Bahamas Serious About Proper Clearance

[AnchorageGuy]

If anyone is wondering whether or not the Bahamas government is serious about clearing in to the Bahamas, consider this article that appears in the Bahamas Tribune on Feb. 14, 2014...

"a 26-foot American registered motor vessel was stopped and boarded by Marines six nautical miles west of Ship Channel Cay in the Northern Exuma Chain. The interception was made by HMBS-130 which was on routine patrol at the time. Soon after it was discovered that the vessel did not clear Bahamas Customs or Immigration.
On board, officers found several goods which were purchased in the US.
Those on the boat along with the items were turned over to police and customs officials for further processing."


Chuck

[Captain Bill]

Ok, I can see it might be news that an american boat had not checked in and people were detained, but why is it news that an american boat contained items purchased in the US?

[Boatguy30]

It would make more sense if they were items purchased in the Bahamas or perhaps a Bahamian vessel with US goods? I reckon you can turn up anywhere in the world and claim you sailed direct from the US as long as you only have US goods on board.

[letsgetsailing3]

I guess if you haven't cleared customs, any foreign goods on your boat are considered to have been smuggled in.

Countries typically don't like their customs regulations trifled with.

[rockDAWG]

Originally Posted by Captain Bill

Ok, I can see it might be news that an american boat had not checked in and people were detained, but why is it news that an american boat contained items purchased in the US?

The article states that the power boat did not check in with the custom.

[Captain Ludd]

May I ask what you are supposed to do when travelling to the Bahamas ?

[Capt RonB]

So let me ask this.

If you're just passing through, say on your way from Miami to San Juan, just how far away from the Bahamas do you have to stay to avoid clearing in.

Admittedly, Ship Channel Cay is kind of right in the middle and not far enough away.

Do private planes have to clear in or through on over-flights?

[rockDAWG]

Originally Posted by Capt RonB

So let me ask this.

If you're just passing through, say on your way from Miami to San Juan, just how far away from the Bahamas do you have to stay to avoid clearing in.

Admittedly, Ship Channel Cay is kind of right in the middle and not far enough away.

Do private planes have to clear in or through on over-flights?

Totally understand. But it is hard to claim that you are on your way to Virgins in your 24' power boat, or you were fishing at the time.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Captain Ludd

May I ask what you are supposed to do when travelling to the Bahamas ?

Just like entering any other country ... check in with customs/immigration.

[BandB]

The full article:

Bahamian vessels held over undersized crawfish | The Tribune

There have been quite a few actions, especially on Feb 14. 17' with undersized crawfish and conch and using a compressor to fish. 25' for undersized lobsters. 160' US vessel, "Pacific Provider" for operating in the Bahamian waters without a permit (that boat is for sale), the 26' mentioned for failing to clear plus the US goods, 70' Dominican vessel for illegal fishing (plus 8000 pounds of undersized) and 3 vessels evaded the Marines. There was a case of illegal poaching in December resulting in $96,000 of fines.

A good message to fishermen plus to boats trying to skirt the requirement of a permit.

Typically they will patrol up to 12 miles. For a rule of thumb the advice I've read is put up yellow quarantine flag when "within the sight of land" so I think using that sight of land rule might also make sense as a tool for knowing when you're required to have a permit.

As to the US goods mentioned, I see two possibilities. One, they were items clearly bought for the trip to be delivered into the Bahamas, not consumed, and two, perhaps although an American boat, there were Bahamians aboard.

[StuM]

> If you're just passing through, say on your way from Miami to San Juan, just how far away from the Bahamas do you have to stay to avoid clearing in.

In ts simplest form, you can sail outside of the island group, but don't go between any islands.

"Right of Free Passage" only applies to "International Straits", not to "Internal Waters".

6NM west of Ship Channel Cay is certainly the latter.


Edit: And as BandB say, if you are transiting and inside their territorial waters, fly the Pratique flag.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Capt RonB

So let me ask this.

If you're just passing through, say on your way from Miami to San Juan, just how far away from the Bahamas do you have to stay to avoid clearing in.

Here is the Law of the Sea.

Law of the Sea (international law [1982]) -- Encyclopedia Britannica

Key elements are :

Territorial waters 12 miles.

Innocent passage is granted but must clearly be such and precludes certain activities.

Countries also have an economic zone of 200 miles or more in which they can control oil rights and fishing and other things.

Now the Bahamas tend to treat the Bahamian waters, the area between the many islands much the same was we would treat bays like the Chesapeake Bay. Innocent passage would be on the outside of that area as it's not a traffic zone.

So if you go completely to the outside of the Bahamas and don't fish, anchor, do scientific research or spy you're probably ok. Still could be asked to prove your intent. But you enter within the islands and you better put your flag up and head to get a permit.

[denverd0n]

Nah. Can't be. Don't you guys read all the threads on here where people tell you not to worry about it, because you won't get caught? Americans in Cuba, not checking in, working under the table... Nobody ever gets caught for any of these things.

This whole thread must just be a joke.












(For those who are humor-impaired, that's sarcasm.)

[Captain Ludd]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Just like entering any other country ... check in with customs/immigration.

So can you just rock up to any port in the whole of the Bahamas then ?
I thought there would be a gateway if you like.

[rockDAWG]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

Nah. Can't be. Don't you guys read all the threads on here where people tell you not to worry about it, because you won't get caught? Americans in Cuba, not checking in, working under the table... Nobody ever gets caught for any of these things.

This whole thread must just be a joke.
(For those who are humor-impaired, that's sarcasm.)