Shipping Packages & Mail

[GordMay]

Duty-Free Shipping & Poste Restante Snail Mail:

Perhaps we could jointly compile a list of specific recommendations regarding the cheapest & easiest procedures for receiving parcels & mail in foreign ports.

Please share your expertise with various jurisdictions (by country).

Procuring Replacement or Spare Parts for the “Yacht in Transit”

Often essential replacement parts & gear are unavailable, or exorbitantly expensive, in local (foreign) ports of call, and have to be ‘imported’.

Sometimes customs duties & taxes can be avoided when goods are imported directly to the vessel, and consigned as “Yacht-in-Transit”.
Often, yacht parts sent for "Yachts in Transit" are duty-free, but require professional brokerage, local installation, and/or ‘special’ documentation. Private courier companies (UPS, FedEx, Purolator, etc.) can sometimes expedite things advantageously
Usually, the items to be imported must be specifically for repair or maintenance , and anything that could possibly be sold separately from the boat, is subject to duties.

A generic Shipping Label
To: Your Name , Master
Your Nationality Yacht in Transit “Your Boat Name”
Location Specifics

ie: May, Gordon A. (Master)
Canadian Yacht in Transit, “Southbound” (#38E1458)
General Delivery (Post Restante *)
Nassau, New Providence
BAHAMAS
*** REPLACEMENT PARTS ENCLOSED ***

~or better yet~
May, Gordon A. (Master)
Canadian Yacht in Transit, “Southbound” (#38E1458)
c/o East Bay Yacht Basin,
East Bay St.
PO Box SS-6871
Nassau, New Providence
BAHAMAS
*** REPLACEMENT PARTS ENCLOSED ***


* ‘Poste restante’ is a service provided by postal systems where the post office holds mail (that has a notation written on it) until the recipient calls for it.
In general, this notation contains the word 'POSTE RESTANTE', the full name of the recipient (as on the identification presented to verify the identity; and with the surname listed first for ease of sorting), and the name of the destination post office. As a courtesy to the postmaster, an expected date of pick-up is also indicated. Each postal system has its own regulation on how to handle the service, including the length they hold the mail before discarding.
In the United States, the United States Postal Service uses the term general delivery, and reserves the term poste restante for international mail sent to general delivery.
Many Post Offices will reliably hold mail marked "poste restante" for at least a month - longer if the sender indicates a different period. There may be a fee for parcels held longer than one month.

[sv_makai]

This is a good thread. I have looked in a few times. I will pull some of the mailing info together from our experience and post it shortly.

I have to get back to working on the boat.

[GordMay]

BAHAMAS CUSTOMS DUTY FOR BOAT PARTS

There has been a rumor circulating that boaters now have to pay duty on replacement boat parts coming in to the Bahamas.

Customs Superintendent Raphael Whyms said that boaters who have a valid cruising permit should have to pay only a 7% stamp tax on replacement boat parts.
They should not have to pay any duty.

Make certain that a copy of the boat’s cruising permit accompanies the imported items when cleared.

If a boater is assessed a duty fee, he should call Mr. Whyms in Nassau at 242-302-3531 to report it, and have the problem corrected.

[GordMay]

Does anyone have any information on using “American Express”(or similar services) offices as a foreign destination mail drop?

[Bucket]

USPS General Delivery for use by “Transients”

Use this link to search for and locate a US Post Office.

https://tools.usps.com/find-location...cation=1433953

When you select an individual location,, the bottom of the listing shows “Services offered at this location”.

General Delivery is one of the possible services, so if listed you are able to send General Delivery here.

Instructions for how to use this service can be found here: https://faq.usps.com/s/article/What-is-General-Delivery

[Kettlewell]

USPS General Delivery for use by “Transients”

Watch out! US Postal Service offices do not necessarily follow any published regulations in my experience. I have had packages end up at distant post offices, despite whatever addressing. They may only hold your mail for some set time, then it goes back. Some post offices are great, but you have to ask first at the actual post office in person. I would not trust following any online information. I find it much more reliable in the USA to find a package store, like a UPS Store or similar, and have packages and mail sent there, even with the additional fee. Some marinas are good for this too, but ask first.