Djibouti Sailing Permit issue – 5 to 21 May 2023

Preface:
Sailing Yacht Tabata III – 24mt ketch – 5 crew
We are sailing around the world collecting underwired video footages, especially shark’s videos.
Everywhere we go we hire local agents for assisting us with formalities clearance and logistic. We notify our arrival 4 to 5 months ahead so that agents have time to organize.

Case:
We arrived in Djibouti on the 5 May 2023. Our local agent was Mr. Ahssan Phoenix of Red Sea Up Down Yachting Agency. Our requirements were to get assistance for boat and crew clearance, organize refueling, get sailing permit and authorization to dive in the Tadjoura Gulf and at the Seven Brothers Islands.
The 5th of May at our arrival, Mr. Ahssan greeted us and took us to the immigration office for passports stamps. Afterwards he arranged the boat inspection by Custom/Cost Guard department.
All was done the same day. In the afternoon Mr. Ahssan told us that we could depart for our trip within Djibouti waters. We asked if we had to get any documents and the answer was NO and we were good to go.
We departed from Djibouti harbor on the 6 May and sailed towards the Western area of the Tadjoura Gulf. After two days of sailing and diving we were approached by a navy boat (Marine National) whom crew brusquely ordered us to return to port with machine guns in sight. They’d escorted us for 10 hours back to Dhibouti harbor where we arrived at midnight on the 8 May. The Harbor Master officer told us to drop anchor in the bay and wait. So we did waited….for 9 days! Took over a week to understand the issue. The problem was (apparently) caused by the agent Mr. Ahssan Phoenix whom didn’t applied for all of the necessary permits. Every departments stated that was not our fault but despite this, we had to stay in port until investigation was completed. The police arrested Mr. Ahssan Phoenix on the 10 of May (and released him 4 days after) therefore we hired another agent as is impossible to foreign to deal with local authorities. Our new agent Mr. Mohamed Ali of Djibouti Faucon Du Golf agency, did a great job and within 24 hours managed to get us the missing permits (Affaires Maritimes and Agence National du Tourisme di Djibouti permits), but nevertheless the authorities (Harbor Department and Navy) denied us the permission to move.
Days were passing with no news so we lost hope and interest in exploring Djibouti waters and we decided that was time to leave the country. We contacted our embassies (French and Italian) for help and within minutes the case was solved and we were free to move again. Apparently embassies made few calls to some generals whom kicked some asses .
Moral of the story: if you plan to stop in Djibouti just for rest and refuel with no need to sail within the area the procedure is very simple: on arrival contact Harbor Master, Immigration and Custom (boat inspection is done by Guard Coast). An agent can simplify this process. If you plan to stop longer and sail along Djibouti cost-line, which is very beautiful and deserves to be visited especially by divers, Please be aware that permits request procedure is quiet complicate and you need an agent to assist you for this. We highly recommend Mr. Mohamed Ali – WhatsApp +25377880007 email: djfaucondugolf@gmail.com who is the most experience agent with best contacts. There are many offices that you need to ask for permission to navigate within Djibouti waters. Some will issue a document others will simply acknowledge your request and give verbal consent. Those offices are:
1. Djibouti Harbor Department (verbal authorization)
2. Immigration Office (verbal authorization)
3. Custom Office (verbal authorization)
4. Affaires Maritimes (will issue permit – costed us 500USD)
5. Agence Nationale du Tourisme de Djibouti (will issue permit)
6. Coast Guard (verbal authorization)
7. Marine Nationale (Navy) (verbal authorization)
We were told that also Harbor Police Office (other than harbor Master) need to be notified but we have no confirmation on this.

Djibouti authorities are not use to have private sailing yacht cruising around and the agents/officers themselves are not clear about which permit need to be requested and in which order.

You must notify to all office, through your agent, your intended itinerary and every night anchorage point. Provide them copy of boat registration and crew list. Everyone there uses WhatsApp and the offices accept that the documentation is forwarded with this system.