Certificate of Compliance ?

[TxAgs]

Good afternoon all!

Quick question - Is a Certificate of Compliance required on pleasure craft entering the Bahamas and other Caribbean countries/islands?

A friend of mine heard that his bottom paint would not qualify him for entry to many of the islands. He is hoping to sail from Palm Beach over to the Bahamas sometime soon. The Bahamas told him not to come as he will get a fine for not having the cert.

I've never heard of this. Am I just ignorant?

Thanks!

[capttman]

never encountered any problems like that

[JusDreaming]

never heard of it either!! Been going over for ten yrs or so and never been ask for anything close

[TxAgs]

Ok, we talked about it a bit more and here's where he is coming from. His last bottom job has TBT in it. Apparently he has run across a few articles similar to this one - www.yachtpaint.com/LiteratureCentre/tbt_antifouling_update.pdf

So, the chances of getting in trouble look to be slim, but if you do, its bad news.

[Zanshin]

I've never been inspected in any of the Caribbean islands on clearning in, much less having anyone look below the waterline to determine the bottom paint used.
Isn't it wonderful that the tbt legislation affects small boats, but that large cargo vessels are exempt?

[doug86]

Doubt the Bahamas would care. I saw TBT additive for sale at the boat yard in Spanish Wells 2 years ago.

[Tingum]

Never heard of it. Definately do not need it in the Bahamas.

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by Tingum

Never heard of it. Definately do not need it in the Bahamas.

Correction: Definitely do not need it in the Bahamas or anywhere else in the Caribbean basin.

[Dulcesuenos]

Googled it and found this, The Freeport News - Earth Day 2011 retrospective

[Kettlewell]

Not sure how he managed to get TBT paint in Florida, but I have never heard of any pleasure boat being checked for the composition of its bottom paint except in Australia, where I believe you do have to supply proof of when, where, and how your boat was last painted. Anybody in Australia to confirm that?

[vintageray]

Originally Posted by Dulcesuenos

Googled it and found this, The Freeport News - Earth Day 2011 retrospective

I don't doubt the treaty or the ban, but there's nothing on noonsite or from any cruisers about a permit. Parts of the OP are setting off my ******** detector.