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clear in fee #45668
03/15/2015 10:33 AM
03/15/2015 10:33 AM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 81
MAINE
BTB Offline OP
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BTB  Offline OP
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MAINE
Anyone know what the current check in fee is or how it works?

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Re: clear in fee [Re: BTB] #45669
03/15/2015 11:24 AM
03/15/2015 11:24 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,477
Grenada
Zanshin Offline
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Grenada
Are you looking for information on what is involved in clearing a boat (private or charter) into the BVI? Or information on the ferry system fees?


[Linked Image]
Re: clear in fee [Re: Zanshin] #45670
03/15/2015 11:36 AM
03/15/2015 11:36 AM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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sail2wind  Offline
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GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
or flying in?

Re: clear in fee [Re: sail2wind] #45671
03/15/2015 05:45 PM
03/15/2015 05:45 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 136
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busyengineer Offline
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use Sailclear its free

Re: clear in fee [Re: busyengineer] #45672
03/15/2015 08:55 PM
03/15/2015 08:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
you can not bypass customs in BVI with sailclear

Re: clear in fee [Re: sail2wind] #45673
03/17/2015 08:12 AM
03/17/2015 08:12 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 136
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busyengineer Offline
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Why is it that you can arrive by ferry for "free" but have to pay a fee to arrive by boat?

Re: clear in fee [Re: busyengineer] #45674
03/17/2015 11:43 AM
03/17/2015 11:43 AM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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fees must be built into the ferry charge. What we find funny is every time we check in the amount is different. It can range from .75-$5, have no idea why?

Re: clear in fee [Re: sail2wind] #45675
03/17/2015 08:43 PM
03/17/2015 08:43 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 925
Michigan
rhans Offline
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Quote
sail2wind said:
fees must be built into the ferry charge. What we find funny is every time we check in the amount is different. It can range from .75-$5, have no idea why?


Especially at the West End.

Re: clear in fee [Re: rhans] #45676
03/21/2015 10:12 PM
03/21/2015 10:12 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 81
MAINE
BTB Offline OP
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BTB  Offline OP
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Did not get the answer I was looking for. Checked in last week and paid $10.00. Time before, about three weeks ago, paid $42.00. Would sure like to know how they come up with the charge.

Re: clear in fee [Re: BTB] #45677
03/22/2015 02:46 AM
03/22/2015 02:46 AM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,992
U.K. and Spain
Jeannius Offline
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Quote
BTB said:
Did not get the answer I was looking for. Checked in last week and paid $10.00. Time before, about three weeks ago, paid $42.00. Would sure like to know how they come up with the charge.
They use a random number generator. No point looking for logic or consistency, there isn't any.

Re: clear in fee [Re: BTB] #45678
03/22/2015 08:29 AM
03/22/2015 08:29 AM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 82
Thunder Bay, Ont Canada
BarbandRon Offline
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Quote
BTB said:
Did not get the answer I was looking for. Checked in last week and paid $10.00. Time before, about three weeks ago, paid $42.00. Would sure like to know how they come up with the charge.

It may depend on if you are clearing in for the first time for the calendar year. When we cleared in last time they were asking everyone when they had last cleared in.

Re: clear in fee [Re: rhans] #45679
03/22/2015 09:03 AM
03/22/2015 09:03 AM
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Posts: 3,003
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sail445 Offline
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Quote
rhans said:
Quote
sail2wind said:
fees must be built into the ferry charge. What we find funny is every time we check in the amount is different. It can range from .75-$5, have no idea why?


Especially at the West End.


If you arrive at C&I at West End when they open at 8am they know you arrived before 8 which is against their rules and they charge a fee of $5.

Re: clear in fee [Re: BTB] #45680
03/22/2015 09:06 AM
03/22/2015 09:06 AM
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Posts: 3,003
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sail445 Offline
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Quote
BTB said:
Did not get the answer I was looking for. Checked in last week and paid $10.00. Time before, about three weeks ago, paid $42.00. Would sure like to know how they come up with the charge.

There are different fees depending on whether you arrived on a charter boat or Private boat.

Re: clear in fee [Re: sail445] #45681
03/22/2015 09:55 AM
03/22/2015 09:55 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,979
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Online content
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GA/NC
One thing to remember. You must present the boat for inspection. Do not under any circumstances sail to White Bay on Jost and cab or walk over to customs. The boat has to be in great harbor if you clear there. Same with west end. Never actually heard of them inspecting a boat but the fine is huge if it's not there.
George

clear in fee #45682
03/22/2015 10:04 AM
03/22/2015 10:04 AM
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sail445 Offline
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They inspected my boat at West End when arrived from St Maarten, I asked why and was told I'm supposed to check in at VG

Re: clear in fee [Re: sail445] #45683
03/22/2015 12:40 PM
03/22/2015 12:40 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,477
Grenada
Zanshin Offline
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Grenada
One is supposed to clear in at the first available port of entry, so when arriving from St. Martin it should be Gun Creek, Spanish Town and Road Town - but the West End and Jost are too far and one could get in trouble when clearing in, depending upon the officer and their mood for the day.

Due to a back injury while sailing across from St. Martin a couple of years back I couldn't get the dinghy off the deck (I singlehand) so went to the dock at Leverick and immediately took a cab into Spanish Town to clear in. The officers were not amused at all and I think that only my obvious pain at trying to stand up straight convinced them to only give me a stern verbal warning rather than a steep fine.


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Re: clear in fee [Re: Zanshin] #45684
03/22/2015 02:51 PM
03/22/2015 02:51 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414
Memphis, TN
beerMe Offline
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Memphis, TN
I thought "proceed directly to a port of entry" meant no stopping (no anchoring, mooring or tying up to anything) but I've been wrong before...


Life involves risks, take some prudent ones (NOT with the BVI ferries)!
Re: clear in fee [Re: beerMe] #45685
03/22/2015 03:04 PM
03/22/2015 03:04 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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how can you check in without anchoring or mooring?

Re: clear in fee [Re: sail2wind] #45686
03/22/2015 03:39 PM
03/22/2015 03:39 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,477
Grenada
Zanshin Offline
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Zanshin  Offline
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Grenada
The first time your anchor touches bottom or lines hit a {customs} dock should be at your port of entry. Some countries have a quarantine/clear-in area specifically for this purpose, or they have a customs dock.


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Re: clear in fee [Re: Zanshin] #45687
03/22/2015 03:55 PM
03/22/2015 03:55 PM
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Posts: 3,003
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sail445 Offline
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Quote
Zanshin said:
One is supposed to clear in at the first available port of entry, so when arriving from St. Martin it should be Gun Creek, Spanish Town and Road Town - but the West End and Jost are too far and one could get in trouble when clearing in, depending upon the officer and their mood for the day.

Due to a back injury while sailing across from St. Martin a couple of years back I couldn't get the dinghy off the deck (I singlehand) so went to the dock at Leverick and immediately took a cab into Spanish Town to clear in. The officers were not amused at all and I think that only my obvious pain at trying to stand up straight convinced them to only give me a stern verbal warning rather than a steep fine.

I came into the BVI between Peter and Norman right after sun up so West End was the closest. I single hand also but my back is in good shape. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Re: clear in fee [Re: Jeannius] #45688
03/22/2015 06:59 PM
03/22/2015 06:59 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 172
NEW YORK GREAT LAKES
REDGRAY Offline
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Hi Mike, nice to see you are still out there. We are heading down to charter a 44i with Conch 4/16. We'll see what the charges are then. ......... Red Gray

Re: clear in fee [Re: REDGRAY] #45689
03/22/2015 07:48 PM
03/22/2015 07:48 PM
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Posts: 3,003
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sail445 Offline
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Quote
REDGRAY said:
Hi Mike, nice to see you are still out there. We are heading down to charter a 44i with Conch 4/16. We'll see what the charges are then. ......... Red Gray


Well, you won't have any charges since your charter is from the BVI. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Re: clear in fee [Re: sail445] #45690
03/23/2015 09:10 AM
03/23/2015 09:10 AM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 896
SeaSeaRider Offline
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Quote
sail445 said:
They inspected my boat at West End when arrived from St Maarten, I asked why and was told I'm supposed to check in at VG


They might have thought that, in addition to visiting St. Martin for your own enjoyment, you also went there to load up on boat parts/equipment from a duty-free island to then bring back to the BVI and avoid their import duties.


Rob
Re: clear in fee [Re: sail445] #45691
03/23/2015 07:36 PM
03/23/2015 07:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 172
NEW YORK GREAT LAKES
REDGRAY Offline
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NEW YORK GREAT LAKES
Thanks sail445. redgray

clear in fee #45692
03/23/2015 08:11 PM
03/23/2015 08:11 PM
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sail445 Offline
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Probably a lot of things we don't know about that might have flagged them or maybe five different interpretations of the rules.
Mysterious!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Re: clear in fee [Re: sail445] #45693
03/23/2015 08:22 PM
03/23/2015 08:22 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999
Macon, Georgia
GlennA Offline
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You do have to consider that USVI based charters have to pay the cruising permit of $2/ day per person. Don't confuse that with the clearance fee.


Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
Re: clear in fee [Re: GlennA] #45694
03/24/2015 07:48 AM
03/24/2015 07:48 AM
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Posts: 136
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busyengineer Offline
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I have never been charged the same fee twice - always different - every time. Do they just make it up or something? Seriously.

Tradewinds dude please don't flog/flain/fillet me I'm chillin' and haven't had my first cup of coffee yet but if you must then fire away! I can take it!

Re: clear in fee #45695
03/24/2015 08:56 AM
03/24/2015 08:56 AM
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Posts: 3,003
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sail445 Offline
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The C&I of the BVI are unique in that each one interprets the law the way they feel it should be so consistency is out of the question. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Re: clear in fee [Re: REDGRAY] #45696
03/24/2015 11:22 AM
03/24/2015 11:22 AM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,992
U.K. and Spain
Jeannius Offline
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Quote
REDGRAY said:
Hi Mike, nice to see you are still out there. We are heading down to charter a 44i with Conch 4/16. We'll see what the charges are then. ......... Red Gray
Hi Red

Yes, still around but now boatless. Sold Jeannius just over a year ago.

Re: clear in fee [Re: Jeannius] #45697
03/24/2015 11:55 AM
03/24/2015 11:55 AM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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busyengineer, lighten up, every post does not need a Tradewinds disclaimer.

Re: clear in fee [Re: sail2wind] #45698
03/24/2015 07:51 PM
03/24/2015 07:51 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 183
British Virgin Islands
Yachtmaster Offline
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British Virgin Islands
For three recent entries into the BVI with owners and guests from St Thomas, each entry was interpreted differently by three different BVI Customs agents resulting in three different fee structures. The first one charged full fees as if we were a charter boat. Second charged minimal fees as he entered us as a private yacht. The third one was somewhere in between where only the owners guests had to pay for cruising permit and National Parks.....Go figure......


Safe and enjoyable boating.
Re: clear in fee [Re: Yachtmaster] #45699
03/24/2015 08:05 PM
03/24/2015 08:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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Yachtmaster,
Have you heard of Sailclearin in BVI? I know it works in the French Islands. BVI is listed on their website, but have not talked to one local who knows anything about it working in BVI. I find it hard to believe BVI would allow online check in without associated fees. There is a TTOL user who swears it works.

Re: clear in fee [Re: sail2wind] #45700
03/24/2015 08:25 PM
03/24/2015 08:25 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 925
Michigan
rhans Offline
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Michigan
Quote
sail2wind said:
Yachtmaster,
Have you heard of Sailclearin in BVI? I know it works in the French Islands. BVI is listed on their website, but have not talked to one local who knows anything about it working in BVI. I find it hard to believe BVI would allow online check in without associated fees. There is a TTOL user who swears it works.


Evan, how could SeaClear work in the BVI’s? It would require consistency in the rates and/or procedures. Can’t see that happening although it would be GREAT.

Re: clear in fee [Re: rhans] #45701
03/25/2015 08:00 AM
03/25/2015 08:00 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 136
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busyengineer Offline
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Scary stuff. I have been using seaclear - sailclear and they always say something like "congratulations you have successfully cleared in"

These folks still use a dot matrix printer so I am very wary of this process. .

I contacted Premier Smith (yes we email PM a lot) on this very issue but have not received a response yet. Will keep y'all posted

I think in the interim I may just clear in/out the old fashioned way smile

Last edited by Carol_Hill; 03/25/2015 08:19 AM.

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