Seaman's book
First things first! As soon as you land your first job, or if you lucky enough to get a captain that will say you working for him (even though you not), get a Seaman's Discharge book!!! A Seaman's Discharge book, also known as a Seaman's book, bassically classifies you as a professional mariner and gives you certain benefits, as well as logging the time you've worked at sea!
The benefits you'll receive is that it will help you out tremendously if you need a Visa! I've heard that you also get 40kg baggage allowance on flights and that you get cheaper flights, which I still have to confirm.
The captain should know how to get a seaman's book. If he doesn't know, then call up the MCA Registry of Seaman and Shipping, on +44 292 044 8844. This will definitely work if you are on a UK registered vessel, which most vessels are. No matter what country you are from, you can apply for a British Seaman's book. If you are on a non-UK registered vessel, then you might have to apply else where. I will try find out more info on that and post it ASAP. It will take 10 working days if done by post, and cost you 40 pounds. Otherwise if you apply in person you will receive it on the same day, however it costs 90 pounds and can only be done in England. In your application you will need a certified copy of your passport. You can get the Capitanerie to certify it for you. I would recommend this over going to get it certified at a Police Station.
Once you have your Seaman's book, full in the relevant missing details and you are now a professional Mariner!
Expired Visa?
No jokes... My Visa is about to expire tomorrow (in 1 hour 45 minutes) and if it weren't for information I found 4 days ago, I would not still be sitting in France.
Basically... if you are in the situation that your Visa is about to expire, there is a way for you to stay in the EU, as long as you have a Seaman's Book and are employed! While you are employed and living on a boat, you do not need a Visa, as long as you don't step foot onto the land! The boat is in international waters, and as long as the boat you are working on is not the same flag as the country you're in, you are not technically in that country. This rule only apllies if you stay on the boat at all times and never step foot on the shore! So basically... a Visa allows you to step foot on the shore and tour the country. A 'C' class Visa does not allow you to look for work, or to work in France. However, you may work on a boat who's not registered in the EU and that is docked in the EU. While you are working on the boat, the Visa does not apply. Once your Visa runs out though, according to strict laws, you may carry on working on the boat, but may not go on the shore, because then you would be in the EU without a Visa, and therefore be an illegal immigrant. Yes... I know I've emphasised the same point like five times... but it took me over a month to find this out, because noone really knew the correct answer, so I'm just making it stick in your head. Anyway, you will need a Seaman's book to carry on working on the boat. When you have finished working on the boat and wish to leave, you will need a Transit Visa! You have to get this through an agency which goes through customs to get it. Basically a Transit Visa is a 5 day Visa that allows you to be in the country for five days while you exit the country by plane/train etc. It took me a 6 hour trip to customs to finally get all this info, since noone knew exactly how to handle expired Visa's. To make it easier for you, I have the number of an agency in St Tropez and in Palma. If you need an agency anywhere else, I recommend phoning the one in St Tropez and asking Virginia for the closest agency near you. Here are the agencies:
St Tropez: Sogeca (Esplanade du Nouveau Port, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France)
Email: sogeca.sainttropez@wanadoo.fr
Website: http://www.sogeca-sainttropez.com/
Tel: +3349 497 1353. Ask to speak to Virginia, she is very helpful and speaks good English.
Cell: +3362 402 3663. Virginie's personal cell number.
Palma de Mallorca: Yacht Help Group (Rafaletas 1, entlo, local drcha, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain)
Tel: +34 971 405 142
Fax: +34 971 404 877
Cell: +34 676 069216
Email: bea@yachthelpgroup.com
Website: http://www.yachthelpgroup.com/
Ask to speak to Beatriz Alonso
So to sum up in short: Once your Visa expires, you may stay on the boat with a Seaman's book. If you step foot on land, DO NOT GET CAUGHT! Just before you want to leave, phone an agency and ask them to organise you a Transit Visa. The agencies need at least 48 hours notice!
