Renewing cruising permit - Antigua

[rebelae]

My boat's in Antigua at the moment (wish I was there too with all this snow!) - and my cruising permit expires in a couple of weeks. Trouble is, I've got a domestic emergency going on here, so I can't get out there to renew it in person.

Anybody had any experience of renewing these sorts of things remotely?

 

[phantomlady]

You can just renew it when you return. As you are not there your boat is not actually 'cruising' at the moment! We have left our boat for extended periods many times in Antigua with no current cruising permit.

 

[rebelae]

Thanks very much indeed - that's an interesting twist (can something related to permits be "too logical?"). And do you know if that applies even if the boat stays in the water?

 

[phantomlady]

Don't know if that applies if boat is still in the water as we always hauled ours out when leaving. But, I am sure that everything will be ok to sort out when you return. I have always found the authorities there to be officious but pleasant when treated kindly. My advice is not to leave the boat afloat for over 6 months or you will be subject to some sort of import tax if I remember rightly. We had to present our marina bill proving haul out and land storage charges once when checking out of the country upon our return after 8 months.