API required in the Caribbean for all vessels Arriving/Departing

J

jonnyhull

Member
Joined
2 Sep 2003
Messages
27
Location
Brighton, England
Visit site
I've just been sent an email by the Barbados Sailing Association. They've been informed that API (Advanced Passenger Information) is required for ALL vessels arriving into, departing from and moving within (between) the CARICOM Single Domestic Space.

API is also required for each leg of the journey (arrival and departure or departing from arriving to) for both passengers and for crew members on each journey.

Apparently this is in immediate effect.

More information at the website: Caricom eAPIS

and here's the more pertinent content from the Fact Sheet they sent out (I've deleted detail relating to commercial air and sea carriers and private aircraft):

FACT SHEET
CARICOM ADVANCED PASSENGER INFORMATION SYSTEM

Legislation has been passed which provides for an obligation for Advance Passenger Information to be transmitted to the ten (10) participating Member States, within the Single Domestic Space for ALL Air and Sea Carriers arriving at, and departing from each Member State.

1. Participating Member States

a. Antigua and Barbuda
b. Barbados
c. Dominica
d. Grenada
e. Guyana
f. Jamaica
g. St. Kitts and Nevis
h. St. Lucia
i. St. Vincent and the Grenadines
j. Trinidad and Tobago

2. Queries and Contact Information

JRCC (Joint Regional Communications Centre)

Queries

(246) 435-4066
(246) 435-6897

apis-support@impacsjrcc.org


3. Time of Submission

m. Sea Carriers Arriving from or Departing to a Port OUTSIDE of the Single Domestic Space
i. Arrival
No later than Twenty Four (24) Hours Before Arrival at a Port Within the Single Domestic Space

ii. Departure
No later than Fifteen (15) Minutes After Departure from a Port within the Single Domestic Space to a Port Outside of The Single Domestic Space

n. Sea Carriers Arriving from or Departing to a Port WITHIN the Single Domestic Space
o.
i. Arrival
No later than One (1) Hour Before Departure from a Port Within the Single Domestic Space to another Port Within the Single Domestic Space.

ii. Departure
No later than One (1) Hour Before Departure from a Port within the Single Domestic Space to a Port Within the Single Domestic Space

4. METHODS of Transmission

s. PRIVATE SEA CARRIERS (Those without the electronic capability to submit using UN-EDIFACT)

11. Downloadable XLS File ONLY, as an attachment, available at www.caricomeapis.org, by email to:

ii. maritime@impacsjrcc.org



12. eAPIS format (registration required) available via Web Portal at:

www.caricomeapis.org

i. After Logging in either
ii. Select “Fill in a new form” Link and choose or
iii. “Download XLS” - Downloadable Form with option to “Submit”

Temporary Option
Failure or Unavailability of Electronic Equipment

13. Fax Message to:

(246) 228-4040

5. Registration – eAPIS

a. Go to www.caricomeapis.org
b. Select: REGISTER

Hope that helps! Looks like even the Caribbean is getting overly regulated!!!
 
I am dense, and hence am totally baffled by the above, other than knowing that the Crats are simply introducing more totally useless legislation.

Although no doubt we shall be told that these actions are as advised by our American chums, and are probably all to do with the war on terror (might be better to have one on bureaucracy instead?)

I was at the Bridgetown Harbour this afternoon, and saw a pretty little Albin Vega (I took some photos of her) from Germany moored alongside one of the new ship fenders, with a rather sweet little dog on board keeping watch - his Owners were at that time probably trying to 'check in', and being told all about their APIs by the Immigration Crats ashore..... two hours later they still hadnt returned... I hope they got through OK..... at least the dog had food and water bowls in the cockpit with free surface effects - they must have anticipated that all the paperwork would take some time.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
All the checking in with Customs & Immigration between the islands was the WORST part of our charter in the Windward Isles. A complete joke since the yachts were Moorings and we are all just regular 'joes' on holiday. It seemed to me like this was a very lucrative business on the part of the local 'CRATS'...

Almost as bad as the constant going through metal detectors at the local airports where everything 'beeped' and no one took a blind bit of notice.
 
I must be missing something it seems to be for all the big carriers i.e. Airlines and cruise ships, there's no mention of yachts etc apart from saying 'All vessels' and all I can say to it is that There are no passengers on my boat only crew.

Sledgehammer cracking nut again methinks.
 
I've been told it applies to yachts also. We were sent the email because a number of Bajan yachts are heading to a regatta in Tobago this weekend. Also it was suggested we let any yachts coming to Barbados for the MT Gay/Boatyard regatta at the beginning of June know about it. I think it's worth checking but the website doesn't shed too much light on it (they even spell site incorrectly "sight"!!!)

The Fact Sheet refers to Commercial Air Carriers, Private Aircraft, Commercial Sea Carriers and Private Sea Carriers so I beleive yachts are included. They also need crew as well as passenger lists. I must admit I was sceptical at first. I had heard the Trinidad & Tobago governments were doing this but had no idea it would apply throughout Caricom.

It may speed up the bureaucratic process but I doubt it. Mind you the inter-island Caricom visa they currently have as part of Cricket World Cup has certainly made airport hassles easier. I flew in from Grenada yesterday and got through Barbados immigration in 30 seconds or so - didn't even want to see my passport! That finishes shortly.
 
[ QUOTE ]
obligation for Advance Passenger Information

[/ QUOTE ] I think its the passenger bit that makes it not applicable to cruising yachts.

One of the basic rules of crusing is that you never carry passengers.. creates a whole different legislation ball park in most countries... Everybody on board is registered as crew - even the 85year old granny...
 
this was in the email from the guys at JRCC:

"A Reminder – API is required for ALL vessels arriving into, departing from and moving within (between) the CARICOM Single Domestic Space.

API is also required for each leg of the journey (arrival and departure or departing from arriving to) for both passengers and for crew members on each journey."

they clearly state crew members...

I'll email them and clarify - it seems crazy and will have a massive impact on cruisers.
 
I just registered using a fasle name etc, could have some fun!.

I would not know how you could fill in these forms, for a start you have to enter your phone number which not everyone will have they also want a flag code (I assume that there must be a list somewhere) But here is the tricky bit, time of departure and port which you have to select from a drop down list and time of arrival and port. So you leave Spain for St. Lucia what time are you going to arrive?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top