World Cruising Handbook Corrections & Additions: Central & North America

Created by doina. Last modified on 2008-03-14 09:33:46
Topic: WORLD CRUISING HANDBOOK 2007
Countries: Honduras, Mexico, Panama, USA

Corrections and additions to World Cruising Handbook 3rd edition (2001).

Explore Central America, online cruising guide for Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, September 2007. Available at http://www.sailsarana.com/guide

Honduras p. 299

The Sandy Bay West End Marine Park, located on the western tip of Roatan Island has the following regulations. Yachts should be aware that failure to adhere to the park rules could result in confiscation of equipment and even time in jail. Anchoring on the reef is absolutely prohibited and continuous disregard of this guideline will result in your vessel being impounded.
Anchoring within Half Moon Bay and West Bay is prohibited.
Do not touch the coral.
Do not remove anything from the sea.
Littering is forbidden.
Use of spear guns and nets is prohibited.
The maximum speed for any vehicle within the lagoon is 10kph.
No sewage is to be released into the sea within 5 miles of any Honduran coast.
Removal of endangered species (ie conch, lobster, Nassau grouper) is forbidden.
Release of any toxic chemicals, including petroleum products, is forbidden.
Cutting of mangroves is forbidden.
Development of iron shore is forbidden.
Dive buoys are white with a black RMP logo carved into them, fishing moorings have black fishes carved into them. It is prohibited for yachts to use these moorings.

MEXICO p. 302

It has been reported that firearms are no longer permitted and one may face a jail sentence even after declaring firearms to customs.

delete: This may ease the paperwork while in Mexico until the final clearance. and At each port check what the local politics are about notifying them for one or two day trips, as it varies.

However, officials in some ports have been reported as not recognising this Import Permit and insisting on issuing their own.

Once you have cleared into the country, it is no longer necessary to clear in and out with the port captain at each subsequent port, provided you log in with a local marina and the marina keeps a record of arrivals and departures.

Panama p.310

Cristobal Procedure On Arrival: or proceed directly to Shelter Bay marina (VHF channel 74).

USA p. 317

Restrictions/Fees

Cruising License: It appears that officials interpret the rules differently in different states and it may be possible in some states to renew the cruising license without leaving the country. It is reported that in Florida officials will require a yacht to leave the country for the 15 days minimum period before being able to renew.

It is recommended to keep records of your checking-in activities, such as name and serial number of any officials you check in with, email receipts of notification, as well ensuring that the yacht's details and movement have in fact been entered onto the automated system.

US$27.50 for a user fee decal

Washington State Pilotage Requirements

The Washington State Pilot Board has a regulation requiring all foreign flagged vessels carry a pilot or get an exemption. The exemption requires a fee of $300 for three months, or $500 for a year and is applied to all foreign cruising yachts except for Canadian yachts that regularly sail West Coast waters.

Application forms for the exemption can be submitted online and submitted via email. The form is available at http://www.pilotage.wa.gov/

Alaskan Pilotage Requirements

Foreign pleasure vessels not carrying passengers for hire will require a pilot. Exemptions apply to: vessels under 65 feet in length, US-flagged vessels, and Canadian-flagged vessels that regularly sail Alaskan waters.

Non-US pleasure vessels of 65ft to 174ft require an exemption to transit without a pilot. However, they must use a pilot for navigation of Wrangell Narrows and Peril Strait.

Pleasure craft of 175ft and larger, and foreign registry, must have a pilot at all times. All foreign-flagged vessels for commercial use must employ a pilot, regardless of length and tonnage.

The exemption is valid for one year from the date on which the exemption is issued. The application for an exemption must be submitted to the board at least 30 days before the vessel enters the state. Exemption fees are $250 plus $50 for every foot over 65 feet (20m). Pilotage fees through Wrangell Narrows and Peril Straights will be several thousand additional dollars.

Failure to meet these requirements can result in a fine of up to $20,000.

Further contacts

Renda Heimbigner, Marine Pilot Coordinator

Alaska Board of Marine Pilots

Phone (907)465-2548, Fax (907)465-2974

PO Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811-0806

Further information on the Statute:

http://touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title08/Chapter62/Section180.htm

Judy Bell, Washington State Pilotage Commission, 206-515-3647

To read the complete language of the statute and the rules go to www.pilotage.wa.gov Link to the RCW (88.16.070) and the WAC (363-116-360) from the box at the right on the Home page. The WAC will show the fee schedule.