 Cocos Keeling : Formalities
When approaching the 12 mile limit, vessels should contact Quarantine or the marine officer on Channel 20 to advise ETA at the 12 mile limit. Vessels arriving at night should proceed to the anchorage and advise Quarantine of their arrival at 0700 the following morning.
Incoming vessels must fly the Q flag and anchor in the lagoon behind Direction Island, close to the yellow quarantine buoys. No one on board should leave the vessel nor should there be any contact with anyone until clearance is completed. Neither the quarantine buoys nor any other buoys at Direction Island are suitable for yachts, which should use their own anchors.
Warning: Cocos Keeling entrance The GPS position of the entrance into the lagoon, west of Direction Island, is reported not to accord with most charts, both paper and electronic.
Previously Noonsite reported that the GPS coordinates of the centre of the pass are 12°05.327'S, 96°52.333'E. Latest waypoints submitted by a visting yacht (July 2007) are obtained from an electronic chart and are correct as follows:
The quarantine buoy is now located in the inner lagoon behind Direction Island. The GPS coordinates of the quarantine buoy are: 12°05.56'S, 96°52.86'E. The pass from the outer into the inner lagoon is marked by two floating perch type buoys.
Entrance to the lagoon of South Keeling is between Horsburgh Island and Direction Island. The entrance pass to the atoll is deep, wide, and well lit.
On the other hand, the buoys leading into the yacht anchorage at Direction Island are unlit and anyone arriving in the dark might be best advised to anchor in a convenient area outside the yacht anchorage until daylight. Be aware
that the supply ship often arrives at night and will anchor in the area of the entrance range lights.
Customs, immigration and quarantine are on West Island, but the officers prefer to board yachts at Direction Island. Boats are normally visited by quarantine and immigration officers at the earliest opportunity.
Contact Customs on VHF channel 20 and moor in the quarantine area.
Last updated July 2009.
The same strict immigration requirements apply as in mainland Australia and no one is allowed to arrive without a valid Australian visa, except holders of New Zealand passports.
See the Australian Immigration & Customs website for more information.
Yachts travelling to or from Cocos Keeling and the mainland of Australia are deemed to have not left Australia if their trip is within 30 days of departure from the mainland Australia or these islands. Persons on board these yachts must ensure that their visa covers the entire period of their stay including travel time between the mainland of Australia and these islands.
Last updated July 2009.
Firearms must be declared on arrival and must not leave the vessel without a permit.
Restricted goods may be bonded on board.
Quarantine: Fresh eggs, their containers and some meat products may be confiscated, or sealed on board. If a yacht has animals on board, it must anchor outside the quarantine buoy at Direction Island. Animals must not be taken ashore. All animal and food waste must be taken to Direction Island for proper disposal where it is burnt in pits.
Under the new quarantine regime for the Indian Ocean Territories, all fresh fruit and vegetables may only be imported from AUSTRALIA if free of pests and diseases. No fresh fruit and vegetables is allowed to be imported from other countries including CHRISTMAS ISLAND. The products must also be clean and free of soil or other contamination. Quarantine officers will be required to inspect fresh fruit and vegetables on arrival.
Last updated July 2009.
Latest reports (August 2003) are that no fees are being charged presently, either for arrival or departure. Yachts arriving at the weekend or during inclement weather are allowed to stay in the quarantine anchorage until convenient for processing; again no overtime or other fees.
Yachts are only allowed to anchor at Direction Island unless a special dispensation has been obtained from the marine officer.
Spearfishing or cleaning fish is not permitted on the south-east corner of Direction Island around the anchorage area, or anywhere near a beach because of the danger of attracting sharks.
Appropriate conservative dress should be worn when visiting Home Island in consideration of the residents.
|
Global sponsor of Noonsite.com
www.pantaenius.com
forums.worldcruising.com