Magneto
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2019
- Messages
- 65
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- MV Moondance
- Vessel Make
- Nordhavn 35#20
My wife and I are in the planning stage for our circumnavigation adventure. I have gone through customs in many different countries when I fly but have no experience with the different shipping ports throughout the world. I have read blogs of traveler’s experience with customs clearance and customs inspections while traveling or anchoring. There was a couple that was anchored in the Bahamas and were bordered by customs and after a violent inspection, they found a discrepancy with the amount of shotgun shells declared. They were fined $300.00 on the spot. The officers could not give specifics on what code allowed them to charge that fine amount except to say they would have to go before the Magistrate if they didn’t pay. Needless to say, the fine was paid on the spot.
Most of us know the standard routine of quarantine procedures such as quarantine flags and only the Captain sets foot off the boat for paperwork clearance, then the boat is inspected etc. I have read stories that things don’t go always as planned. It seems there is always something that can be sited as requiring an additional fine or penalty. The amount of cash on board, liquor, food items, firearms, fireworks? I would be interested in your stories. The laws are different for each country and always changing. Reading up on each countries customs laws are only half of the picture. Real world experience provides the other half. And I don’t even want to go into the requirements for checking in our dog. I’m still collecting paperwork and quarantine requirements for the Bahamas and Virgin Islands. Maybe you heard of Johnny Depp’s trouble sneaking their dog into Australia and getting caught. That’s because of the paperwork, prior approval AND 10 days minimum quarantine requirements.
Cash on hand: What is the best amount to keep on hand during a circumnavigation? I heard the Bahamas needs you to declare anything over 10K. When I was last checking fuel prices on the east coast, I found a lot of marinas requiring cash only or discounts for cash. A fill up of 1500 gallons could take almost half of 10K. What about cash for customs, foreign country marinas, tips and bribes? The couple on the MV Kosmos mentions bribing the officials to transit the Suez Canal in one day. It was the officials that asked for it. How much bribing occurs elsewhere? And where is the best place to keep cash? I would think to put a sacrificial amount in a safe and secret the rest away. Ever try to pull out 10K or more in cash from the bank? They look at you like you have two heads. They tell me it takes a few days to order it and the truck brings it, (and that’s in the U.S). So replenishing cash difficulties would have me wanting to top off my cash on hand as much as I would fuel.
Which customs ports are best for different countries? I am only partially through reading the Egret’s logs but find most writers not detailing the customs experience because it may be considered mundane. In the same logs they choose one port of entry over the other because the paperwork is simpler. I like simple. I like cheap. I like my boat not being torn apart to find something I don’t have. I’m compiling my own spreadsheets with information on best ports for customs, fueling cost & quality and pet procedures.
So I will state the obvious to prevent drift.
1. Know the local laws for the country you are entering.
2. Comply and don’t break any laws while there.
3. Don’t give customs any more of a reason to trash your boat.
4. Have some sacrificial cash on hand for fines (like your dog wearing the wrong color collar).
What I would like to know is your real world experiences on this subject. Favorite ports to clear customs? Countries with the best pet acceptance? Have you been boarded by officials but not sure they were? The men with the guns and tactical vests don’t need to show me their badge.
Easter Island Customs Officer
Most of us know the standard routine of quarantine procedures such as quarantine flags and only the Captain sets foot off the boat for paperwork clearance, then the boat is inspected etc. I have read stories that things don’t go always as planned. It seems there is always something that can be sited as requiring an additional fine or penalty. The amount of cash on board, liquor, food items, firearms, fireworks? I would be interested in your stories. The laws are different for each country and always changing. Reading up on each countries customs laws are only half of the picture. Real world experience provides the other half. And I don’t even want to go into the requirements for checking in our dog. I’m still collecting paperwork and quarantine requirements for the Bahamas and Virgin Islands. Maybe you heard of Johnny Depp’s trouble sneaking their dog into Australia and getting caught. That’s because of the paperwork, prior approval AND 10 days minimum quarantine requirements.
Cash on hand: What is the best amount to keep on hand during a circumnavigation? I heard the Bahamas needs you to declare anything over 10K. When I was last checking fuel prices on the east coast, I found a lot of marinas requiring cash only or discounts for cash. A fill up of 1500 gallons could take almost half of 10K. What about cash for customs, foreign country marinas, tips and bribes? The couple on the MV Kosmos mentions bribing the officials to transit the Suez Canal in one day. It was the officials that asked for it. How much bribing occurs elsewhere? And where is the best place to keep cash? I would think to put a sacrificial amount in a safe and secret the rest away. Ever try to pull out 10K or more in cash from the bank? They look at you like you have two heads. They tell me it takes a few days to order it and the truck brings it, (and that’s in the U.S). So replenishing cash difficulties would have me wanting to top off my cash on hand as much as I would fuel.
Which customs ports are best for different countries? I am only partially through reading the Egret’s logs but find most writers not detailing the customs experience because it may be considered mundane. In the same logs they choose one port of entry over the other because the paperwork is simpler. I like simple. I like cheap. I like my boat not being torn apart to find something I don’t have. I’m compiling my own spreadsheets with information on best ports for customs, fueling cost & quality and pet procedures.
So I will state the obvious to prevent drift.
1. Know the local laws for the country you are entering.
2. Comply and don’t break any laws while there.
3. Don’t give customs any more of a reason to trash your boat.
4. Have some sacrificial cash on hand for fines (like your dog wearing the wrong color collar).
What I would like to know is your real world experiences on this subject. Favorite ports to clear customs? Countries with the best pet acceptance? Have you been boarded by officials but not sure they were? The men with the guns and tactical vests don’t need to show me their badge.
Easter Island Customs Officer
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