Panama to Marquesas ZARPE?

[oflo]

Im thinking of leaving Panama for the Marquesas without my zarpe. Does anyone know the implications of doing so? Do I also require a crew list?

[colemj]

A Zarpe in Panama costs $13 and takes 5 minutes - a crew list takes a piece of paper and a pencil. Why do you want to leave without them? I can't answer for the Marquesas specifically, but every place else we have been has required a zarpe and crew list. The one time we didn't have a zarpe (US to St. Martin), we had problems.

Mark

[MarkJ]

You would only do that if leaving Panama illegally.

Why?

[svlamorocha]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

You would only do that if leaving Panama illegally.

Why?

IMH experience there may be a mitigating circumnstance.

He could be thinking leaving ilegally because he or his fellow cruisers has seen corrupt Panamanian officials in La Playita and other places who charge whatever they feel like (I am talking about three figures), put the money in their pockets and decline to give a receipt or stamp passports.

The cases I came across sugget that most likely victims are Americans who are well dressed and own nice boats. Aussies seem to get away with it!

I have seen the corruption (not the illegal departure) first hand earlier this month.

By the way, we have been told that, unlike in some French Caribbean islands, the authorities in the Marquesas require you to show a zarpe from your previous port.

Fair winds

C

[oflo]

The reason I'm considering leaving without a zarpe is because I have seven crew and immigration are looking for 110 dollars per person for a visa. Now the port captain issues the zarpe however he sits in the same office as immigration. I'm trying to avoid paying out a further 770 dollars. I have a zarpe from Portobelo to balBalboa which states I have 6 crew. I was thinking of just using this?

[MarkJ]

I didn't know about corruption there.

How far is it to sail back to Balboa?

[svlamorocha]

Originally Posted by oflo

The reason I'm considering leaving without a zarpe is because I have seven crew and immigration are looking for 110 dollars per person for a visa. Now the port captain issues the zarpe however he sits in the same office as immigration. I'm trying to avoid paying out a further 770 dollars. I have a zarpe from Portobelo to balBalboa which states I have 6 crew. I was thinking of just using this?

This is not what I was referring to. If I understand you correctly, these 7 people are in Panama without a visa. They may have entered on a boat and cleared in at a place that did not have full immigration office, hence they did not pay the visa upon entry but they were supposed to get it from the main office within 72 hours. If I was in this situation I would be thankful for not being asked to pay a fine.

[Paul L]

If you were to divert to the Galapagos for any reason, I suspect you'd have an issue with no Zarpe.
The $110 visa charge is for entry, not exit.

Also, we were boarded by the Panamanian Navy/CG while anchored in the Las Perlas islands for a check of our papers and passports, they have a small base out there. So that might not be a good staging area to jump off from.

[yachtdaemon]

Have a talk to Tito, the guy who rents lines. He can advise you.

[donradcliffe]

If you want to fly under the radar that is up to you,but broadcasting it on the internet is a really bad idea, not just for you, but for the boats which follow you.

[DtM]

Why would you run such a serious risk for those who seem to have got themselves into this situation.

Why are you responsible not them?