Non-EU yacht crew arriving in Mallorca now require a seaman’s discharge book following new regulation
24 January 2024
In a significant policy shift, Mallorcan authorities have now mandated that non-EU yacht crew members arriving in the region must have a seaman's discharge book to be stamped out of the EU and not run out of days.
This new requirement, effective from January 1, 2024, overrules the previously accepted practice of relying on employment contracts as evidence of seafarer status.
Those without their seaman's discharge book will be subject to regular visa checks and their remaining Schengen days will be closely monitored.
To ensure a smooth entry into Mallorca, non-EU yacht crew members are strongly advised to obtain a valid seaman's discharge book before arriving.
It is also important to note that according to the latest guidance, the new rules will apply to all yacht crew, regardless of the vessel’s flag - without exception.
To learn more about this new requirement on arrival to Mallorca, get in contact with BWA Yachting for further information.
Correction: The article previously incorrectly stated that yacht crew members arriving in the region must have a seaman's discharge book to be granted permission to embark on their assigned vessels. Thank you to ESTELA for providing this update.
More news
SY Genevieve crew rescue 16 migrants at sea off the coast of St Kitts & Nevis
Captain Thomas Auckland shares his first-hand account of the rescue of 16 migrants at sea off the coast of St Kitts & Nevis
Important tasks for your crew this winter
It’s that time of year in the Mediterranean and other northern hemisphere yachting locations when many vessels are lined up in ports for the winter whilst a portion of their crew stay onboard to undertake the important task of ‘winterising’, as well as other key maintenance jobs which didn’t get addressed during the busy summer months of chartering.
Yacht Job Scams on the Rise
Over the last couple of months, the PYA's Member Assistance Service (MAS) has received a number of reports from crew who have been approached by scammers offering false jobs onboard yachts. Along with these direct reports, there has also been a number of incidents reported via the Yacht Crew Facebook Groups.