Clearing into Norway

[Fascadale]

Any information or advice on this subject would be welcome.

I hope to arrive on the west coast of Norway in a month or so. I think I will make my first landfall and my first port of call on one of the outlying islands, Bomlo perhaps.

Does Norway have designated entry ports or does one just call on local policeman ?

And how about the import of booze ? I'm told that a pint can cost up to £8.00 so I plan to take as many cans as I can.

Thanks

 

[ChrisE]

there are specific points of entry where cusotms officials can check you in. Eg we arrived at what was a checkin point, Mandahl, only to find that it had been closed. We tried the plods and were told to go to the official customs post which was 50 miles up the coast in Egersund.

However, I'm told that providing that you don't intend to stay more a three months then Norway no longer requires that you book in. That's from the commodore of a highly respected cruising club who was there last year.

Regarding price of a pint the figure of £8/pint is low for a bar nearer £10. Although you can buy beer in selected spuermarkets for about £4/litre. Regarding bringing your own we brought in 2 cases and scotch and 3 cases of wine, declared them and the officials were not interested other than to remark that we shouldn't sell them to locals.

 

[KenMcCulloch]

It's very important to have the proper ensign and courtesy flag /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. If you try PM'ing 'Bosunof' on the forum then if Frank is able to connect to the interweb he will certainly tell you his experience; he was due to leave Peterhead last week and -afaik- he is in Norway now.

 

[Bosunof]

Hi, I have just got Bosun to Norway and it was a trip and a half, but perhaps more of that later.

We couldn't make the port of our choice. I cant sail even Bosun into the teeth of a northerly Force 7. We got to Skudeneshavn. There we raised the courtesy flag and "Q". We had twenty four hours of waiting and we found no one to come calling and yet it is a busy, albeit small, port. Coastguard were not very interested either.

Lots of availability for wifi so take your laptop. Sometimes the commune allows use of their net for free for the swapping of your mobile number. Just keep trying to get on line.
As for beer, not quite as expensive as you say but getting to £6 per .4l glass in the best and most active pubs in Stavanger.

Guest harbours are good and supply all the needs. Take care you can get the gas you use replaced though. I am struggling to get Camping Gaz replacements.

Have a good trip. Smashing people and very friendly sailors around who are more than eager to assist a traveller from Scotland. And... spectacular cruising grounds. Loads of boat owners in Norway. But they are mainly white and FG. Timber is much more rare than even UK.

 

[Bosunof]

And, Ken is quite right about Courtesy flags. The Norwegians are sticklers for flag etiquette so do show them that respect. In addition lower and raise your own ensign at the right times.

That attracts attention and comments when speaking to locals and other sailors.

 

[Viking]

OK. Toll (Customs) in Norway will cover your enter, if you explain your trip they may give you an open end 'visa'. The Coastguard (Kystvakt) cover navigation marks etc. The NSSR (RNLI) Redningselskapet cover - Rescue. It worth getting covered (£40-50) on arrival. You get changed for rescue here if your not a member. They also carry spare fuel and a diver to clear props etc and check run agrounds (rocks here not sand). and you get a very useful handbook with lots of maps, photos and info (in English) on harbours, marinas and anchorages on Norwegian, Swedish and Danish coasts.
Check out Tourist info centres for local harbours info sheets.
If I can help drop me a line
Regards
Frank