Cristobal (Colon) : Profile

Clearance

Cristobal Signal Station should be contacted on VHF Channels 12 or 16 and the yacht will be directed to anchor at the designated yacht anchorage in the Flats (free), or proceed directly to Shelter Bay Marina (VHF channel 74). (Note: advance reservation is recommended for Shelter Bay Marina).

The captain should go ashore and clear Immigration first (see "getting ashore" below under "Docking"). The office is open 07:00-15:00 Monday to Friday. After hours clearance can be obtained from the Immigration office in Cristobal. Next the captain should go to the Autoridad Portuaria (port authority) to clear into Panama and obtain a cruising permit. The Port Captain's office is in the Panama Canal Commission building 1105, 3rd floor.

If not transiting the Canal, clearance is completed at the Port Authority. If transiting the Canal, the captain should contact the Canal Admeasurement office on VHF channel 12 or tel. 443 2293 to make an appointment. If berthed in Shelter Bay Marina, the admeasurer will visit there.

Whether you are at Shelter Bay Marina or at the Flats the service of agents are available if yachts are prepared to pay for the service and don't want to do the paperwork etc. themselves (such as clearing in and out, arrangements with Canal Authorities or any other requirements they may have). If your knowledge of Spanish is uncertain, then employing an agent who knows the system would be useful.

Yachts interested in appointing an agent should ask around first. There are official agents, registered with the Canal Authorities, whose service does not come cheap, and unofficial “agents” who in the main are taxi drivers who understand the procedures and where the various offices are located, but will be unable to assist should any problems occur during transit.

It is considered dangerous to walk anywhere at any time, day or night, so a taxi should be used at all times to visit the various offices.

Last updated February 2010.

Match Shipping Management Tel:+507-232-6447 / +507-232-8924 Match Shipping Management Noonsite Page, www.matchship.com, info@matchship.com Agents for canal transit.

Triton Ship Supplier, S.A Manuel Amador Guerrero Ave. and Arnulfo Arias M. Ave., , 836 Bldg. office 15A 2nd. floor, Ancon, Panama Tel:(507) 3141493 / (507) 2026174 / (507) 66132843, Fax:(507) 3141493 www.tritoncorppanama.com, hrodriguez@tritoncorppanama.com Manage every aspect of the logistics and legal documentation for your vessel.

[Show additional 3 entries for this category]

Docking

Visiting yachts have a choice of staying at the new marina at Shelter Bay (advisable to book in advance) or anchoring out in the Flats "Anchorage Area F" (for small boats and vessels), which is free. It is not possible to anchor off the marina, the only yachts that anchor here are those waiting a few hours for a slip to become available.

Getting Ashore
If anchored in the Flats, there is no longer any official dinghy landing area here. It is possible to use the official launch service which services the commercial vessels. This brings you ashore in the commercial Port of Cristobal, however this service is very expensive. Some locals, like Tito, offer an unofficial shore service, landing around dock 16 Cristobal or dock 5 in Colon, the latter not being in a safe area of Colon!

Unofficially, you can land at an area close to the entrance to Pier 16 in Cristobal Port. This Pier is just east of the Flats and is a very short run. You can land here but there are no facilities to leave the dinghy. Normally you can find a taxi at the entrance to the Pier.

Last updated February 2010.

Shelter Bay Marina
Fort Sherman, Building 30, Shelter Bay, Colon, Panama
Tel:+ (507) 433-3581, Fax:+ (507) 433 3681, VHF Channel 74
info@shelterbaymarina.com
Opening Hours: Office Hours 08:00 - 17:00
A new marina with 86 berths, located inside the military area, and a high standard of facilities. All facilities, wi-fi, 100 ton haulout facility, laundry, regular daily transport to/from Colon and provision stores. Dry storage yard for long term storage as well as a work area. Dock 200 feet long for mega-yachts. Fuel, LPG refils, clearance services, bar and restaurant. Good 24hr security. For haul out contact Russ at (507)6613-1558 MAILING ADDRESS - Yacht in Transit "Boat Name", Shelter Bay Marina, Fort Sherman, Building 30, Colon, Panama

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