COVID-19:

• On March 18th 2022, all Covid rules for entry into the UK were removed.
• See the Border Force website – https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control
• When arriving direct from outside the UK you must call the National Yachtline (as per the normal clearance process).
• Completing a Maritime Declaration of Health is still a requirement in many UK ports (although this is likely to be dropped in due course). This is supposed to be submitted before arrival in UK waters. Given that many small vessels do not have email facility aboard, submitting it as soon as possible after arrival is generally considered OK by the Border Force officials.

Our thanks to Mayflower Marina, Plymouth, for their assistance in interpreting Border Force rules as they relate to mariners, throughout the Pandemic.

Resources:

• For latest entry protocol updates see https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control
• Covid-19 rules relating to boating for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all differ and can be found on the RYA website.
• britishmarine.co.uk/coronavirus
• https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/
• Border Force for Devon and Cornwall can be contacted on +44(0)300 073 9621 or +44(0)1392 366492 (if between 20:00 – 08:00 please call +44(0)7810 851199 instead).

History:

• During March 2020, some UK ports introduced requirements for vessels (including recreational boats) arriving from outside the UK to complete and submit a health declaration on arrival.
• On the 23 March, 2020, the UK went into its first lockdown. All but essential services closed, including the majority of marinas. Anchoring was still possible with a 14 day quarantine.
• On 03 April, recreational boating was no longer permitted, but unlike many other countries, there was so far no blanket ban on arriving in the UK by recreational boat.
• Mid May and watersports were once again permitted. Marinas began to slowly re-open.
• From 8 June the UK Government introduced a strict 14 day quarantine
  rule that applied to all yachts arriving from overseas. Ports were supposed to have a specific quarantine area for new arrivals, however in reality many marinas did not open to overseas customers because of the complications in accommodating boats in quarantine.
• Scottish ports and marinas opened to visitors from 4 July.
• New quarantine rules were introduced in July when travel corridors were introduced. If arriving from countries not on the travel corridor list there was still a requirement to quarantine/self-isolate for 14 days.
• The Isle of Man remained closed, however boats were allowed to anchor or pick up mooring buoys, but not go ashore.
• On 5 November, 2020, the UK went into a second lockdown. Once again, yacht movement was greatly restricted and many marinas and harbors closed to visitors.
• On 15 December, new arrivals in England could be released from quarantine on day 5 if they tested negative and the overall self-isolation period was reduced from 14 to 10 days.
• On 5 January, 2021, the UK went into a third lockdown, initially for one month.
• International travelers arriving in the UK by plane, boat or train from 11 January 2021, needed to show a negative Covid-19 test taken less than 72 hours prior to boarding/departure from last port, quarantine for 10 days, even with a negative test (unless coming from one of the limited number of countries deemed low risk on the travel corridor list) and could reduce their isolation period by paying for a further test five days after arrival.
• On 21 February, 2021, all travel corridors closed. A list of banned countries was issued (which included arrivals from the Azores). Other rules remained the same.
• By March 2021, all yacht arrivals had to quarantine for 10 days (unless arriving from Ireland or those with a valid exemption) and all crew had to get 2 Covid tests after arrival which had to be arranged in advance. Still, many UK marinas were reluctant to accept foreign yachts because of quarantine issues and also because of health and business risks related to a Covid outbreak. Skippers had to complete a Maritime Declaration of Health and the passenger locator form prior to arrival.
• From 17 May, 2021, rules changed again.
• A major relaxing of rules was announced in September and the traffic light system was scrapped from October 2021, as was the need for a PCR test before returning to the UK for fully vaccinated passengers and the option to take a day 2 lateral flow test instead of a more expensive PCR test.
• December 2021, restrictions were tightened once more with all arrivals needing to test prior to coming to the UK. This requirements was removed on Jan. 7th 2022.
• In February 2022 the requirement to take a post-arrival test for vacccinated travelers was removed.
• March 18th, all final restrictions were lifted for visitor entry into the UK.

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