I learned that as of October 4th, 2005, Homeland Security is requiring all vessels with paying passengers to file an electronic notice of Departure and Arrival. This, of course, means that CHARTER yachts departing to and arriving from foreign locations need to do this as well. Information required includes name of passenger, date of birth, nationality and passport or visa number. Each charter yacht's clearing house will require this information now together with the food and beverage preference sheets. For those paying customers who do not have passports, a State issued ID will be OK, such as a Driver's license number.
Please note that this is a US requirement and does not affect any destination country's separate requirements, for example you can use a birth certificate to enter the Bahamas and Tortola in the Caribbean but NOT a Driver's License.
These regulations fill a gap in the effective policing of our borders but have a downside as well. They will continue to drive many charter boats to operate from locations outside the US. In the past, other regulations have had a similar effect on the Charter Industry and this will be no exception. In the US Virgin Islands, for example, the pick-ups from St. Thomas will diminish in favor of pick-ups in the British Virgin Islands; passengers will simply fly into Tortola instead of St. Thomas; the charter boat support infrastructure will also move.
In the Florida Bahamas area, these regulations will no doubt have an effect on the day traffic and fishing boat excursions to Bimini. i.e. the boats will move to Bimini or other locations and passengers will simply fly in to the Bahamas to pick up their boats. Oh well, I suppose progress is progress, let's hope that Ozzie doesn't blow up the BVI next.
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