The confusing situation regarding fees payable by cruisers visiting the British
Virgin Islands should be made clearer by the following post on the official BVI Tourism website.
BVI PORTS AUTHORITY OUTLINES CHANGES TO HARBOUR CHARGES
Monday, February 9 – The BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) is informing the public that the harbor charges recently introduced for vessels entering and remaining in ‘territorial waters’ have been postponed subject to further consultation with the industry stakeholders.
Harbor charges will continue to be applied to vessels berthing in all declared harbors and any of the BVIPA’s facilities, along with all cruise ships irrespective of the berthage location in the BVI.
Harbor charges, in accordance with the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority Regulations (1995), must be paid in respect of any vessel other than a commercial ferry that berths for approved scheduled ferry services at the BVIPA’s facilities. However, harbor charges are applicable in respect of any commercial ferry carrying on charter services.
Harbour charges are calculated based on the overall length of the vessel and where it is berthed. Vessels will be charged at a rate of $1.00 per foot.
For more information, contact the Authority via telephone 494-3435 or email bviports@bviports.org.
The BVI Ports Authority is responsible for the Territory’s seaports and harbors.
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However, the first statement saying the recently introduced harbor charges have been suspended, immediately followed by another saying ‘Harbour charges will continue to be applied’ is not destined to end the confusion. So it is not surprising that some officers charge the fees while others, even in the same office, do not.
Quoting the BVI Ports Authority’s own press release, or producing paperwork to show that you have not been charged before, may help in cases where the fees are requested.
Noonsite is continuing its endeavors to get an accurate statement from the BVI Ports Authority.
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Bonjour, nous rentrons d’un sejour de 2 mois dans les BVI ce qui a impliqué une prolongation de visa. Ne surtout pas se rendre dans le Bureau Immigration and Customs office de Road Town, Tortola oùnous avons du attendre plus de 4h pour recuperer nos passeports après avoir été insultés et menacés d’une confiscation le soir meme de nos passeports si nous n’allions pas retirer 100 USD à donner en cash et sans reçu aux 2 dames dans leur minuscule bureau. En clair, vous faites votre clearance d’entrée et de sortie à Sopers Hole ou Spanish Town, ok. Si vous devez prolonger ces 2 bureaux plutôt arrangeants vous demanderons d’aller à Road Town, ne faites pas cette erreur. Prenez le ferry pour faire une petite viree de Soperhole vers les USVI et revenez le soir méme, vous referez alors vune clearance d’entrée a priori paisiblement dans le bureau de Soperhole. A soperhole, vous pouvez mouiller, un peu profond àl entree de la baie ou prendre un mooring ball 40 usd. J’ai le contact avec le Premier Ministre des BVI, je vais l’informer de ce quinous est arrivé à Road Town et qui s’est achevé parl’intervention avec plates excuses du Chief Officer mais toujours sans reçu de 100 USD…
Google Translate to English:
Hello, we just returned from a two-month stay in the BVI, which required a visa extension. Do not, under any circumstances, go to the Immigration and Customs office in Road Town, Tortola. We had to wait over four hours to get our passports back after being insulted and threatened with confiscation that same evening if we didn’t withdraw $100 USD in cash, without a receipt, from the two women in their tiny office. In short, complete your entry and exit clearance in Soper Hole or Spanish Town, which is fine. If you need to extend your visa, these two offices, while quite accommodating, will ask you to go to Road Town. Don’t make that mistake. Take the ferry for a short trip from Soper Hole to the USVI and return the same evening. You can then complete your entry clearance, which should be much easier, at the Soper Hole office. At Soperhole, you can anchor in the shallow water at the entrance to the bay or take a mooring ball for 40 USD. I have a contact with the Prime Minister of the BVI; I will inform him of what happened to us in Road Town, which ended with the Chief Officer’s intervention and groveling apologies, but still without a receipt for 100 USD…