Crew lists, passport details

[concentrik]

Planning a cruise this year with crew I haven't met before, I thought I should have scans of their passports and EHIC cards and insurance (for medical repatriation). Am I just being a busybody or is there a requirement in Europe for the skipper to have these details ready for inspection? Or is it up to the individual crew member to comply with requests for these details? I thought the bit about crew having medical repatriation cover was prudent, should they fall ill - I would feel obliged to stay with them, or at least in port, till they are ready to either return aboard or go home. Any ideas? What are my real responsibilities? There's no money changing hands except contribution for food/mooring.

 

[KellysEye]

>Planning a cruise this year with crew I haven't met before

I must admit I wouldn't do that, it could turn out to be a nightmare. I'd suggest you plan a long weekend sailling with the crew before signing them up.

>I thought I should have scans of their passports and EHIC cards and insurance (for medical repatriation).

It is sensible to carry both pasports and EHIC cards. There is no reason for you to have copies, just check them when boarding. We have been asked for passports in Europe and the EHIC cards are a must.

 

[concentrik]

>There is no reason for you to have copies, just check them when boarding. We have been asked for passports in Europe and the EHIC cards are a must.

One of the reasons was that I didn't want to encounter any obstacles at the point of boarding - I'd prefer to iron out any snags well beforehand. Also, what about non-EU crew? I'd have thought the skipper had some responsibility for the bona fides of the people he is landing? Maybe not....

 

[prv]

Also, what about non-EU crew? I'd have thought the skipper had some responsibility for the bona fides of the people he is landing? Maybe not....

Yes - but I don't think that pictures of their passports play any official part in that.

When I've sailed on Stavros, passports were all handed over on boarding and kept by the Captain. On arrival somewhere that requires clearing-in, the Customs and Immigration folks would come on board and inspect passports, customs declaration forms, and other documents while closeted with the Captain and First Officer in the Wardroom. The Captain was responsible for all of his crew, we didn't deal with officialdom individually.

If I was boarded by Customs in my boat, I'd expect to collect everybody's passport as the officials were on their way over, and offer them with the ship's papers.

On the last Baltic delivery I did, the skipper took everyone's passports on boarding, but that was to put them in the grab bag together with one of his credit cards, which seemed practical. I don't think we ever did have to "do" customs on that trip.

Pete