Guidelines for Commercial Boat Operators Date 17th June 2021
Commercial operators of charter and cruise vessels up to a maximum of 12 passengers
Bareboat Charter
The following affects operators who are operating under the agreement secured by Sail Scotland with the Scottish Government that overnighting on a vessel is equivalent to that of an unmanaged self- catering property or private dwelling*.
The rules for those sailing under Hospitality Guidance remain unchanged since 21st May Charter and Cruise Guidelines | Sail Scotland
Scottish Government advised that if any planned voyage crosses between two areas with differing Levels, the higher level must be applied to the whole voyage.
Use the Scottish Government area Level checker Here
Level 2 https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-protection-levels/pages/protection-level-2/
- Up to 6 people from 3 households can stay overnight
- You do not need to physically distance from family and friends in (a bareboat charter)
- You can travel anywhere in Scotland in Levels 0, 1 or 2 but must not enter a Level 3 or 4 area unless for a permitted reason
- You can travel anywhere in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands – before you travel you must check the travel rules in those countries
Level 1 https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-protection-levels/pages/protection-level-1/
- Up to 6 people from 3 households can stay overnight
- You do not need to physically distance from family and friends in (a bareboat charter)
- You can travel anywhere in Scotland in Levels 0, 1 or 2 but must not enter a Level 3 or 4 area unless for a permitted reason
- You can travel anywhere in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands – before you travel you must check the travel rules in those countries
Level 0 https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-protection-levels/pages/protection-level-0/
- 8 people from 4 households can stay overnight
- You do not need to physically distance from family and friends in (a bareboat charter)
- You can travel anywhere in Scotland in Levels 0, 1 or 2 but must not enter a Level 3 or 4 area unless for a permitted reason
- You can travel anywhere in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands – before you travel you must check the travel rules in those countries
Serviced or Managed Cruise
For catered boats, the Tourism and Hospitality Guidance should be applied from the point of embarkation throughout the voyage and while disembarking. This would mean that 1m physical distancing can be applied in hospitality settings provided appropriate mitigations are in place as outlined in hospitality section of this guidance eg seating only in households or extended households, with at least 1m between tables. Out with hospitality settings, 2m physical distancing remains the default for example while embarking/disembarking and in public spaces.
Children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards the total number of people permitted to meet.
Leisure, training, competition & events, organised outdoor activity (non-contact) sailing in Scotland.
- Refer to Royal Yachting Association Return to Boating Guidance
- Transit through Scottish Canals. Refer to Scottish Canals guidance Here
*For clarity a bareboat charter is deemed to be the same as a private dwelling and unmanaged self-catering property allowing, as of 21st May, 6 persons from 3 households L2 L1 and 8 people from 4 households L0 to undertake overnighting charters as long as there are separate cabins for each household and appropriate in-house socialising rules are applied that minimise the risk of spreading the virus. Eg Visitors should, where practicable, use shared rooms one at a time with cleaning and ventilation in between (e.g. preparing and eating a meal). Where communal toilets are being used providers should implement measures to decrease the risk of contamination, including enhanced cleaning, and consider reducing access to a one in, one out basis. Cleaning materials should be provided for users to ‘clean as they go’.
Sail Scotland will update this document as and when further announcements are made by the Scottish Government.
At all time voyage planning should #RespectTheDestination
