France), Italy (with the exception of Emilia Romagna, Lombardy and Piemonte), Greece, Croatia and Spain.

This is applicable to people who had been in that particular country for a minimum of 2 weeks. Therefore, crew changes could also be considered when the persons involved are not residents of the specific countries listed in the Legal Notice. Crew changes involving such persons may be planned and the necessary travel arrangements made accordingly.

The above complements the Exemption from the Travel Ban (Extension to all Countries) Order which has been published on the 5th June 2020 specifying that yachts arriving in Malta with only crew on board, from countries outside Malta, for the purposes of repairs, refuelling, servicing, flagging, Customs procedures and other ancillary necessities shall be allowed to berth in Malta.

Chairperson of the Yachting Services Business Section, Dr Alison Vassallo said that: “The Yachting Services Business Section has been in close contact with the authorities throughout the pandemic with a view to finding workable solutions to rekindle the Malta yacht industry and allow it to re-start its activity just in time for the summer months. The fact that yachting is a low risk activity coupled with the fact that Malta has achieved international praise for its response in curtailing the virus has meant that we are now in a position to welcome yachts back to our shores while ensuring compliance with the preventive measures recommended by the Authorities”.