CRUISING TO THE
BAHAMAS
Before Leaving the
U.S.
US Customs
Decal
The U.S.
Customs Service collects fees on incoming private vessels. You are required to
pay the fee if you operate a private vessel that is 30 feet or more in length
that enters the
United States
.
For 2003, the
cost of the U.S. Customs User Fee Decal is $25
U.S.
for a Private Vessel for the calendar year.
You should purchase this decal in advance of your trip out of the country
and affix it to your vessel.
To purchase
this decal online go to
https://tradelinks.mellon.com/cgi-bin/tsmenu.pl/cstm
To
receive your order in 4 to 6 days, use a "ship to" address in the
United States
and select the overnight courier shipping option.
There is an additional charge of $6.00 for shipping using this service. Credit Card Payments are accepted. VISA, MasterCard, American Express OR
Discover.
If you do not purchase this decal prior to your trip,
you have 48 hours purchase one after returning to the
US
. For complete information
regarding this decal go to http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/travel/travel.htm
Boat Insurance
You should
check with your Insurance provider, to verify that you are covered in the
Bahamas
.
Passports or Proof of ID
US
Citizens need a valid passport, voter registration card, or birth certificate.
Additionally,
if any member of your ship’s company is planning to leave while you are still
cruising in the
Bahamas
, they require a valid air ticket for the return journey.
Yellow Q (quarantine) Flag
You need to
have onboard this flag, as you will fly it once you enter Bahamian waters.
The Yellow Q Flag can be purchased at local boating stores.
Bahamian Flag
It is a
Courtesy to fly the Bahamian Flag at the bow while in their waters.
This flag is
also available at local boating stores.
ENTERING THE
BAHAMAS
Yellow Q
(quarantine) Flag
When you enter
Bahamian waters fly this flag from your starboard spreader (or equivalent
position on a power boat)
Clearing Customs and Immigration
You are
required by law to clear in with Customs and Immigration on entering the
Bahamas
. When you reach your chosen port
of entry you have 24 hours grace to clear in from your time of arrival.
Your Q flag must stay flying until you’ve cleared.
Only the captain of the vessel is allowed on shore to report for
clearance. He or she should take
the ship’s papers and passports (or acceptable proof of ID) of all on board.
Bahamas
Customs
You will be
required to have a full crew and passenger list with addresses and nationality.
Details of any arms and ammunition on board must be provided.
A question and
answer form, named the Maritime Declaration of Health, is required to be filled
out. This accounts for the state of
health of everyone on board. Don’t
be surprised at how outdated it is.
Bahamas
Immigration
A full crew
and passenger list with addresses and nationality, vessel documentation and
registration is required.
Immigration
cards must be completed and signed by each person on board.
These are presented with the passport or birth certificate of the
individual. The passport is
stamped and the immigration officer retains the arrival part of the card.
The departure part of the card is returned with the passport.
Fees
There is flat
fee of $100 per boat with four people or less on board.
If there are more than four people on board, there will be an extra
charge of $15 per person to cover their departure tax. This will give a cruising
and fishing permit valid for 12 months.
DEPARTING THE
BAHAMAS
You must surrender your Immigration departure card
when leaving the
Bahamas
.
RETURNING TO THE
US
You are required by law to report to Customs and
Immigration immediately upon first landfall. Use any telephone to call U.S. Customs at (800) 432 1216.
Only the owner or master is may go ashore to report, while all others
must remain aboard. You can still do this via the phone. You will be asked for
the vessel name and registration or documentation number, the vessel's owner's
name and citizenship, the master's name, date of birth and citizenship,
passenger names and dates of birth, a list of all foreign ports visited and
duration of stay, the total value of all purchases made, and the Custom User Fee
decal number. You must also notify officials if any foreign nationals are
aboard.
In most instances you will be cleared over the phone and issued a clearance
number. If you are not cleared on the phone, the captain will be instructed to
wait for further action such as an inspection. At no time is anyone other than
the captain allowed off the boat until it has been cleared in.
There is one more step in the re-entry process: clearing INS. This has
technically been a requirement for the past 30 years, but until recently, was
rarely enforced. For all vessels entering
U.S.
waters, the official policy calls for everyone on board to report – in person
– to an INS Port of Entry office. However, in some cases, Customs personnel
(Customs and INS are both part of the Department of Homeland Security) have been
“clearing”
U.S.
citizens over the phone. They have the leeway to do this, or they can require
you to report in person, so be very polite while speaking with them.
This may sound intimidating to first-timers, but it generally goes smoothly when
you know the rules and are prepared.
