Latest NEWS: Protocol for seafarers arrivals to Spain

Following last week´s latest announcement about the new requirement from Spanish Authorities for travellers coming to Spain by air or sea to present a negative PCR test result if coming from risk areas (listed below) starting today 23rd November, we are now able to confirm as follows:

Seafarers are EXEMPT from presenting a PCR test result when travelling to Spain for the purpose of joining a vessel on the condition they can prove their seafarer status and embarkation on a vessel moored in a Spanish port.

After several checks with Health Authorities, who were waiting further instructions from Health Ministry, we have received final official confirmation today about this exemption. In order to prove their seafarer status, it is not specified what documents the crew member must carry, but from our recent experience and in accordance with the travel documentation required during the State of Alarm, we highly recommend that the following documents be ready to present:

  • Passport.
  • Seaman’s Discharge Book and SEA.
  • Letter from Captain indicating crew and vessel details, port of embarkation and date of embarkation.
  • Crew list and Copy of Ship’s Registry.
  • Agent Letter corroborating vessel location and crewmember status in Spanish.
     

As a very important note, please be informed that even if PCR test is not compulsory, crew members must fill the FCS (Health Control Form), to be presented before embarking and/or once arrival to a Spanish Airport,  www.spth.gob.es  and Spanish Health Authorities may decide that extra controls are required, if:

  • After reviewing the FCS Form they consider further examination is necessary.
  • When they pass by the temperature check, it appears to be 37,5ºC or higher.
  • After visual inspection the crew member may seem ill and Health Authorities consider that it is necessary to do an extra check.

Kindly see below the countries listed as “risk areas”, for your best information:

Countries and territories in the EU/EEA:
Austria – Belgium – Bulgaria – Croatia – Cyprus – Czech Republic – Denmark (except Faroe Islands and Greenland) – Estonia – France – Germany – Greece (except the regions of Kitri, Ionia Nisia, Dytiki Ellada and Sterea Ellada) – Hungary – Iceland – Ireland – Italy – Latvia – Liechtenstein – Lithuania – Luxembourg – Malta – The Netherlands – Norway (except the regions of Rogaland, Møre og Romsdal, Nordland, Viken, Innlandet, Vestfold og Telemark, Agder, Vestland, Trøndelag and Troms og Finnmark) – Poland – Portugal (except the Azores) – Romania – Slovakia – Slovenia – Sweden

Countries outside the EU/EEA:
Albania – Andorra – Argentina – Armenia – Aruba – Bahrain – Belize – Bosnia & Herzegovina – Cape Verde – Colombia – Costa Rica – French Polynesia (France) – Georgia – Gibraltar (UK) – Guam – Jordan – Kuwait – Lebanon – Libya – Moldova – Monaco – Montenegro – Morocco – North Macedonia – Palestine – Panama – Puerto Rico – Russian Federation – San Marino – Saint Martin – Serbia – Switzerland – Tunisia – Ukraine – United Arab Emirates – United Kingdom – United States of America


Kindly note that this list is to be revised every 15 days, and entering into force 7 days after the revision to allow enough time for protocols to update.

For your better reference, download  below a document we have prepared with full information and procedures to follow for the arrival into Spain of crew and guests/contractors via air or sea (ferry).
In regards yacht arrivals, as procedures may change depending of the port, please be so kind to contact your local Evolution Office for further information or send us an email at info@evolutionagents.com.

Download the Seafarer and General Travelers Arrivals Protocol in Spain. COVID-19

Stocking up for the winter season

At this time of year, we know most of our clients are busy getting ready for the Caribbean season.  Tying up loose ends from the summer whilst finishing a maintenance period and preparing for the winter is a hectic time, often with crew on leave or managing changeovers, which is why they seek a helping hand with their most time-consuming errands, such as provisioning and restocking.

Picture going to the local market and hand-picking the freshest and finest products, from the highest quality meat to ecologically grown fruits and vegetables, then having it delivered in a timely manner, all without leaving your boat.  That is what we do.

Or imagine the time and energy spent maneuvering four trolleys down the supermarket isle loaded with bulky or heavy items such as laundry detergent, paper towel, and cans of coke.  Why not utilize your resources to be productive in other ways and let Evolution take care of this with our local wholesale suppliers and deliver everything to the dock?

Thanks to our expertise in yacht services and understanding of your needs we pride ourselves on our proven ability to exceed our customer’s expectations, in quality and price and efficiency.

Discover why our team is your best onshore partner:

  • Save time. Centralize your requests

Whether it is a drinks order for the crew, dry goods for the Galley, a laundry restock or guest toiletries, you name it! Our wide range of in-house resources allows us to provide a fast, reliable, and unique provisioning service.

  • Optimize your storage

We are experts in finding the most space-efficient formats available, knowing that making room for provisions onboard can be quite challenging. We can supply wholesale formats on request, only available through our selected suppliers.

  • Top quality meat supplies

Whether it is a quick stock up for the crew, or a gourmet order for your guest trips, our provisions team members are experts in sourcing the highest quality meat from local suppliers. Get a range of high-quality cuts, from ground beef to filet mignon, at a price you will be happy with.

  • Eat smart

We supply a wide selection of organic and vegan products for those interested in eco-friendly, sustainable options.

  • The most exclusive supplies at your fingertips

Needing a restock? We work hand in hand with the most prestigious interior brands, such as Bvlgari, Molton Brown, Jo Malone and many others. Feel free to place your quote request.


E-mail us your shopping lists and request further information – info@evolutionagents.com

Halloween during COVID-19: balancing safe with scary!

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, what happens at Halloween?  Here at Evolution it is one of our favourite celebrations but we won´t be holding our usual crew party this year. 

The question is: how to celebrate Halloween and stay safe within the local restrictions? We think it’s time to create new traditions on board to keep the SPIRIT and the SPOOKS alive!!


1.- HOST A SUPERYACHT VIRTUAL PARTY

For those of us who were looking forward to hosting an amazing Halloween party, let us not be discouraged!  We have you covered with some great party planning tips to have the best Halloween celebration yet, all the while safely sheltered on board:

  • Work the isolation factor into your theme – a zombie outbreak, with everyone hiding somewhere to survive. Or take your party to outer space and pretend everyone is in their own spaceship, trying to avoid an alien threat. What is more scary than being alone and not knowing what lurks under the bed or in the shadows?!
  • Have all the crew, friends, or family dress up to match the theme and host an online costume contest with a virtual prize (like a gift card) for the winner.  Don´t forget that facemasks can be worked very easily into your costume with a bit of creative thinking, see these images to get you started!
  • Plan a menu and ask everyone to prepare the same snack or beverage to enjoy together (while apart).

Why not add an extra dimension to your virtual and/or distanced party – Rodney James Piper is a magician who will be hosting his brand-new show live from Salou, Spain and you can join him via the ZOOM App. The show will last just over 35 minutes and is expected to be filled with laughter, suspense, amazement, and surprise.

Private shows also a available, contact tarragona@evolutionagents.com for more information.


2.- CREEPY COCKTAILS!

Everybody on board is set for the virtual party and the only thing left to figure out is: What will everyone be drinking?

Let us help with two of our favorite 2020 Halloween-inspired cocktail recipes (by Town & Country):

OTTO’S 1923

Ingredients

1 oz Johnnie Walker Black Label
.5 oz Kahlua
.25 oz Cynar
1 spoon peanut butter
1 Butterfinger bar

Instructions

Dry shake all ingredients first, then shake with ice and strain over crushed ice. Garnish with Butterfinger crumbles, and half Butterfinger stick.

BLACK CAULDRON

Ingredients

1.5 oz Hornitos Black Barrel Tequila
.75 oz fresh lemon juice
.25 oz sage simple syrup*
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 capsule activated charcoal
Lemon wedge

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.



3.- HALLOWEEN-THEMED SCAVENGER HUNT ON BOARD

Since trick or treating is not an option this year, how about setting up a scavenger hunt on board? Along with providing a safe alternative to traditional Halloween activities, scavenger hunts are entertaining and very engaging. It does require a little preparation, but it can be socially distanced and adds some mystery and guesswork to your event.

  • Hide Halloween-themed items around the yacht and set your crew off try to find the hidden items either on their own or in socially distancing pairs or teams.
  • Map out the clues to where you hid the items. All teams will get the same list of Halloween items to search for throughout the yacht. If you want to make it a competition, see which team can find them first (and take a photo for proof). The winner team gets a prize.
  • In order to keep contact to a minimum, send out instructions (but not the list of items) to all crew members ahead of time, so you don’t need to gather everyone together closely to go over rules.
  • On the day of the hunt, we suggest delegating one single person to distribute the lists and pens and don´t forget that ghosts and ghouls and witches and weirdos still have a responsibility to wash their hands!

These are just some ideas to show that HALLOWEEN isn´t scared of COVID!!!  Share your costumes, games and parties with us, we would love to know how you end up celebrating! 

Contact your Evolution Yacht Agents office to get more creative ideas and to meet all your needs to organize your Halloween event onboard.

Get your B1B2 visas for crew

Get your B1B2 visas for crew

Although times are still uncertain, many vessels are preparing for a Caribbean season and therefore needing B1B2 visas for their crew. 

Even prior to COVID, there are many horror stories out there of visa refusals, mostly due the lack of information and preparation prior to their interview, which lead the Embassy not to be convinced about the applicants’ purpose for entering the USA.

Add on top of this, the difficulty of the current global situation – with so many changing travel restrictions and fewer visas being authorized, it is of vital importance to have trusted and well-founded advice to guide you correctly through all the steps to ensure a successful application.

US embassies in Europe closed their agendas for a time over the summer and there is now a backlog of appointments – many are publishing the next availability well in to 2021, even as far as August!  Despite this, so far this season, Evolution has successfully arranged over 80 appointments for crew members applying for a B1B2 visas in Madrid, all within a time frame to suit their boat´s agenda despite the calendar posting no availability in 2020.  Some even have been confirmed within a week´s notice and all those who have had their appointments have been granted the desired visa.

Our experience of this process over the past few years guarantees Evolution as your perfect partner to ensure a swift application process and increasing considerably the chances of success.


Let us know if we can assist with your Visa B1B2 appointments at info@evolutionagents.com

TOP 5 Restaurants in Barcelona.

TOP 5 Restaurants in Barcelona.
Mediterranean gastronomy is renowned throughout the world for its variety of flavours based on fresh locally sourced ingredients. Add to that the world-class talent of chefs in a constellation of Michelin-starred restaurants in Barcelona, and you have the recipe for some very special culinary experiences indeed.  Here are some of our top recommendations for a truly special night out in Barcelona.

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