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St. John Customs Dock Fee #90034
03/14/2016 08:59 AM
03/14/2016 08:59 AM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 65
Atlanta, GA
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CDavis Offline OP
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CDavis  Offline OP
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 65
Atlanta, GA
We returned last night from a week long trip and were charged a fee to dock at the customs dock in Cruz Bay when we were checking back in to the US. I don't recall ever being charged in the past. Has anyone experienced this in the past? The charge was $0.60 per foot and it was assessed by the Virgin Island Port Authority which had a window near the exit to the customs office.

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Re: St. John Customs Dock Fee [Re: CDavis] #90035
03/14/2016 09:25 AM
03/14/2016 09:25 AM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999
Macon, Georgia
GlennA Offline
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GlennA  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999
Macon, Georgia
Heard about this last year but you are the first I have heard being charged. USVI government is hurting for cash so ports authority added a $10 ferry departure fee and a docking fee to clear.


Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
Re: St. John Customs Dock Fee [Re: GlennA] #90036
03/14/2016 10:04 AM
03/14/2016 10:04 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 91
The Blue Mountains
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macpete Offline
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macpete  Offline
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Posts: 91
The Blue Mountains
We've been in and out of St John a bunch of times and only saw this the last time we cleared in. I asked about it and was told it had been in place "for some time now", guess I managed to time my arrival with their lunch break.
Some suggested tying off at the NPS dock across from Customs and walking around - not that I'm recommending this....

Re: St. John Customs Dock Fee [Re: GlennA] #90037
03/14/2016 10:04 AM
03/14/2016 10:04 AM
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 109
Bozeman / Minneapolis
snowdog Offline
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snowdog  Offline
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Posts: 109
Bozeman / Minneapolis
This has been in place for at least a couple of years. The first time I cleared in during a trip in 2014 I was even charged for "docking" my dinghy. That's why most people use the dinghy dock next to the Park Service building and walk over one block.


s/v Snow Dog - Leopard 46
Re: St. John Customs Dock Fee [Re: snowdog] #90038
03/14/2016 10:26 AM
03/14/2016 10:26 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,321
Charlotte, NC
SuburbanDharma Offline
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SuburbanDharma  Offline
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Posts: 3,321
Charlotte, NC
We've been charged once or twice out of (I think) 6 or 7 check-ins this season. It was $6.66. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Tonguea.gif" alt="" />

Have never been charged for docking our dinghy there, which we've done every time.

I think it may have to do with whether they have enough staff to man the second window... Kind of like sending your bags through the x-ray machine, which we've had to do twice.


If I can't be a good example, I'll just have to be a horrible warning. [Linked Image]
Re: St. John Customs Dock Fee [Re: SuburbanDharma] #90039
03/14/2016 10:29 AM
03/14/2016 10:29 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
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GeorgeC1  Offline
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Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
The fee has been in place for as long as I can remember. They just don't always charge it. Better to anchor out and dinghy into the park service dock. I was charged the fee for a dinghy 7 or 8 years ago.
G

Re: St. John Customs Dock Fee [Re: GeorgeC1] #90040
03/14/2016 11:14 AM
03/14/2016 11:14 AM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 65
Atlanta, GA
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CDavis Offline OP
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CDavis  Offline OP
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Atlanta, GA
Thanks for all of the feedback. Hard to believe that we never hit it in the past but I agree that maybe our timing has been good. I figured Sunday has to be one of the busiest days for Cruz Bay customs so that probably increased our chances. Thanks again for the feedback.

Re: St. John Customs Dock Fee [Re: CDavis] #90041
03/14/2016 04:46 PM
03/14/2016 04:46 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 528
Ohio
jagmansr Offline
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jagmansr  Offline
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Posts: 528
Ohio
We just checked in today. Tied our dingy at the park dock to the left of customs. Walked over, no hassles, place was empty since no ferrys there. No problem, no fees. We started our trip in BVI, they charged me a whole $2 checking out my crew of 5. I did say we'd be back in 2 days. As long as it's just as easy to get back into the BVI, customs both places has been great

Re: St. John Customs Dock Fee [Re: jagmansr] #90042
03/15/2016 04:44 PM
03/15/2016 04:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 119
Kentucky
Mandknky Offline
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Mandknky  Offline
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Posts: 119
Kentucky
Customs made us pay the dock fee last year, we tied our dingy up to the very western edge of the concrete dock. I guess they watch the dock closely, hard to notice a 10ft dingy way down on the end.

Prior to that, never charged, done it about 3 times before.

Anyway, this year (Feb 2016) we went to the dingy dock over by the ferry dock and walked over. Not sure if this is technically OK, but I have read a lot of posts where others do this and had not read about any problems. Tying the dingy up on the dingy dock north side of ferry dock works best for us, as we usually like to look around Cruz bay after we clear in. US customs have always been easy/smooth for us. BVI seems to take longer, but with the NP Fee and other fees I guess that is to be expected.

BTW, I think they charged us $6.66 too, I wanted to pay $6.67 but no go....

We leave the boat at Lind Point ....

Re: St. John Customs Dock Fee [Re: Mandknky] #90043
03/15/2016 06:51 PM
03/15/2016 06:51 PM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
Twanger Offline
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Twanger  Offline
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Posts: 6,100
Maryland
We do the same. Also tie-up to the dingy dock at the ferry terminal and walk directly to C&I.

Re: St. John Customs Dock Fee [Re: Twanger] #90044
03/15/2016 11:45 PM
03/15/2016 11:45 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
LocalSailor Offline
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LocalSailor  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
It is a VI Port Authority dock where C&I is located in STJ - I believe that is who collects the fee for docking.

Re: St. John Customs Dock Fee [Re: Twanger] #90045
03/16/2016 08:03 AM
03/16/2016 08:03 AM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 167
Other
letsgosailing Offline
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letsgosailing  Offline
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I heard that D.Trump is going to double the dock fees, if voted in... Just for that.. Vote for the other guy!
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />


Capt. Russell
Re: St. John Customs Dock Fee [Re: letsgosailing] #90046
03/16/2016 09:23 AM
03/16/2016 09:23 AM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 198
SW Florida
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CptCook Offline
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CptCook  Offline
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Posts: 198
SW Florida
Quote
letsgosailing said:
I heard that D.Trump is going to double the dock fees, if voted in... Just for that.. Vote for the other guy!
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />


Inappropriate political content......Please, Please, Please don't turn TTOL in to a political debate.


"Be a Traveler, not a tourist!"
Re: St. John Customs Dock Fee [Re: CptCook] #90047
03/16/2016 09:47 AM
03/16/2016 09:47 AM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 65
Atlanta, GA
C
CDavis Offline OP
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CDavis  Offline OP
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 65
Atlanta, GA
Local Sailor - You are correct. That is exactly who collected it.


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