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Good news for crew joining yachts in Italy
Bluewater’s Director of Crew & Training, John Wyborn, has been contacted by Argentario Yacht Services who shared a circular from the Italian administration which clarifies the procedures of transit for seafarers in the territories belonging to the Schengen area.
To sum up the circular, there is no change for crew members joining yachts in Italy, from countries that require a Schengen visa (e.g., the Phillipines or South Africa), as they will need to supply their documents, plus travel plans and a letter from a port agent for their passport to be stamped (as before).
However, for seafarers from countries whose nationals are exempt from the Schengen visa requirements (e.g. Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom), the passport will not need to be stamped on entry/exit if they present the following documents:
- Seafarer’s identity documents issued pursuant to Conventions No. 108 (1958) or No. 185 (2003) of the International Labor Organization (ILO) on seafarers’ identity documents (seamen’s book) printed FAL 5, of the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic, showing the seafarer’s position on board
- Contract of employment
- Letter from the Ship Agent attesting the ETA of the ship in the port where the boarding will take place or a copy of the communications made to the authorities in the port where the disembarkation has happened
You can read the full circular here.
If you have any questions please contact the Bluewater offices in Antibes, Palma and Fort Lauderdale or consult the official Schengen Visa information website.
