Basseterre : Profile

Location

Basseterre is one of the most attractive towns in the Caribbean, with a range of both French and English architecture.

Following its virtual destruction by hurricanes George and Lenny in 2003, the entrance and protective breakwater of the marina have been redesigned so to render it calm and safe from surge. However that said, cruisers have reported a 20 degree roll here which makes it unsafe for yachts in certain weather conditions.

Cruise ships arrive every day during high season and their life boats take priority on the main wall, bringing in hundreds of passengers.

Clearance

On approach, call Customs on VHF channel 16 for instructions.

Clearance is handled at the Customs Office at the Port Zante cruise ship dock. This is next to Port Zante marina. Immigration is also now based here. They use the Eseaclear computer system and the completed form is dropped into the Port Captain's office in the same building.

Exact hours are not known, but it appears to be open Saturdays and Sundays.

Ensure that all the the anchorages you wish to visit are listed on the cruising document.

Last updated February 2011.

Customs
Customs Building (at the deep water port), Basseterre
Tel: (869) 465-2521 ext. 1077, Fax:(869) 465-4040 , VHF Channel 16
Opening Hours: 06:00-19:00(Mon-Fri), 06:00-09:00(Sat), 15:00-17:00(Sun)
It is planned for a Customs post to be at the marina.

Docking

Care must be taken on approaching the marina at night as many of the pilings from the original cruise ship dock are still there. Contact the marina manager on VHF CH 16 or 68 to arrange a berth.

There is no dedicated dinghy dock and the marina charges $10US/day to land a dinghy, even for a short visit to clear in.

The marina itself is currently undergoing reconstruction and a berth may not be available.

Port Zante Marina
Building #9, Port Zante, Basseterre, St.Kitts
Tel:(869) 466-5021, Fax:(869) 466-5020, VHF Channel 68
marina@portzante.com
Water, electricity, and cable are available. Fuel is now available directly on the eastern dock. 24 hour security. Maximum beam in most slips is about 15' but there are some extra-wide slips which can take multi-hulls. The marina depth is said to be 13' but care should be taken near the new rock wall being built as some boulders may have rolled away from the base of the wall.

Related Reports

Routes and Waypoints - Book Review (16 Dec 2011)

Using the ESeaClear System (05 Dec 2011)

New Free Caribbean Cruising Guide - A Thinking Mans Guide to Voyages South  (23 Jul 2011)

Caribbean Clearance ESeaClear - Does it really work? (22 Jan 2010)

Caribbean Cruising, St. Lucia to Antigua (05 May 2009)

Caribbean: Reported Crime Incidents Against Yachts, 2005-2008 (26 Aug 2008)

Grenada to the Virgin Islands, A Cruising Guide to the Lesser Antilles: Book Review (23 May 2008)

Credit Card Fraud In Caribbean Alert (29 Apr 2008)

Nevis Mooring Buoys (28 Jan 2008)

Island Nations Support Commercial Whaling (05 Jul 2006)

Related News

New Webcast Service for Caribbean Weather (20 Oct 2010)

New Race Launched Circumnavigating the Caribbean Islands (18 Jul 2008)

Cruising Guide To The Leeward Islands (27 Nov 2007)

Book Review: Cruising Guide to the Leeward Islands (12 Feb 2007)