BVI Port Authority Tax

Just cleared in at West End and had to pay a Port Authority Tax of $1/ft on top of the usual C&I tax. Apparently this tax will be charged on entry and exit.

for what?

We paid our $ 6.50 annual gross tonnage fee in January. No port authority tax for us. Did you pull your boat up to their wharf or use the dinghy dock?

Cheers, RickG

New tax effective immediately. We checked in as usual dinghy to the dinghy dock boat on a mooring pin. Had to go to the booth where you pay the exit tax. Several other boats had to do the same. Lady at the counter told we would have to pay the tax every time we check in or out.

Every time you check in and out? So if you charter in the BVI and would go to STT for a day or two and return, then you would in effect have to pay 2 times (check out and check in). Can see where this could get huge in a short period of time.

there is a post on Fb about it with pics of the sign
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...e=1&theater

That should cut down on the St Thomas day trip boats that check in...

Wow. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

I wonder what the STT-based charter companies think of this! Looks like if we ever go that route, we'll stick to the USVI and the SVI....

what about commercial vessels, water taxis, day trippers? So it now costs $40 to go to St John? Another way to chase away tourists. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Yes, exactly. This is getting ridiculous...

I'd venture a guess this is,quietly, in retaliation for the increase in # of passengers permitted on USVI boats. It's been on the books since '95,not enforced. I'm also of the opinion that the gub'mint is looking for any nickel they can find.
From what I have been reading in the local media, it seems the tourist season isn't quite what they would like it to be and quite frankly, I think the government coffers are feeling it.

a customer of mine on St John just told me this January was "a record low month on the island" her exact words. No one can figure out why, she is in the day sail business....sort of side topic but does anyone have any theories?

Seems very likely, Bruce. If you're paying going out and then again when you check back in....that's $80-100 for the average mono.

Pass.

Chimichanga??? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Based on the published schedule that previously only applied to commercial cargo vessels and cruise ships, the rate is $1 per foot for the FIRST 24 HOURS. Then $.75 for the next and $.50 after that. So a 7 day visit for a 45' boat would come to $4.25/foot or $191.25. Plus $2/day/passenger cruising permit and maybe $20/person departure tax.

OTOH, look at the bright side. It will be a lot easier to get a painkiller at the Soggy Dollar if the day trippers get priced out of the market.

such backwards thinking, raising prices is never an attractive offer.

what if you keep your boat in BVI, how can they charge a daily rate?

This is just another reason we are moving our boat to SXM.

here is the link to that 2nd page Glenn was referring to https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...e=1&theater

Interesting question -- how WILL they handle that? If you keep your boat in the BVI and decide to head over to St. John and then come back? Do they start charging you the "daily" rate when you check back in??

This makes ZERO sense.

Boats leaving charter bases in the BVI and trying to spend a couple of days in the USVI are going to run into some interesting situations, no doubt!

And yes, I DO think it's all about the day-trippers and greed. So much for those water taxi issues...this makes those look fairly minimal....

Sounds like this is very new, as in February new. Sounds like a PITA. Checking in to the BVI with a charter boat could coast, but our private boat check ins have been cheap. Hoping this goes away.

Cheers, RickG

I don't believe the charge will apply to a BVI based vessel. I suspect this is a move to curtail US charter companies. I believe tourist travel is down because the BVI has strangled the Golden Goose. 7 dollar Caribes and 11 dollar painkillers are crazy. The fees and costs just keep going up. We are getting close to pulling the trigger on a new boat but will re think where to put the boat. Perhaps our money is better spent elsewhere.
It's also worth reading some of the local blogs and publications in the BVI. There is a hostility expressed to tourists I find a bit shocking. We were the victims of a robbery and found the police had no interest at all in the crime since we were tourists.
G

It may not even apply to private boats - might just be commercial boats?

While some places are jacking prices there are still $4, and sometimes $3 beers and some reasonable, good food..but this Gov needs to stop gouging..

There has been an escalation in hostilities between the US and B VIs over several years. The St Thomas guy who was fishing and sent to Balsum Ghut...a STYC boat that was rammed by officers, severely injuring a young lady...raising of port authority fees...raising departure fees...making up new fees. It is total and utter madness between two territories that are so closely related by geography and blood. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Sad.gif" alt="" />

Sometimes there is lemonade to be made. New beach bar on the south side of St. Thomas. Still, I hear the bay is redlined by some of the charter companies. We're going to pop by in March.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Abi-Beach-Bar/865953536781127

Our trips have always included USVI and BVI. At 40' and $90 extra for three nights? It would make a difference for us. Especially since St. John and Culebra have better beaches inside that three day circle. Before we were paying $15 for a weekend visit.

Cheers, RickG

Totally agree...the two Goverments should be working hand in hand not fighting each other..everyone loses in this fight..

This is looking like the definition of a Perfect Storm

US tourists - still hurting - people don't all have great paying jobs these days - so fewer coming

Europe & Canadian tourists - has anyone checked the US-exchange rate lately ?

Just exchange rates ALONE - has caused the cost of travel to the BVI to go up by over 18% from last year
Nobody sees that... but it is the most painful for an entire sector of tourism

Trust companies have been shifting staff off-island for 8 yrs now - so, fewer admin staff needed... (and) fewer jobs for islanders -
fewer apartments rented...and, all in all, resulting in less imported dollars circulating here

Reduced number of incorporations... so, less annual fees
Fewer cruise ships... so, lower gov't revenue from per tourist landing fees

Now... in an attempt to keep their incomes - restaurants are bumping up their prices - and government is bumping fees

I can understand their thinking
But, I can also understand how flawed that thinking is

...but, when all you can see floating is a straw.....

FWIW

Typical bureaucratic thinking. We aren't collecting enough money, so let's do something that any idiot with half a brain would know is only going to make the problem worse. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

After 30+ years of visiting the BVI, I have frequently seen the "business model" of when things are bad,raise prices. Gov't throws out all kind of nickel and dime fees and many businesses jack up the prices for the customers who are coming. Rather than offer incentives to get more people to come, they just raise prices to those who do come. A few years back when I was surprised at some increases at a local establishment, the owner very seriously said "Yeah, times are bad, I need to make it on fewer people". The place was lucky to fill 10% of their tables for the next 2 or 3 years.
If you follow the BVI media, and read about all the projects and initiatives the government has going(or the people are demanding)it doesn't take much to "connect the dots" and do the math. Revenues are way down,expenditures are through the roof and there is an election in the brewing. Simple, raise rates and fees on the tourists.
Just look at the financing offering on the cruise ship project. 8%+ return on your investment?? The investment will be paid by rents from tenants in the shops? Don't need to look too far to see that they aren't doing too well collecting rents at Crafts Alive. Mr Ponzi would be proud.
Add in airport,Biwater,more scrutiny of the offshore banking business.
And for those of you who don't bother with travel medical insurance, you just might want to take a look at the new hospital fees for "out of towners". Going to be interesting the next few years.

Hey - here's a thought
Maybe we have it all wrong - and maybe they have figured something out that we cannot see (?)

After all - Sir R. Branson has been here for years - obviously studying and mesmerized by their business model

..just sayin'

I made a couple of calls and here is what I was told. The new tax applies to all boats that are not home ported in the BVI, private or commercial. If a boat is BVI based then they are exempt coming and going.
I am not sure I understand the discussion on a war between the BVI and USVI. As far as I know the USVI has not imposed any new taxes on BVI vessels. It is very cheap to clear in and out.
G

Actually, Necker is probably the only place that COULD actually thrive with that business model.

From our Charter Yacht Society:

Many of you may have already heard that yachts clearing into West End (and Gun Greek) are being nailed with a $1 per foot fee by Ports Authority.

This new fee has been brought to the attention of a number of government officials including the Minister of Communications and Works. It is my understanding a directive was sent to PA (Ports Authority) yesterday telling them to desist from charging the fee. As you know, sometimes it takes a while for memos to reach the front line. The matter was drawn to the Minister’s attention again, today, as one of our members was charged when clearing in at West End.

My advice is to pay the fee and know that this too shall pass. And we hope it passes sooner rather than later.

This appears to be another one of those the left hand never knows what the right hand is doing between government departments

The USVI did recently impose a $10 departure tax on ferry passengers heading for the BVI and the BVI is aparently very concerned about the effect of the USCG appropriations bill increasing the OUPV limit from 6 to 12 for USVI charters. I don't see that having any noticable effect on the BVI economy but aparently they do.

However, considering what visiting yachts spend on moorings, food, drinks and entertainment while in the BVI, if the new fee causes 3 or 4% of vessels to choose the SVI or remain in the USVI there will be a net loss in revenue to the BVI economy. The damage to the day tripper trade at White Bay alone would probably negate any revenue gained through the new fee.

I am reading on Facebook that this has already been revoked and will not be further implemented.
Thank goodness that if so Common sense has prevailed.

Is there any new info on this? I have a group of 9 on a 44' cat in June. We're considering going to the USVI side for maybe 2 nights. Can someone help me understand what the cost for this would be? I would have a fee of some sort checking into the USVI and then I'd have fees of some sorts checking backing into the BVI. I'm not clear on what all fees would apply. TIA.

no fee for USVI, checking back into BVI will be a couple of bucks. Go to the charter boat forum and download the 2 USVI forms, you can fill them in online, no charge. When you check out of BVI, you will use the same forms to check back in, easy peasy

So if you're only leaving the BVI for a couple of days you don't have the departure taxes like you do when are leaving for good?

I was planning on going from JVD to Cruz, hangout on the US side a couple of days and then check back in at WE. So it's just a couple of forms to get back into the US and then a couple of more when I get back to WE and that's it? I'll look up the actual procedures for going ashore, etc later, but I thought there were all of these fees for the intermediate swap over. If that's not the case, then that is very good news. Following Steve Simonsen's FB page has me itching to check out some of the places he photographs. We are also planning on catching up with him while there for a family photo shoot.