YACHTY YELLOW PAGES

NOTE: Businesses listed are those normally used and recommended by the cruisers. There may also be more services and stores available. If you have further questions, don’t be afraid to ask on the morning Majuro Cruiser’s Net at 0730, VHF 68. The islands only newspaper, the Marshall Islands Journal, is also a good source of local current events and info. It comes out every Thursday.

DRESS: Dress in the Marshall Islands is conservative; knee-length shorts or skirts, sleeveless tops OK. Spaghetti-strap or strapless tops are frowned upon. The men do not wear sulus or lava-lavas.

TIPPING IN RESTAURANTS: Tipping is not expected in truly local establishments but in the resort and better restaurants, Up to 10% is not unreasonable for good service.

ACRONYM GUIDE:

Marshallese love to use acronyms. Taxi drivers will understand where to go when you use them. The following are some you should familiarize yourself with:

RMI – Republic of the Marshall Islands

DUD – Darita-Uliga-Delap (islands that makeup Majuro town)

BOG – Bank of Guam

MBYC – Mieco Beach Yacht Club (club room in MIR bar)

MEC – Marshalls Energy Company (less than ½ mile north of NTA)

MIR – Marshall Islands Resort Hotel (series of 3-story white buildings with turquoise roofs on the south side of the harbour), 625-2525

MIVA – Marshall Islands Visitors Authority (next door to MEC)

NTA – National Telecommunications Authority next to the big satellite dishes)

PII (“Pea-Eye-Eye”) – Pacific International, Inc (next to Delap Dock), 625-3122/3560/5316

RRE – Robert Reimers Enterprises Hotel (resort at the head of north mooring field; hotel desk on 2nd floor), VHF 78 or 625-6474

LISTINGS

1) ATM:

Only one. Located at Bank of Guam, next to Payless. Can run out of money on weekends.

2) AUTO SUPPLIES:

a) Limited supplies at NAPA Auto Supply, located next door to ACE Hardware.

b) Auto supply sections at ACE Hardware, Do it Best, and EZ Price.

c) Best selection of oil and fuel filters seems to be at PII.

3) BAKERIES:

No separate bakeries; check out baked goods sections in Payless and Formosa grocery stores.

4) BATTERIES:

Limited or no selection in deep-cycle batteries. Maybe try Island Eco (see listing under SOLAR PANELS).

5) BEER & BREWING SUPPLIES:

No alcohol sold on Sundays except in the restaurants.

a) Beer: Pacific Pure Water (cheapest but limited brands), Payless, Formosa, & Shoreline.

b) Brewing Supplies: Ace’s One Stop, Do it Best. IMPORTANT NOTE: It is unlawful for the Marshallese to have or consume alcoholic beverages on the outer islands, but not in Majuro. Keep all alcohol confined to your boat and do not share with the locals.

6) BOAT SUPPLIES:

Limited selections at ACE Hardware and EZ Price.

7) BOOK EXCHANGE:

Monica’s Restaurant has a book exchange library. One for one exchange. Magazines also. Try to keep neat.

8) CLEARANCE IN:

Call Majuro Harbor Control on VHF ch.16, then follow instructions given. If no answer, take ship’s papers, passports and proceed to Customs and Immigration, in that order. If questioned, state there was no answer to your radio call. No fees for clearing in. Dress neatly. See GOVERNMENT OFFICES for locations.

9) CLEARANCE OUT:

Go to Ports Authority first to pay $90 harbour fee for outward clearance. Then present PA receipt at Customs and get passports stamped at Immigration. See GOVERNMENT OFFICES for locations.

10) COPY SERVICES:

a) Standard size: Copymasters (across the hall from Copymaster store) or Office Mart.

b) Chart size: EPA office or PII, if machines are working.

11) COMPUTER HELP:

Ask at TSL Enterprises. Located on the 3rd floor, green 5-story building near MIR.

12) COMPUTER SALES/SUPPLIES:

a) TSL Enterprises – 3rd floor, green 5-story building. Cheapest on bulk blank DVDs. b) EZ Price – See MIVA map. Blank CDs & DVDs only sold singly.

c) Office Mart – ¼ mile south of College of Marshall Islands. Higher prices.

d) Copymasters – Ground floor, green 5-story building. High prices. NOTE: 35% restocking fee for returns with no cash refund, credit only; even if the item is faulty.

13) DINGHY LANDINGS:

Always use long painter to allow room for other dinghies. DO NOT raise outboards.

a) Shoreline/RRE – At the head of north mooring field, at the Mobil sign onshore. Tie up at concrete steps nearest steel dock. DO NOT LOCK! Security patrolled.

b) Uliga Dock – Commercial dock between north & south mooring fields. Floating dock on the backside. The main gate closes at 5 pm but side door remains open. A security guard at the gate.

c) G&L; Apartments – Within Uliga Dock basin. Tie up at concrete steps on landside. Danger! – rebar and concrete footings exposed at low tides.

d) EZ Price – At the head of south mooring field, by a pair of rusty ships. Tie up to rusty barge alongside. Danger! – thinning ladder rungs and holes and thinning metal in barge deck.

e) Payless – Sand beach across the street. Children may play in dinghies.

f) MIR – Tie up at concrete steps. Security patrolled. NOTE: Occasional patronage at RRE and MIR appreciated.

14) DIVE TANK REFILLS:

a) BAKO Divers – $5 per tank, call Brian on SV Wildside, VHF 69 or 625-1175

b) Marshalls Dive Adventures at Shoreline – $5 per tank, some damage to valves in past.

15) FABRIC (Dress fabrics only)

1) Formosa (Delap) – Located next to Flame Tree. Best selection.

2) DAR Services – Located on street behind Formosa (Uliga).

3) Momotaro – Located midway between RRE and Payless.

16) FAX SERVICES:

a) NTA – Cheapest in Majuro but outgoing only. Cost based on phone rates; assume about 1 minute/page (e.g. $1.50/minute to the U.S., so about $1.50/page).

b) RRE – Send & receive capability; $5 first page, $1.50 each additional page.

c) MIR – Send & receive capability but expensive.

17) FISHING SUPPLIES:

a) Island Fishing Supplies – Located in NAPA Auto Supplies.

b) Also, try ACE Hardware and Do it Best.

18) FUEL:

a) Gasoline: Shoreline. Same price at gas stations.

b) Diesel: No duty-free available.

1) Shoreline

2) MEC – About 15-30% savings over Shoreline but 55-gallon minimum. See pg. 9 of Yachty Yellow Pages for instructions for filling by jugs. Also, bunkering available at Delap Dock with less than a couple dollars bunker fee. Inquire at MEC office and Ports Authority. Delap Dock not very small boat friendly; check out beforehand.

c) Propane: Take your bottle(s) to Shoreline by 0745 hrs and give to Anton. He is Marshallese and usually at Shoreline drinking coffee, 0715-0745, ask around. He will take them to the MEC filling station and return them by 1230 hrs. You are responsible for their retrieval at Shoreline as he has no means to contact you.

d) Kerosene: At gas station across from NAPA.

e) Denatured Alcohol: ACE Hardware, sold in 1-gallon cans.

19) GARBAGE:

Deposit in red & white drums designated for cruiser’s use. From dinghy landing at Shoreline, walk straight back, up the centre aisle. DO NOT use drums closest to Shoreline. Recycling bins for aluminium cans at Shoreline.

20) GOVERNMENT OFFICES:

a) Customs – Located on the 1st floor (ocean side), Government Building; across from Payless.

b) Immigration – Located on the 5th floor, green 5-story building near MIR.

c) Ports Authority – Located at Delap Dock, commercial dock on south side of the harbour; 625-6170/6179.

21) GROCERY STORES: Always check expiry dates!

a) Daily:

1) Payless Supermarket – See MIVA map. Open 0800-2000 hrs, 7 days. Biggest grocery store with the widest selection of foods and fresh vegetables. Watch prices rung up at the register as not always accurate. Liquor section. Separate section for discounted, out-of-date foods; items marked with red dot sticker; again, watch price at the register. 8% discount with Senior Citizen card (60 yrs & over) but not if you’re staying less than 6 months.

2) Formosa (Uliga store) – See MIVA map. Open 0800-2100 hrs, 7 days. Watch for cucarachas in the fresh foods area. Liquor department. Separate section for discounted, out-of-date foods. 6% discount with VIP card (50 yrs & older); also not for short-timers.

3) Division 7-12 – Across from G&L; Enterprises set back from the road. Hit or miss the selection of foods. Most times cheaper than Payless. Clean store.

4) Cost Rite – Next door to Division 7-12. A lot of Oriental products. Best prices on case lots of soft drinks. Beware! – discounted, out-dated foods can be really old.

5) EZ Price Mart– See MIVA map. Small selection, some institution-sized. 5% discount with a MBYC card.

6) Crazy Price – Located across from Flame Tree. Some Fijian products.

7) Majuro Market Place – Located at foot of RRE parking lot. Sometimes they have locally grown veggies & bananas. Cheap pre-made lunches.

b) Bulk: Payless Warehouse (near Payless Grocery) and Pacific Basin Wholesale (located next door to Flame Tree) case lots. Cash and carry. Open to the public.

22) HAPPY HOUR:

a) Shoreline – For alfresco drinking, 1700-1900 hrs.

b) Tide Table at RRE – 1700-1900 hrs.

c) MIR – 1730-1930 hrs, free Pu-Pu’s (hors d’oevres).

d) Flame Tree – See MIVA map; 1700-2000 hrs

23) HARDWARE STORES:

a) ACE Hardware – Ground floor of RRE. Well-stocked and largest selection. Not air-conditioned so not conducive to browsing and things may be rusty. Friendly and helpful staff. Lumber also.

b) Do it Best – Near MIR. Air-conditioned, prices marked are not always current. Must seek out help if needed. Lumber also.

c) See hardware sections in EZ Price, Formosa (Uliga store), Division 7-12 and MJCC.

24) HF RADIO:

Island Radio at Jeirok, Laura 528-2709

25) ICE:

Cubes only, no block ice available.

a) Shoreline – They fill you a bag from the ice machine. Price based on how much in the bag. About $1-$1.50

b) Formosa (Uliga) – About $1.50 a bag.

26) INTERNET:

a) Cafes:-

1) RRE – $5/hr, open 24/7, 4 computers. Go to the hotel desk to purchase time. You will be given the account number & password.

2) NTA – $.08/min., 0700-2400 hrs, 7 days, 10 computers. Request internet access from the woman behind glass partition & she’ll assign you a machine. You pay for the time used.

3) MIR – $.14/min, open 24/7, 2 computers or plug in own laptop.

b) Wireless:-

1) RRE lines – $5/50 min., $10/100 min., and $20/200 min. wireless cards sold at the desk. May need an external antenna for the best reception.

2) MIR lines – $5/30 min. and $10/1 hr. wireless cards sold at the desk.

27) KWAJALEIN:

Atoll with US military base for those cruisers looking for work. You must have a sponsor to visit. Civilian employment requires a 2-year contract. Cannot live on the vessel if working.

28) LAUNDRY:

a) RRE/Shoreline – Located straight back from the Shoreline boat ramp. Self-service at $1.50 wash or dry; mosquitoes a nuisance.

b) Good Earth – Located next to MJCC Yamaha. Self-service at $1.25 wash or dry. Wash machines larger than Shoreline. They will do it for you also at cost of machines but tipping recommended. You supply soap and must pre-separate.

c) Island Dry Cleaners – Next to Division 7-12. No self-service. Wash & dry $17 large bag. Tell them no bleach if you don’t want it.

29) LIBRARY:

By Alele Museum. May let you take out books if you are staying awhile.

30) MACHINE SHOPS:

Machine Shop at PII

31) MARSHALL ISLANDS VISITORS AUTHORITY:

Information, postcards, and maps. Delores deBrum-Kattil, general manager, 625-8771.

32) MEDICAL SERVICES:

a) Doctor:-

1) At Majuro Hospital, see MIVA map. Expect to wait.

2) Majuro Clinic, opposite MIVA. Recommended only for getting something prescribed.

b) Dentists:-

1) At Majuro Hospital.

2) Dr. Hazel – 625-8935, see ad in MI Journal.

33) MIECO BEACH YACHT CLUB:

Membership at $15 (single) or $25 (family). Call Karin on SV Seal. Discounts at EZ Price (-5%), Monica’s Restaurant (-5% food only), and MIR Restaurant (-10%) with a membership card. Cruising boat races during the winter season with big Coconut Cup Race at season’s end. Caps, shirts, burgees and courtesy flags available.

34) MOORINGS:

Many moorings end in a loop for you to secure your lines too. Please tie to the loops to prevent chafe to the mooring loop (and your lines). If you feel you must pass through the loop with your lines then be sure to begin and end each line at the same point on your boat. Do not start a line on one side, pass through the mooring loop and end on the other side because as your boat swings, the line will slide back and forth through the loop and chafe it (and your line as well). Be safe, be kind and connect to the mooring loop properly.

a) RRE (north field) – $3/day, call Cary on SV Seal. Cary periodically inspects these moorings.

b) Matt Holly (south field) – $1.50-$2/day, 30 days up front. See Matt Holly behind EZ Price, 455-5567. It is recommended you dive on your mooring here to inspect.

35) NOTARY:

a) Majuro Court House – Convenient & cheap.

b) Various embassies/consulates – See Majuro phone book for listings.

36) OIL DISPOSAL:

At Toyota Repairs, located behind Pacific Pure Water. From Shoreline dinghy landing walk to RRE Laundromat and continue down the dirt road to the end at a repair garage. Ask any of the workers and they’ll direct you to the used oil drums. Empty from your own container or leave disposables. No charge.

37) OUTBOARDS:

a) New Sales/Repairs:-

1) Yamaha – MJCC Yamaha, located just north of NTA, 0830-1800 M-F, 625-3500/3066. If locked go next door to MJCC general store.

2) Honda – H. Dulatrim, 625-5450, 455-5450.

3) Suzuki – Payless Motors, 625-3210.

b) General Outboard Repairs: At Toyota Repairs, ask for Vince or Anthony.

38) OUTER ISLAND ENTRY PERMITS:

An Entry Permit is required for each atoll to be visited. Obtain forms at the Local Government office, 2nd floor in Ministry of Internal Affairs (next to Mobil Oil tank farm), 455-4143. Let them know your intended departing date or else they take their time getting your permits approved. Entry fee per atoll ranges from free to $250. Request a copy of the Lagoon Entry Fees when you pick up permit forms. When you visit the atoll, you must present your permit and pay the fee to the acting mayor. The exception is Maloelap whose mayor will collect the fee at the Ministry, to be refunded if you do not visit. But you still must turn in the permit to the acting mayor at Maloelap. Currently, some dispute whether you pay the fee each time you visit. Recommend you make copies of your approved permits and have the acting mayor sign it when paying the fee. A permit is not required for Kwajalein Atoll but you must have a sponsor to visit. For Bikini and Rongelap, obtain approved Entry Permits at the Ministry, and then take them for secondary approval to their respective City Halls.

39) PHARMACY:

No pharmacies on the island. Check at Majuro Hospital for filling prescriptions. Payless and Formosa (Uliga) carry over-the-counter drugs, and health and first aid supplies.

40) PHONES & SERVICE:

a) Local Calls:-

1) RRE – Ask at the desk; they’ll hand you a cell phone ($0.25). Much noise from the restaurant.

2) Formosa (Uliga) – 2 phones on the 2nd counter to the right ($0.25).

3) NTA – Phone on the wall in the lobby, to the left (free).

b) Long Distance:-

NTA – 0700-2400 hrs, 7 days, $1.50/min. to the U.S. Take a number & wait in line, then give your name and number to the women behind the glass partition and she will assign you a booth and arrange for Overseas Operator. Also Toll-Free to the U.S. but $1.50/min. Collect calls possible at no cost to you. Pre-paid phone cards offer cheaper rates as low as $1.00/min off-peak but you need a local phone. Don’t know if you can use NTA phones.

c) Cell Phones: Purchase SIM card at NTA. Phone cards available throughout DUD. New cell phones are available at NTA and other stores. Local calls $0.10.

d) Skype:

1) Available using wireless and your own computer.

2) On at least 1 computer at MIR or plug-in own laptop.

3) On RRE computers if you have it on your own thumb drive and do it off-hours; must have a headset with USB connection.

41) POST OFFICE:

Main P.O. located across the street from RRE, handles all General Delivery; small satellite P.O. next to Payless. Hours: M-F 0900-1600, Sat 0900-1100, closed lunch 1200-1300. Use the following address when having mail sent to you at the RMI Post Office:- SV your boat name, Yacht in Transit, General Delivery, Majuro, MH 96960, Marshall Islands.

NOTE: RMI is blessed with domestic mail status within the US Postal System (USPS). Therefore, domestic First Class, Priority and Express Mail services can be used when mailing from RMI or having mail sent from the USA. But the special services of COD, Delivery Confirmation, Signature Confirmation, Return Receipt and Express Guaranteed are not available. Currently, 6-10 days appears to be the norm for Priority Mail delivery from the USA. Generally, no customs duty experienced with Yacht in Transit designation but the letter of the law probably applies only to boat replacement parts.

42) RADIO:

a) 98.6 FM for BBC broadcast.

b) 89.9 FM for local news with BBC world news update.

c) 1220 AM with U.S. Armed Forces broadcast out of Kwajalein at 0700-0900 hrs.

43) REFRIGERATION:

Several people that do repairs but no one, in particular, to be recommended. Check phone book.

44) SHIPPING/FREIGHT:

a) DHL – Located in PII office, 625-6345. Talk to Charles. He has his act together.

b) Triple B Forwarders – They handle freight out of Los Angeles and Honolulu. Micro-Pak special: $50 for 5 cup. ft. & 80 lbs. or less by air from Honolulu to Majuro (+$17 minimum handling to PII). Use USPS domestic mail to get to Honolulu. For information: email [email protected] or [email protected].

c) Federal Express (FED EX) – Located in Central Maritime Agency, across RRE parking lot. Currently receive only, no outgoing. NOTE: No customs duty for “Yacht in Transit” designation but this really should apply to only boat replacement parts.

45) SOLAR PANELS:

Very limited supply. Try Island Eco (located by NTA), 625-7786 or EZ Price.

46) TAXIS/TRANSPORTATION:

a) Shared Taxi: Anywhere in DUD area, $0.75 pp Outside DUD, fare by negotiation; e.g. $2 pp. to US Embassy.

b) To Airport: Taxi, $4 pp. RRE airport shuttle; ask at RRE desk, donation appreciated

c) Mini-bus to Laura: $2.00 pp, leaves from RRE parking lot about every 20 min.

47) VHF COMMUNICATIONS:

a) VHF channel 68 for contact, then switch to ch.74 or ch.77 to talk.

b) Majuro Cruiser’s Net at 0730 hrs on ch.68, M-F.

48) VIDEO RENTALS:

a) Entertainment Center – Located just south of NTA. DVDs at $2.50/night or 3/$5. If you pick up on Saturday, you return on Monday for 2 nights viewing. Open noon-2300 hrs M-Sat., 1500-2200 hrs Sun. NOTE: Most if not all of their DVDs are region free. b) DAR Services – Located on street behind Formosa. DVDs at $2.25/night.

49) WATER:

a) Shoreline – $0.40/gallon, potable quality questionable.

b) Pacific Pure Water – RO water, potable quality. $1/gallon in either a 5-gallon carboy ($10 to buy container; non-refundable) or will fill your own jugs, 625-3140.

50) WELDING:

a) BAKO Divers – Call Brian on SV Wildside, VHF 69 or 625-1175, can do in-situ work. b) PII – 625-3122.

51) YACHT HAULING:

By mobile crane, approximately 20-ton maximum, call Cary on SV Seal

52) YACHTIES NIGHT OUT:

Dinner every Tuesday at 1800 hrs at one of 3 restaurants: Tide Table at RRE (Mexican Night) – Monica’s (Chinese food) – MIR (pizza night), in that order.

MAJURO YACHT DIESEL BY JUGS (price updated May 2007)

A system has been set up to obtain diesel via your jugs. The current cost is $3.52 per gallon PLUS $1/jug handling fee.

Procedure:

1. Go to the MEC office a day or two before and pay (cash only) for the amount of US gallons you wish to purchase. Minimum purchase of 55 gals. is required, no min. increment over 55 gals; you can buy 56 gals. if you wish. Have your boat name put on the receipt. The MEC office is located between the college and the NTA on the same side of the road, just tell the taxi driver the “MEC OFFICE”, it is open M-F 8:00-4:30.
2. Bring your jugs to the Shoreline dinghy landing between 7:15-7:45 am M-F and give them to Anton with the receipt and the $1/jug handling fee. Mark each jug with your boat name and how many US gallons you want, whole numbers only please, as their meter does not read in tenths. Anton is the same helpful local that does the propane refills. He’s usually at the shoreline M-F 7:15 – 7:45 am with a coffee cup in his hand and he drives a pick-up.
3. Anton will get your jugs filled and return them to the Shoreline dinghy landing the same day. Most likely this will be around 12:30. In some cases, it may be earlier or later depending on his schedule. He may arrange for someone else to bring them back so it’s best to pay him his fee ($1/jug) up front. Hopefully, you will be called on VHF 68 when they are back and please retrieve them promptly. If you don’t hear anything by 1:00 PM, look to see if they are at the dock.

Miscellaneous Info:

1. You don’t have to get all the diesel you purchased in one day. If you don’t have enough jugs you can split it between 2 or 3 days. PLEASE do not drag it out as things may get confusing. Write on the back of the receipt the boat name and how many gals you want each day. For instance: “AMULET – 60 gal. total, 30gal. + 30 gals.”
2. You can team up with another boat if you don’t need the 55 gals. minimum. You must put the 55 gals. minimum on one receipt and the name on the receipt should match that on the jugs. If you don’t want to write on someone else’s jugs then put some masking tape around the handles with the boat name that is on the receipt.
3. Remember their meter does not read in tenths of a gal, it is meant for bulk purchases. Each jug may have a little more or less in it but overall the gallons you get each day should be quite accurate.
4. They have a funnel for filling jugs with smaller than normal openings; be reasonable though and don’t give him jugs with tiny openings.
5. If you know others are planning to fuel up, try to coordinate with them to minimize the possible confusion of many boats on the same day.

Nancy Paterson, SV Amulet, Dec 2007