PRE-ARRIVAL

Estimated Time of Arrival Notification:

Unless an emergency, arriving yachts must notify the Harbour Authorities and the Customs and Immigration Service 24 hours prior to arriving at the “Reporting Line.” The Reporting Line is a line between Volunteer Point and Cape Pembroke, which forms the outer boundary of Berkeley Sound and Port William.

The Harbour Authorities can be contacted by phone (+500 27266) or email (fishops@fisheries.gov.fk) and Customs/Immigration at (+500 27340) or email (admin@customs.gov.fk).

Any time vessels arrive to or depart from the Reporting Line, contact the Harbour Authority at VHF Channel 16 or 10.

Maritime Declaration of Health:

All vessels (including pleasure yachts) must submit a Maritime Declaration of Health (MDH) to customs prior to arrival, together with their standard Reports Inwards documentation using email: shipsclearance@customs.gov.fk. A link to the MDH can be found here.

ARRIVAL FORMALITIES

Advance Notification:

Advise the Authorities of the yacht’s ETA on VHF Channel 16. Fly the “Q” flag.

Ports of Entry:

Stanley is the only Port of Entry for yachts.

General Process:

If there are no cruise ship tenders using it, go alongside at the Public Jetty. Alternatively berth at FIPASS (the commercial dock), which is very dirty, so if you have delicate decks don’t go there.

If cruise ship tenders are using the Public Jetty pontoons you won’t be allowed there until the ship leaves (which is usually about 17:00). It may also be possible to dock alongside the Falkland Islands Company (FIC) jetty – call “Fleetwing” on VHF Channel 16 or 9.

Alternatively, anchor off and speak to “Stanley Customs” on VHF Channel 12 or 16 to arrange where and when to do the paperwork.

If at any point you need assistance, the Stanley Harbor Authority is on VHF Channel 16 or 10 (call sign: “Stanley Port Control”). VHF 16 is monitored 24/7, but during office hours (08:00-16:30, seven days a week) it is possible to call on HF at 4066.1 kHz.

One government official deals with both Immigration and Customs clearance.

CLEARING OUT

Any time vessels arrive to or depart from the Reporting Line, contact the Harbour Authority at VHF Channel 16 or 10.

On departure, yachts must leave from Stanley.

Updated annually, the Falkland Islands Ports & Harbour information document has complete arrival instructions for yachts. It is a downloadable pdf document.

Yachts Planning to Visit Antarctica:

Any yachts leaving the Falklands (or any other British Territory) for Antarctica with at least one British national on board, are able to apply for a permit from the U.K. Foreign Office. This can also be done even if the yacht is not U.K. flagged.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has produced Antarctic Yachting Guidelines (2016), see HighLatitudes.com, which has useful information and data about sailing in Antarctica.

There are forms tailored to expeditions by smaller yachts. The permit forms required are now found at GOV.UK website.

Cruising between Argentina and the Falklands:

The procedure which currently works and enables yachts to pass from the Falklands to Argentina and back again, without difficulty, is to apply for a “Permiso” from Argentina seven to 10 days in advance of setting off towards the islands.

This permit is needed by ships and all sailing vessels using Argentine waters en-route to the Falklands, South Georgia or the South Sandwich Islands which  all UK controlled. This is being aggressively policed and large fines are made for those making unscheduled stops, even in an emergency.

For example, two private yachts in the last two months of 2010 were fined $6000 US for visiting the Falklands without Argentine permission. In both cases, force Majeure was claimed (engine problems/weather) however this was not considered an issue when being assessed for the fines.

For information on how to apply for a “permiso” read this Noonsite report: Heading to the Malvinas/Falklands – Applying for “Permiso”

The latest condition being applied by Argentina, is the requirement that, even if not calling at the Falklands, the skipper of yachts sailing to or from an Argentinian port via the Atlantic, must complete a form Anexo 2 where the skipper makes a sworn statement in the presence of an Argentine consul or a coastguard officer, not to visit the Falkland Islands. If this form is not completed nor permission obtained to visit the islands, it is assumed they have done so and a fine imposed.

Last updated:  August 2018

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