new charges for bahamas

[AndrewJ]

BOATUS just published an article which stated that cruising permits for the Bahamas is now going to cost USD 300.00 for boats over 35' (Used to be $10.00).this permit will be valid as long as you stay in their waters, if you leave and come back again, it will cost another $300.00. The customs clearance used to be (as recently as 1999)$ 50.00. The email address for the bahamas conptroller of customs is "COFROLLE@BATELNET.BS" if you feel the urge to write this individual, or wish to avoid the Bahamas, who main income is tourists..

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[SimonJ]

Very sad that the Bahamas Govt should charge in this way although the 650 or so , mostly US, boats (at peak) that winter in Georgetown probably ought to be paying more. It was $100 in 2001 & 2 for a 34ft boat. Next time I transit with a few overnights en route to Florida I do not intend to clear in. Do you know the charge applying to under 35ft??

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[AndrewB]

$150. Apparently there has been a dramatic drop in the number of week-ending sports boats and it is possible the Bahamas may review this charge, but probably not in a way that would help blue-water cruisers.

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[jax]

Andrew

Check out post from KGI and others, this forum. 23 07 03

Jax

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[AndrewB]

Latest news is ...

... they've just modified that to include up to 2 entries in any period of 90 days. With effect from December.

Not much help to long distance cruisers though.

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