Stringent New Regulations For Yachts In Ecuador
Created by
doina.
Last modified on 2007-08-30 06:34:45
Contributors:
Topic: Cruising Information
Countries: Ecuador, Galapagos
New clearance procedures in Ecuador have caused consternation among visiting yachts, Noonsite has learned having being contacted by many sailors who have visited Ecuador in the past month. This report has been updated since it was originally posted on 27 July.
Key points are as follows:
Ecuador will now treat foreign yachts as commercial ships. A new computer tracking system (SITRAME) designed for commercial shipping has been introduced and yachts are to be incorporated into this. All yachts must now use an agent to clear in and out of the country, and also in and out of each port in Ecuador.
Agents fees range from US$150 to $200, and there are some other fees also. An agent fee must be paid for each clearance whether domestic or international.
Yachts sailing from one Ecuadorean port to another must obtain a domestic zarpe, while yachts leaving the country will require an international zarpe. In either case the yacht must provide a Sail Plan with details of waypoints on your intended route to the next port or out of territorial waters, along with predicted date and time of arrival. The authorities must be informed if you deviate more than 25 miles from your intended route or change your port of destination.
There are agents in Manta, La Libertad and Guayaquil. An agency has now been set up at Puerto Amistad in Bahia de Caraquez to accommodate the new regulations.
There have also been reports that yachts will not be allowed to stay beyond 180 days; on arrival a boat will be given a clearance for up to 90 days, which can be extended for another 90 days. Vessels staying over 180 days may be subject to a fine and import fees of up to 10% of the vessel's value. Puerto Lucia Yacht Club has reported however that yachts there have been able to obtain written clearance from the Ecuadorian authorities to remain for up to a year at the PLYC with no fines or duties imposed. Yachts wishing to stay a year need to submit a letter from the owner to customs requesting the extension.
A further development is that there is now a law that foreigners (extranjeros) are not allowed to buy fuel at subsidized prices. The current price that Ecuadoreans pay is less than half of the quoted price for foreigners.
There have been reports that yachts have not been able to obtain fuel and propane from Puerto Lucia Yacht Club in La Libertad (PLYC), however the marina management has informed Noonsite that fuel (and propane) is available in the La Libertad area at domestic prices although the marina is no longer selling fuel.
Fuel and propane are available to foreigners at Puerto Amistad, Bahia.
PLYC remains a good place to have repairs done or to leave your yacht and a new indoor working area for cruisers is under construction; the marina and club now has a free Wi-Fi service, and there is a new Cruiser's Lounge in the club area. Reports are that there is now a liveaboard fee of $200 per month in addition to usual charges for mooring or being on the hard.
Further Information
SITRAME (Sistema de Información de Tráfico Marítimo) is a computer tracking system that has been set up to oversee the movements of all maritime shipping in Ecuadorean territorial waters. It has been implemented by the Ecuadorean Navy and managed by DIGMER, the authority for the merchant navy. The area of jurisdiction is: West until 095° 23 00 W, from 01° 28' 54" N to 03° 23' 33.96" S; and, 200 NM around the Galápagos Islands.
DIGMER (Dirección General de la Marina Mercante y del Litoral) has information on SITRAME in Spanish and English on its website http://www.digmer.org/
Dirección General de la Marina Mercante y del Litoral (DIGMER)
Elizalde 101 y Malecón, Guayaquil – Ecuador
Tel: +593-4-2321602, Fax +593-4-2324714
Email: guayaquil_radio@digmer.org
Agents
Manta: Diego Reyes , B.O.W. (Blue Ocean Water) Ship Agency, , Tel. (593-5) 2620103, Fax: (593-5) 2621091, Mob (593) 095 550855 (593) 098 160202, E-Mail: info@bowsa.com
La Libertad: Roque Proaño Párraga, Naviera “J.C.P. Hnos.” Cia. Ltda,. Tel. +593-4278-3931, Fax +593-4278-5317, email: navlibertjcp@hotmail.com or navieralibertad@grupojcp.com. Also offices in Guayaquil and Manta.
Bahia de Caraquez: Tripp Martin, Puerto Amistad, Tel. 593-5-269-3112, Mobile 593-91-695959 puertoamistadecuador@yahoo.com
Thank you to all those who sent information to Noonsite:
Evans Starzinger, Nebojsa Stanojevic, Philip DiNuovo, Rick Joyce, Tripp Martin, Galo Ortiz, Donald Bryden, Johnny Romero, Leslie Linkkila and Philip DiNuovo.