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The regulations that to apply for boats on international voyages

INTERNATIONAL VOYAGES 

When an American boat crosses the national boundary of the US go other port or an oversea yacht visits an American port, sure customs, immigration, and other regulations must be obeyed. As a result of various provisions and exemptions applying to recreational boats, the procedure has been simplified and will not interfere with the pleasures of a foreign cruise. There are severe penalties, however, for any failure to observe the regulations that do apply.

Clearing & Entering 

The terms CLEARING and ENTERING are commonly used in connection with a vessel's voyage between ports of two nations. Clearing involves obtaining permission to sail by presenting the ship's papers to a customs official. Entering relates to arrival when the owner or master "enters" his vessel by having his ship's papers accepted by customs authorities. Thus a U.S. vessel might be required to clear from an American port and enter on arrival at a foreign port.
If desired, BILLS OF HEALTH may be secured free of charge before leaving for a foreign port. This is not compulsory but may make entry into the foreign port quicker and easier. Cruisers who plan to travel outside U.S. waters should check with their local health department or a travel agency for information on any inoculations or vaccinations required by specific countries.
Exemptions for Noncommercial Craft Neither a documented vessel with a recreational endorsement nor an undocumented American recreational vessel (not engaged in trade nor in any way violating the customs or navigation laws of the U.S.) is required to clear customs upon departure from the United States for a foreign port or place (with some specific exceptions, such as going to Cuba). Similarly a documented vessel with a recreational endorsement or an undocumented American recreational vessel (not engaged in trade nor in any way violating the customs or navigation laws of the U .S., and not having visited any other vessel "hovering" off the coast, and not having received merchandise while in the customs waters beyond the territorial waters or on the high seas)) is exempted from formal entry. These crafts, however, must make a report to the proper authorities to cover such matters as the importation of items purchased while outside the United States.

Report on Arrival 

There are four separate legal aspects to entering a country from a foreign nation, each invoking its own government agency and officials. These are (1) CUSTOMS, relating to bringing in dutiable merchandise; (2) IMMIGRATION, related to persons' eligibility for entry; (3) PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, for preventing importation of human diseases; and (4) ANIMAL AND PANT QUARANTINE, for preventing entry of contaminated plants, fruits, and vegetables, or infected animals.
On arrival at a foreign port, the ov.mer or captain of a recreational boat should report to the authorities mentioned above, or to such of them as exist for that port. The Q flag (plain yellow) should be flown where it can be easily seen—starboard spreader, radio antenna, fishing outrigger, etc.—to indicate that the vessel desires to be boarded by customs and other governmental authorities; see Figure 2-18. When reporting, the captain may go ashore, if required, to report to the applicable authorities; crew and guests must remain aboard until permission has been granted to land. Any additional or local regulations to be complied with, including details in connection with clearing from that port, will be supplied by the authorities.
Figure 2-18 Any boat arriving in a United States port from a foreign country must hoist a plain yellow flag—the letter Q" of the International Code Flag set—when entering U.S. territorial waters and keep it flying until U.S. Customs and Immigration clearances have been completed.
Every vessel, whether documented or not, arriving in the United States from a foreign port or place must come into a port where the formality of entry can be accomplished; the Q flag should be hoisted upon entering U.S. waters, 12 miles offshore. Only one person may get off the boat for the sole purpose of notifying the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security regarding the vessel's arrival in port; no baggage or other cargo should be removed before a CBP officer has given specific approval.
All boats, regardless of size, must report to CBP authorities on return to the United States. Pleasure vessels 30 feet or longer must display a cruising fee decal, which may be purchased-through the CBP website: wmv.CBP.gov. The annual fee as of early 2017 was $27-50. This requirement applies equally to visiting foreign yachts and to returning U .S. boats.
Any aliens on board must be reported and a heavy penalty may be imposed for failure to detain them if ordered to do so by CBP.
Following the 9/11 terrorist attack, security was greatly tightened. All persons on a boat coming from a foreign nation were required to appear in person before a CBP officer. This often meant taking a taxi or other transportation to an airport or commercial port. In areas such as South Florida, where many boats return from foreign waters daily, near-chaos developed. To ease this situation, CBP developed the Local Boater Option program that allows the preregistration of vessels and individuals with a single visit to CBP. This is designed for low-risk boat owners who cruise frequently outside U.S. waters, such as from Florida to the Bahamas. Boaters still have to phone in to the CBP when they return to the U.S., but they don't have to report for a face-to-face inspection. The Local Boater Option started in Miami, Tampa, and San Juan and is being rolled out to other major boating communities.
Other programs that do not require face-to-face inspections include NEXUS, the Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit, and Outlying Area Reporting Stations (OARS).
NEXUS is designed for boaters who travel frequently back and forth between the U.S. and Canada, and boaters still must phone into CBP to clear customs back in the U.S. The NEXUS permit is good for five years. The Canadian Boat Border Landing Permit, also called 1-68, is valid for a boating season. Applicants are inspected and issued an I-68 permit; as of early 2017, the fee is $16 for an individual or $32 for a family. Each member of a family 14 years and older must complete a separate three-page form, available only at the issuing point of entry. People who are not U.S. citizens may use Form I-68 for visits up to 72 hours within 25 miles of the shoreline along the U.S.-Canada border. If you don't have a Form 1-68 to enter the U.S., you must report in person at the port of entry or use one of the OARS videophones, connected to the CBP, at facilities near the border, usually public marinas.
Additional Information In general, customs duties are assessed on articles of foreign manufacture when they are brought into the United States if the total value of items purchased exceeds a specified amount, which varies Ivith the length of time that the individual has been out of the U.S. and where they were bought. If you have purchased a foreign-made camera, radio, etc., in the United States and then took it with you when cruising outside U.S. waters, you would not be liable for any duty payment on return. It's a good idea to register such items with U.S. customs before leaving the country.

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