Entry Fee to Bahamas

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by the_alpine

Jesus bro, relax. Nobody likes a tattle tail. I just said I've thought about it. I pay my dues like everyone else.

Ok. It's just that if you go there a lot you end up realizing that it's essentially a poor country with very decent folks and not that great a government. Sounds familiar? Maybe not the poor country part. Don't know if the entry fee helps but perhaps.

[C Skip R]

$150 less than 30ft. This use to be 35ft as was changed a couple years ago.
$300 greater than 30ft.

[onestepcsy37]

what cskipr says - $150 for less than 30' (or is it up to 30'?) and $300 over that. boat can remain for one year, with one in/out allowed. you, however, must check out within 6 months. as mentioned before, it's a CASH transaction.

what's interesting to me is the mention in previous posts of being charged $150 at bimini for an over 30' boat. of all the islands in the Bahamas, bimini has suffered the most from the high fees that have been charged for the past dozen years. they used to get a lot of weekend boaters from Miami back when it was $25, but few want to come for a weekend when they have to pay $150.

not that I'm complaining, because I go for months (and getting longer). if you think $300 is a lot, take your kids - or grandkids - to Disneyworld and you can spend that much in one day in what's basically a fake world. rather spend my $300 on a real world...

[ak5609]

We paid $400 as well for a Lavezzi 40 plus immi fee for 3 guys. Although we just stayed 1 night on our trip to cuba, the permission is valid for 1 year, no matter, if you return on a diff. boat.

It is f.......g expensive and therefore we are avoiding to sail into those areas, which are too difficult to visit as well. The US is one country to avoid to demonstrate a dislike, too. Bahamas maybe. To sail in a great environment is worth $400. Less would be nicer, and not a ripp-off.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by ak5609

We paid $400 as well for a Lavezzi 40 plus immi fee for 3 guys. Although we just stayed 1 night on our trip to cuba, the permission is valid for 1 year, no matter, if you return on a diff. boat.

It is f.......g expensive and therefore we are avoiding to sail into those areas, which are too difficult to visit as well. The US is one country to avoid to demonstrate a dislike, too. Bahamas maybe. To sail in a great environment is worth $400. Less would be nicer, and not a ripp-off.

Where was this? You got ripped. It's $300. Did you get a receipt.? There is only one fee, no plus immigration fee. The fee includes everything (no overtime, travel, etc., etc.) including a fishing license if you ask for one. Go to the Bahamas Government website and read it. A lot of misinformation around. I don't doubt you paid the $400 but you got ripped.

[sestina]

Originally Posted by ak5609

We paid $400 as well for a Lavezzi 40 plus immi fee for 3 guys. Although we just stayed 1 night on our trip to cuba, the permission is valid for 1 year, no matter, if you return on a diff. boat.

It is f.......g expensive and therefore we are avoiding to sail into those areas, which are too difficult to visit as well. The US is one country to avoid to demonstrate a dislike, too. Bahamas maybe. To sail in a great environment is worth $400. Less would be nicer, and not a ripp-off.

If you are "on passage" you have every right to stop without clearing in, provided you are flying a Q flag. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea covers it.

I have passed through the Bahamas twice under these regulations. When we retured for an extended visit we cleared in as per normal.

[JusDreaming]

Originally Posted by sestina

If you are "on passage" you have every right to stop without clearing in, provided you are flying a Q flag. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea covers it.

I have passed through the Bahamas twice under these regulations. When we retured for an extended visit we cleared in as per normal.

But if you go through Nassau Harbor, you WILL BE REQUIRED to clear in. The harbor control will notify the authorities to make sure!!!!

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by sestina

If you are "on passage" you have every right to stop without clearing in, provided you are flying a Q flag. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea covers it.

l.

Really? Got a link to that law?

Just as a test try doing that with the USA.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by sestina

If you are "on passage" you have every right to stop without clearing in, provided you are flying a Q flag. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea covers it.

I have passed through the Bahamas twice under these regulations. When we retured for an extended visit we cleared in as per normal.

If you anchor you have touched Bahamian soil and are required to check-in in the nearest facility.

If you sail straight through you are generally good. As noted some countries, including the US, don't take the concept of "innocent passage" through their waters well, although their navies use it frequently. Interesting dichotomy.

[sestina]

Google these two documents. I've got them as PDFs, dunno if the forum has got space for me to attach in full.

1. Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone 1958

2. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

These give you the right to innocent passage through territorial waters, including stopping and anchoring.

[Auspicious]

Both documents include the text

However, passage includes stopping and anchoring, but only in so far as the same are incidental to ordinary navigation or are rendered necessary by force majeure or distress or for the purpose of rendering assistance to persons, ships or aircraft in danger or distress.

IANAL. I suspect the term "incidental to ordinary navigation" is a legal term of art and may not mean what ordinary people would assume.

I'm speculating here - perhaps anchoring for the night on the Bahamas banks would not be considered incidental, while anchoring to clear a line from the prop would. Again, IANAL. Perhaps the Banks count as internal waters, in which case the Conventions don't apply.

Regardless, when an RBDF boat shows up to escort you to a port of entry I suspect that waving UN conventions around will have limited utility. When C&I applies a fine for failing to check-in in a timely fashion the Conventions probably won't be very helpful either.

A maritime lawyer should be able to tell us. The only one I know retired to run a snow skiing resort. *grin*

[Sailcat]

Great info! As a child into my early adult years I used to spend a great deal of time in Bimini. My father had a place there and I went to school in Miami and went home on the weekends and summer. This was before the independence. Good days back then. Every Friday evening the bay and BGFC would fill up with boats. Great revenue for the little Alice Town.
I would like to relive some of my childhood and am disappointed that it's become such an expensive proposition. But, the previous poster is right. It's a third world country, despite all the apparent wealth. Same as Dominican.
Thanks for all the chatter! Great stories.