Resumption of Guernsey Port Agency Services For Visiting Yachts (Exit From COVID-19 Lockdown )

We are delighted to announce with effect from  00:01 on the 16th May 2020 that Oceanskies are able to resume our Guernsey port agency services  for yachts arriving from outside of the Bailiwick of Guernsey on a limited basis.

This follows a period of island-wide lockdown to help mitigate the effects of COVID-19 which prohibited the visit of any non-local yacht to Guernsey.

Fortunately at the time of writing Guernsey is virtually free of all reported COVID-19 cases and under isolation from the outside world the island istself is therefore  in a good position to return to normality.

For the time being, non-locally based yachts are  only permitted to call into Guernsey for one of the following purposes: 

• Registration (or similar documentation purposes); and/or
• Customs clearance;  and/or
• Refuelling. 

The visit of all non- local yachts will be subject to strict rules and all visits must be organised and handled by an officially recognised port agent.

Oceanskies are a specialist yacht registration agency and we are also the only dedicated yacht specific port agency based physically in the harbour of St. Peter Port in Guernsey and we are always very pleased to act as agents for the visit of any non-local yacht.

It is important that the visit of any non-local yacht should be notified to us well in advance of estimated arrival in order that we can provide the harbour authorities with a minimum of 48 hours notice so that prior permission can be obtained.

We have a berthing guide and an online enquiry portal though which we welcome enquiries from any yacht of any size intending to visit Guernsey here on our website:

Guernsey Berthing Guide & Request Form

The arrival and handling of all visiting yacht by Oceanskies are subject to the following conditions agreed with the Guernsey public health and harbour authorities:

• Yachts will be required to complete and submit a Maritime Declaration of Health to Oceanskies prior to arrival. for onward submission by Oceanskies to the local authorities.
• Yachts will only be permitted to berth directly outside the offices of Oceanskies on the 'Boatworks + fuel berth and certain other allocated berths within the harbour that are secure and with  restricted access. Under no circumstances will visiting yachts be permitted to enter one of the marinas. 
• Yachts handled by Oceanskies may be permitted to stay in St Peter Port Harbour overnight at the discretion of the Duty Harbour Master, but will only be permitted to stay on certain secure restricted access berths.. 
• Yachts will be welcomed by an Oceanskies team member on arrival but under no circumstances is there to be any physical interaction between any Oceanskies team members and crew. 
• Yachts should expect to be visited by the Guernsey Border Agency and/or Guernsey Harbours staff on arrival.
• Crew will not be permitted ashore, except in an emergency or to put lines ashore if berthing alongside a pontoon (Oceanskies will organise linesmen which are required if using a commercial berth).
• Crew changes are not permitted. 
• Fuelling operations will be conducted in accordance with existing standard operating procedures subject to additional social distancing and personal and equipment cleaning measures as advised by Public Health Guernsey. During any fuelling operations, enhanced hygiene and social distancing measures will be maintained at all times.
• Oceanskies will organise pilotage for visiting yachts requiring pilotage under local regulations but the yacht must  ensure that strict hygiene and social distancing regimes are in place on the vessel prior to the pilot boarding. A vessel that does not comply with the standards required shall not be permitted to enter the Harbour. 

Oceanskies welcomes the re-opening up of Guernsey to visiting yachts and we look forward to hopefully welcoming many visiting yachts to the island as we move through spring towards a hopefully glorious summer season.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information or to reserve your berth.

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