- Aerial view of Mystery Island, off Aneityum(Anatom) in southern Vanuatu from Gulf Harbour Radio courtesy of Diego from SV Meccetroy
Request Approval in Advance
As you will see from the Vanuatu Customs website, if you want to clear into Vanuatu at Anetyum you need to request approval by sending an email to customsborder@vanuatu.gov.vu.
You may not get a timely response so send it well ahead of departure. And if you get no response, just make sure you have a copy of your email to show the police in Anetyum if they ask for it.
On Arrival at the Port of Anelcauhat
On arrival, you will go ashore and start the check-in process with the officials that are there. However, you will not be able to complete this process until one of their colleagues from Port Vila arrives. They only fly in when there is a cruise ship to clear.
The cruise ship timetable for Mystery Island is on the MSC website. There are 3-4 ships a month during the cruising season.
This will give some idea as to how long you will have to wait in Aneityum for this process. It is a pleasant place to stay unless there is a westerly. (In these conditions you may consider just going up to the little U shaped anchorage on the north side and coming back later).
Elysium did their check-in at the Miko Guest House with cordial officials. They will tell you to keep your garbage on board and deposit it with Biosecurity when you get to Port Vila.
Clearance Fees
Costs for clearing-in at Aneityum are, in vatu,
- 6000 Biosecurity
- 5500 Customs
- 4800 Immigration
You will get some signed and stamped forms that show you have paid this. If a receipt is needed you may get that in Port Vila. You can change money at the bank but if you are definitely going there you may want to arrive with sufficient vatu for there and Tanna. On July 1, 2019, 1USD was 115vatu.
It should be mentioned that the above costs are not cast in stone as other boats have had different charges when they checked in at Port Vila.
Europeans get three months free entry on arrival. Non-Europeans get one month free then can apply immediately for an extension of 3 months for 6000vatu.
In Vila it appears that costs for non-Europeans are 5500 plus 6000 for Customs and Biosecurity plus 6000 for the extension.
- Aerial view of the anchorage at Aneityum from Diego on SV Meccetroy courtesy of Gulf Harbour Radio
Ashore at Anelcauhat
You will be able to purchase a Digital phone card at Esters on the far west side of the town/bay. (Walk west past the small stream and it is another 100 meters or so. The tourist /bank building is the middle part of the N side of the bay). These phone cards are 500 vatu and you can top up online or with top up cards. Other sources of phone cards add a surcharge.
If a ship is in port the internet is reliable 24/7 but otherwise, it is dependent on solar power so may be off at night time. During the day they may run a generator to charge the internet AP.
Tanna
To visit Tanna’s Mt Yasur volcano, and this is a spectacular trip, you will be charged 9750 vatu per person. Roughly 100USD. Transport for two people from Port Resolution is 5000vatu for two so your round trip is roughly USD250 for two people. Try and pick a clear night and each person needs a flashlight. It is worth the cost.
What may not be worth a stop in Tanna is the ash that might cover your boat if you end up downwind! In this case, you may want to consider a flight from Port Vila and a stay in one of the rustic motels. This has the added advantage of allowing you to visit the isolated village that has ‘homes’ up in the banyan trees. A two-night stay is needed for this. In trade conditions, you will not be too affected by soot.
Compiled by Patricia from Gulf Harbour Radio
July 2019
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of Noonsite.com or World Cruising Club.