Clearing into Saint Martin

[mdsailors]

Hello all we’re planning to head to Saint Martin from St. Thomas this weekend and wondered if anyone had any updates on the new post September clearing in protocols like to know if we can use sale clear one thread that we said we could use Rome with CBP which I don’t know how that works with another country And also if we’re having work done on the Dutch side, is it possible to clear in the French side in crossover heard that’s a lot easier to clear in. Let me know. Thank you so much Steve Carroll SV Paradigm Shift.

[Zanshin]

There's a new ED form for Dutch St. Martin at https://entry.sx/

Sail to Simpson Bay, and dinghy into the Police station/Immigration office at the bridge. Alternatively, you can clear into the French side at Marigot or (my preferred location) Anse Marcel. But if you are going to have work done on the Dutch side, you'll then need to clear out of the French and into the Dutch anyway. The only legal way to go from the French side to the Dutch side is via car, on foot, or in a dinghy.

The passage from the USVI/BVI to St. Maarten sucks. I've done it about 30 times and it is never, ever, a comfortable or easy one.

St. Martin doesn't use ROAM, and normally you don't get outbound clearance papers when departing the US or USVI, but it is best to drop by the US CBP office in Cruz Bay or Charlotte Amalie and get the outbound paperwork - it is free and only takes a couple of minutes.

[mdsailors]

Hey there, thank you so much for the update pretty much makes sense with everything else for reading. We’re just going to pick up a dinghy on the Dutch side so we probably could clear in on the French side and just like you say go by get a cab I might make sense. Thank you so much for your help Steven and Bonnie Carroll.

[mdsailors]

Hello all another question I have is we have a St Francis 50 with a 26‘3“ beam 4 1/2 foot draft 72 foot air draft wondering if I can get through the Sandy ground bridge to get into the lagoon on the other side, any comments would be most helpful thank you Steven

[Zanshin]

Instead of a cab, take a local bus for US$1.50 or so. Alternatively, locate some neighbours in the anchorage with a big dinghy and exchange a ride for some happy-hour drinks ashore.

The depths and channel into the French bridge have changed since Irma, but if you are willing to "bump" soft ground a couple of times the 4.5 feet draft should be sufficient, but perhaps someone here has done that transit recently. The Sandy ground bridge doesn't open that often and is frequently "en panne" (broken); and you can go through the Dutch bridge and transit to the French side of the lagoon without having to clear into Dutch Sint Maarten. Once on the French side, you can go to Island Waterworld and clear in there for €5.

[mdsailors]

Thanks again for that update does sound like getting to the lagoon from the Dutch side would be probably easier and then clearing in as you say at Waterworld thanks again so much, Steve

[caradow]

I have gone through both bridges in the past .
FWIW on one occasion after entering on the dutch side the bridge operator for the causeway would not let me through until i cleared in (paid) on the Dutch side.

[Zanshin]

@Caradow - I have been going through the Dutch bridge for about 20 years now. I have never heard of the Dutch bridge operator caring who goes in, or out. All that the operator does is write down the names of the transiting yachts. The same applies for the causeway bridge. None of the boats going to the French need to clear into the Dutch side. They will only need to pay to the bridge fee upon exiting.

I am sorry, but I cannot believe your statement. The causeway bridge doesn't even write down the names of transiting yachts! The causeway opens 30 minutes before outbound Dutch bridges and 30 minutes after inbound bridge openings. They don't require VHF prior contact, they just open long enough to let queued yachts transit.

[caradow]

Well if you cant believe me I guess I am a liar of maybe schizophrenic?

I assure you that happened. Again as I went through in line with several others then went directly to the causeway bridge called for passage at the appropriate time and the bridge operator stated I had to go and clear in on the Dutch side before passing through to the French side . I stated that I had never had to do that before however he had a list of the boats that were cleared in and my boat was not on the list. So when in Customs/Immigration I asked, and apparently a new rule. I cleared in and waited for the next bridge opening then went through.

Now for your benefit with your vast experience maybe this was a temporary thing that did not work however I did indeed did experience it. I have no ill will to the people on the Dutch side so apparently they must have tried something that did not go as planned.

[SailingHarmonie]

Originally Posted by Zanshin

St. Martin doesn't use ROAM....

Well, of course they don't use ROAM, that is a USA only application.

Originally Posted by Zanshin

, and normally you don't get outbound clearance papers when departing the US or USVI, but it is best to drop by the US CBP office in Cruz Bay or Charlotte Amalie and get the outbound paperwork - it is free and only takes a couple of minutes.

If you are planning to check into most of the Caribbean Islands, you should NOT skip checking out of the USA. I know the USA does not require outbound clearance, but most of the countries you will be checking into do want to see that outbound paperwork.. As Zanshin says, it is not hard, and free. Don't skip it. Your life will be easier.

If you show up without an outbound clearance, the consequences vary from delay and extra paperwork to a significant fine, or possibly a denial of entry. It varies depending on which country, the phase of the moon, and if the officer processing you had a fight with his wife that morning.

The exception is the French islands. They don't care. If you are coming to SXM and do not have an outbound clearance from your last port, the best thing is to check in on the French side, then clear out, and move to the Dutch side and check in again with your outbound clearance from France.

It is easy for people used to the rather lax arrangements moving back and forth between the Bahamas and the US to forget that in most of the world the rules are enforced more strictly.

[hpeer]

Yea get a USA exit clearance if you can.

Forgetting this I came from St Thomas and entered the Dutch side. They would not clear me in. Finally a customs worker, with a “you dumb s#%t” look told me to dingy across to the French side, have lunch, check out, and come back to get my inbound clearance.

I would not count in this level of leniency, but it was very welcome. Especially when this little chore turned into a 3 day odyssey. That’s a 3 beer story.