Noonsite, clearing in and entering territorial waters

[Mid]

the yellow 'Q' flag simply indicates that the vessel is under quartinee , it does not indicate that there is illness or other maliase aboard , simply that it is awaiting clearance and as such must not be boarded .

as long as you stay onboard until given leave to disembark you will be fine for the most part .

authorities the world over take a dim view of ships company stepping ashore unauthorised .

 

[slug zitski]

the yellow 'Q' flag simply indicates that the vessel is under quartinee , it does not indicate that there is illness or other maliase aboard , simply that it is awaiting clearance and as such must not be boarded .

as long as you stay onboard until given leave to disembark you will be fine for the most part .

authorities the world over take a dim view of ships company stepping ashore unauthorised .

On the chart is a line 12 miles from the coast , embedded in the line are <0> notations 

this notation indicates the any vessel crossing this line from seaward must contact authorities vhf 

 

[Ajax]

That looks like iSailor.  I wonder if all chart software (iNavx, Navionics, etc) show this?

 

[slug zitski]

That looks like iSailor.  I wonder if all chart software (iNavx, Navionics, etc) show this?

Yes and no 

most times the info is in the coast pilot 

digital charts are a mis mash of local and public cartography and data 

the rule is always the same 

Inside 12 miles and you are operating in waters with restrictions 

 

[Mid]

That looks like iSailor.  I wonder if all chart software (iNavx, Navionics, etc) show this?

rather than charts refer to the pilot book , Admiralty for me , tbh I'm unaware of the equivalent for America .

 

[Mid]

lookie slug n I agree

 

[jsaronson]

Ajax,

The Chris Doyle Guides to the Leeward and Windward islands have everything you need about cruiser nets, provisioning, clearing in etc.

St. Barts patrols Gustavia harbor every morning looking for boats that have not cleared in.  Other islands lack the resources to do that.

The BVIs would not allow passage through their waters during covid.  Created a lot of bad will.

Joel

 

[Cuffy]

The actual wording is as below, taken from the United Nations Convention  on the Law of the Sea. It says that passage includes anchoring and stopping?

Is this intepretation correct?

CUFFY

SECTION 3. INNOCENT PASSAGE IN THE TERRITORIAL SEA

SUBSECTION A. RULES APPLICABLE TO ALL SHIPS

Article17

Right of innocent passage

Subject to this Convention, ships of all States, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.

Article18

Meaning of passage

1. Passage means navigation through the territorial sea for the purpose of:

(a) traversing that sea without entering internal waters or calling at a roadstead or port facility outside internal waters; or

(b) proceeding to or from internal waters or a call at such roadstead or port facility.

2. Passage shall be continuous and expeditious. However, passage includes stopping and anchoring, but only in so far as the same are incidental to ordinary navigation or are rendered necessary by force majeure or distress or for the purpose of rendering assistance to persons, ships or aircraft in danger or distress.

 

[slug zitski]

Try some innocent passage inside territorial waters without contacting the authorities and you will be arrested 

 

[Cuffy]

Definitly not true in the Eastern Med, going between Turkish and Greek waters is done as all the time as part of passages up and down the Aegean.

 

[slug zitski]

Definitly not true in the Eastern Med, going between Turkish and Greek waters is done as all the time as part of passages up and down the Aegean.

The Turkish maritime border is the Turkish shoreline 

Greece owns the sea 

 

[Zonker]

Try some innocent passage inside territorial waters without contacting the authorities and you will be arrested 

Bullshit, as usual. It varies wildly between countries.

I passed through Singapore's waters on the way to Malaysia. A patrol boat came by, asked where we were going and we said "Puteri, Malaysia" (a nearby marina). They smiled and waved. I certainly did not contact them beforehand.

I've passed the Nicobar islands (part of India) on our way to Sri Lanka and nobody arrested us.

Passed very close to Isla Fernando Noronha (Brazil) on a passage from Ascension Island to Suriname. Close enough to see buildings on shore.

 

[Cuffy]

Again, not true. Territorial limits are marked on all charts.

 

[slug zitski]

Again, not true. Teritorial limits are marked on all charts.

Paper charts do 

seems digital , yachtsman charts are hit and miss 

 

[slug zitski]

East coast USA 12 mile  line

 

[slug zitski]

West coast Spain 12 mile line 

do not go inside unless you have permission from Spain 

 

[hoektron]

I'm afraid that I'd come across as some kind of "narc" while trying to offer a bribe.

Magic words for this tend to be along the lines of "I'm so sorry about the issue, how much is the fine? And can we pay it now?"

None of this "oh I dropped a hundred" or "cash in the passport" nonsense

 

[Zonker]

British friends (he used to be a UK Navy sub captain).... "Well we'll need a proper receipt for that" <bribe>.  They got out of a lot of fees that way.

 

[sugarbird]

My experience in el Caribe has been that while there may well be international "Rules & Regulations" gathering dust on a bookcase somewhere in the office, there are often local interpretations and customs, which may even vary by the individual uniformed person in charge of the vessel that wants to board you and "check your papers." Some are very nice, courteous and helpful, others are absolute assholes (and yeah, US CBP have been some of the worst, although the BVI isn't far behind IMHO). And stuff changes... the road to electronic clearance has been bumpy and uneven, but it's getting there. Changing rules, regs and protocols for Covid have been confusing, poorly communicated, and inconvenient.

So due diligence comes first - do your best to find out what the current rules are before you depart (just because a ten year old cruising guide says it doesn't make it true today). Then do your best to follow the rules you're aware of. If stopped and boarded, try to be cooperative and respectful, even if the boys scuff up your topsides and tromp around the boat wearing big black rubber boots. I strongly suggest one doesn't get indignant and blather on about how you're an American citizen, and "I know my rights." Rarely ends well. The bribe thing probably worked better back in the old days, I personally wouldn't initiate it. 

The concept of innocent passage routinely applies to commercial vessels throughout the islands. Look on Marine Traffic at all the vessels transiting the Caribbean - trust me, NONE of them check into territorial waters they pass through. "Yachtsmen" (especially those on a tight budget and with a streak of non-conformity) have abused the privilege over the years, and everybody knows it. Then there are the folks illegally fishing, running dope, guns, money or humans - the gendarmes have a legitimate interest in who you are and what you're doing. Also, it's one thing to be sailing between Eleuthera and Abaco, heading offshore, vs being found snugged up in a nice cove in the Exumas. 

 

[CapDave]

We’ve spent 23 of the last 28 months in the Caribbean, and we’re in Antigua at the moment. During the height of Covid, the islands got antsy about their territorial waters and there were some incidents of enthusiastic enforcement - notably in the BVIs, and less so in Dominica, Grenada, the French islands, etc. Aside from that, in this region it’s entirely ordinary to sail through territorial waters enroute to elsewhere without incident. 

That is pretty much the case again now - however if you want to stop and anchor for the night enroute to elsewhere, around here that’s called “yellow flagging it”, the authorities want you to have made prior contact. With that prior contact it is generally being permitted, without it there are still stories of boats being moved along. And enforcement in general, while still spotty of necessity, has ramped up everywhere. 

Most of the islands have their own “island X cruisers” facebook page - pretty easy to find. Each page is replete with first hand accounts of all the issues you ask about, and lots of resources.

We love the Caribbean, though it’s very crowded this season. There are said to be 400-500 boats in Le Marin/St. Anne in Martinique, think we’ll skip it!

PS - I do recommend Chris Doyle’s guides. They give an excellent overview of procedures and resources and cruising highlights of the region. Supplemented with current information on Customs & Immigration, they’re great! Chris himself is still out cruising the islands, and posts regularly on facebook with new information.