 Andaman Islands : Profile
The Andaman Islands are now a popular area for boats from Phuket, especially those on their way to the Red Sea. However, yachts visiting the area have reported "extreme bureaucracy" including having to report in via radio each day. Most yachts stop here on their way to Sri Lanka or India and onto the Maldives etc. More yachts are now stopping and then returning to Thailand/Malaysia although theoretically you are obtaining a transit visa for India.
You must have a valid Indian visa, and apply for a permit to visit in advance. Yachts that have arrived without visas will only be permitted a 3 day stay. Indian visas can be obtained from Indian Embassies in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok. Visas are obtainable in Phuket from Emotion Travel for a fee of 3000 baht each and it takes 10 days to obtain (Emotion Travel, 104 Rasada Road, Muang, and Phuket). These visas are generally for 6 months and apply to the whole of India. The embassy MUST endorse BY HAND the visa stamp in the passport with the following words: "Visa also valid for visit to permitted places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands for tourism only." If this is not endorsed then they will not let you in. The yacht's name on the endorsement may also be an advantage.
After obtaining the visa, before departure for the Andamans, as a courtesy immigration have requested that you fax a crew list with passport details, reason for visit is tourism, yacht's name, home port, and approximate arrival date to the Chief Secretary, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Port Blair, Tel. 91-3192-234087, Fax: 91-3192-232656, Email: cs@and.nic.in
Yachts must not stop anywhere else before completing formalities at Port Blair (South Andaman). Call the port authorities on VHF ch 16 a few
hours before arrival and advise them of your ETA, then call again on arrival for
instructions on where to anchor and so that they can inform customs and immigration. It is best to time arrival for daylight hours.
The Coastguard will visit the yacht with their own boat; customs and immigration officials must be collected in your dinghy. Finally, a visit must be paid ashore to the Harbour Master at the Port Management Board (PMB) to make the itinerary for the places one intends to visit. The HM should supply data on the radio times and frequencies for your required daily radio check-ins. For more details, see below.
Procedure On Departure : Visit the Port Management Board and pay the harbour and anchorage fees first before going to customs to obtain a port clearance, and finally immigration (in this order). Notify Port Control in advance of your expected time of departure.
A useful and informative website is http://andaman.nic.in/ which includes latest regulations for visiting yachts, which are listed below:
STANDARD OPERATION PROCEDURE FOR FOREIGN YACHTS
VISITING A & N ISLANDS (INDIA)
(a) Obtain clearance/permit from the Indian High Commission/Embassy prior to departure from last port of call and intimate the following particulars to the Indian High Commission/embassy.
(i) Purpose of visit
(ii) Port of registration
(iii) Last port of call
(iv) Next port of call
(v) Name of local agent (if any)
(vi) Particulars of the owner and crew
(vii) Itinerary of the vessel
(b) Clearance to be obtained from Port Management Board, Port Blair 48 hours prior to entering Indian Territorial waters
CALL Port Blair Port Radio, Location 11°10’28" N 92°44’56" E
FREQUENCY HFTR 2182 8294 6224. TELEPHONE (091) 03192 33688, (091) 03192 33690, (091) 03192 33674. TELEX 625-218 PORT IN. FAX (091) 03192 36069.
(c) Immigration clearance will be given at Port Blair on arrival/departure. On arrival yachts will be inspected by Navy, Customs and Immigration for clearance.
(d) Visit permit is issued by the Immigration Officer for a period of thirty days. The conditions laid down to in the permit are to be strictly adhered to by the permit holder
(e) No deviation from the pre drawn itinerary would be permitted.
(f) Yachts are to be fitted with HFRF sets for communication failing which their visit will be restricted to VHF range.
(g) Yachts when in Indian waters are to inform their location twice a day at 0800 hrs and 2000 hrs to Port Management Board Control Room at the above frequencies.
(h) No diving equipment is to be carried on board. The vessel can obtain the diving equipment locally from approved diving agencies.
recent reports are that diving is now permitted by foreign vessels, with a permit, no longer having to hire equipment locally
(i) The yacht will not be permitted to pick up commercial passengers, Indian or foreigners on board during the permitted cruise. However yachts will be allowed to carry passengers to and from Port Blair who have been cleared by Immigration authorities.
(j) Equipment capable of sea and mapping is not to be carried aboard
(k) No arms and ammunitions are to be carried aboard the yacht. Arms if carried for self protection are to be declared on arrival
(l) Yachts visiting the islands may have an authorized agent at Port Blair.
(m) Clearance of Customs, Port Management Board and Immigration is necessary before departure.
Yachts can no longer anchor behind Chatham Island to wait for and collect the officials. The new anchorage is about a quarter of a mile away from the small harbor behind Chatham Island; the dinghy can be left here.
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