S. Florida Clear-In

[GordMay]

3 SOUTH FLORIDA MARINAS TO HANDLE IMMIGRATION CLEARING

Boaters returning from international waters on Monday can clear immigration by arriving at one of three South Florida marinas. These boaters do not have to make the required telephone call upon arrival in the United States.

The marinas, and their operating hours on Monday, are:

• The Lauderdale Marina, 1900 SW 15th St. in Fort Lauderdale, from 1 to 9 p.m.

• The Matheson Marina, 9610 Old Cutler Rd. in Miami, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• The Sailfish Marina on Singer Island in Riviera Beach, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Boaters arriving between Fort Pierce and Key West, but not at these marinas, must still call:
1-800-432-1216
or
1-800-451-0393.

Boaters will be directed to a nearby location to meet with immigration officers.

[GordMay]

I’ve been unable to locate an authoratative (“official”) ruling upon the EXACT reporting requirements (ANOA - Advance Notice of Arrival). I don’t see anything specific to (Domestic or Foreign) recreational small-craft on the National Vessel Movement Centre website (www.nvmc.uscg.gov).

Can anyone direct me to an on-line resource (CFR or whatever) ?

Efforts stepped up to inform foreign vessels of USCG law
Enforcement now enacted on 96-hour Advance Notice of Arrival.
By BETH FEINSTEIN-BARTL - Ft. Lauderdale “Waterfront News” (July 2004)

Local marine industry leaders are working on educating boat owners about a ruling being enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard, requiring that certain types of vessels entering American waters from a foreign port give a 96-Hour Advance Notice of Arrival. The regulation affects foreign-flagged commercial and recreational vessels and U.S.-flagged commercial vessels. United States-flagged recreational boats are exempt, said Susan Engle, president of EnviroCare Inc., a consulting firm in Fort Lauderdale working with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Marine Industries Association of South Florida to disseminate information on the 96-hour ANOA requirements.

Although the regulation is not new, the U.S. Coast Guard has recently begun enforcing the law in conjunction with increased security requirements established by the Homeland Security Regulations, Engle said. Engle estimates that 95 percent of mega-yachts coming to South Florida ports are foreign-flagged, but she doesn’t view the ruling as affecting tourism or the area’s marine industry.

“What the Marine Industries Association is concerned about is to provide information to foreign-flagged vessels so that they won’t encounter any type of interference in trying to come into U.S. waters,” she said. Because much of the mega-yacht business is seasonal, the association is focusing on getting out information before the boats arrive here in the winter, she said.

Already, there have been requests from yacht brokers and yacht management companies for assistance in forwarding information on the ANOA regulations to their clients, Engle said. Marine industry officials are relieved that U.S.-flagged recreation boat owners aren’t included in the regulation. “It would have been cumbersome on the U.S. Coast Guard to monitor that,” Engle said. “And it would have been inconvenient for local boaters.”

U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Jim Watson said U.S.-flagged recreational vessels were excluded because those boats were considered to be “the least concern from a risk perspective.” “We try to balance the inconvenience on the public, plus the level of effort it might take on the part of the government, and compare that to the benefits to reducing risks,” Watson said.”

While U.S.-flagged recreation vessels are exempt from filing a 96-hour ANOA, it doesn’t change the requirement for U.S. citizens who are returning from a foreign country, to declare themselves to a U.S. Customs and Immigration officer, Watson said. “The customs and immigration process is something that is done after arriving,” he said.

The U.S. Coast Guard was given authority in 2001 to enforce the 96-hour ANOA regulations. The ruling has not been enforced for foreign-flagged recreation vessels until May, Watson said. “We needed to get ourselves set up to receive notices,” he said. “We have an arrivals desk at the U.S. Coast Guard office in Miami Beach and have been adding more personnel to handle the number of boats.”

The U.S. Coast Guard has been requiring 96-hour notices from large commercial vessels such as cruise ships and tankers since 2001. Smaller commercial vessels have been required to file notices since 2002, he said. The ANOA regulation is for foreign-flagged vessels arriving from foreign countries. “It is not for foreign-flagged vessels that are traveling to destinations within the U.S.,” Watson said. “It’s like someone landing at the airport. Once you pass customs, you can move about the country without making additional arrival notices.”

Thanks in advance for any help.

Gord