The borders of Bermuda, including its ports, remain closed. However, the Minister of Tourism and Transport has superyacht-specific plans for upcoming reopening phases. He’s rolling out what he calls a superyacht tourism economic recovery plan. It applies to both private cruises as well as isolation charters.
Zane De Silva, the tourism minister, outlined the details in an address to Bermuda’s House of Assembly on May 22. In fact, the Ministry of Health, the Bermuda Tourism Authority, and maritime companies collaborated on the guidelines, he says. Furthermore, Bermuda’s cabinet approved them. “This season for superyacht charters was thought to be a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic,” De Silva says. “However, in April, local port agents received inquiries from owners, captains, and brokers about ‘safe harboring’ and chartering in Bermuda while the pandemic situation unfolded in Europe, the east coast of the United States, and the Caribbean,” he adds.
Currently, the island nation is in Phase 2 of a four-phase reopening. De Silva’s goal is for activities to begin during the current phase, continuing through Phase 3. (Phase 4 is when the airport reopens and, as he puts it, the “new normal” begins.) Normal procedures for transit, cruising, and charter permits apply, although several COVID-19-specific procedures apply, too.
First and foremost, all yachts arriving in Bermuda will need to appoint a local port agent. Owners and guests arriving by private jets who intend to board the yachts must fill out a Traveller Screening Form and Pre-Arrival form. They must do so before departing for Bermuda, too. Everyone, including crewmembers, must have health insurance policies with medevac provisions if they test positive for the virus after arrival, or for any illness requiring hospitalization. Failure to meet any of these requirements can result in being denied entry.
Additionally, the superyacht tourism economic recovery plan subjects everyone to a 14-day quarantine aboard the yacht the day they arrive in Bermuda. “If the superyacht arrives prior to the owner or its guests, the 14-day quarantine commences again from the day of arrival of the last person who joins the vessel,” the policy elaborates. All provisioning and other purchases (guest shopping, for example) will be contactless during the quarantine, delivered via the port agent.
The Ministry of Health reserves the right to test everyone during or after the quarantine. It will bill port agents a $300 fee per person as well. Following the quarantine or a negative test result, crew, owners, and guests can go ashore. However, they’ll still need to follow social-distancing and other virus-mitigation guidance. Regardless, if Bermuda reinstates its mandatory Shelter in Place orders, everyone must return to and remain aboard the yacht.
Finally, if Bermuda enters Phase 4 during a yacht transit, cruise, or charter, the related protocols will apply.
De Silva tells the Assembly, “In addition, the unfolding superyacht scenario revealed a new economic recovery opportunity for Bermuda vendors while ensuring quarantine and mitigating measures remain in place before commercial flights commence.”
The Ministry of Tourism intends to post the guidelines on coronavirus.gov.bm, www.rccbermuda.bm, and local port agents’ websites.
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