NEWS AND NOTES
Blue Water Sailing
June 11, 2009
New Port of Entry Regulations for DR
There is some good news out of the Dominican Republic for cruisers and boaters alike.
Effective May 15th, a new decree regulating marinas and authorities will hopefully put a damper on past corruption and issues plaguing cruisers for some time now.
The new decree would be a huge improvement over the current situation, which keeps many boaters away from the DR.
What will change:
No more authorities board any boats during port of entry, and only one Navy representative with one other official can search the vessel if there has been a report of suspicious activity on the vessel. Captain will take boat documents and passports to officials land side and complete any and all Governmental forms.
All monetary payments are to be made to the marinas directly and will show on the receipt given to the yacht when they leave the particular marina.
A fee of 5% charged on all dockage fees to all marinas, which will cover all fees for authorities like Marina de Guerra, Immigration, Immigration Tourism, Drug Control, Min. of Agriculture (animals), Ministry of Agriculture (Plants), and Drug Control. (Previously, these authorities, or a combination of them, used to board boats and ask for various fees that they made up on the spot). These authorities will no longer be allowed to collect any fees from boaters.
The following fees will be charged by the Dominican Port Authority, Dominican Navy and Immigration:
- Five percent (5%) of the vessel’s dockage before tax charged by Dominican Port Authority.
- Ten (10) USD or equivalent in Dominican Pesos to the Dominican Navy for a Dispatch Letter only when departing to a foreign port.
- Ten (10) USD for each passenger on the vessel (excluding the crew of the Vessel) paid to Immigration.
- Sixteen (16) USD (or DOP 500) for each crew or passenger that leaves the Dominican Republic or arrives to the country by plane and is desenrolling or enrolling on a vessel.
Port Authority will collect these fees from the marinas and distribute them to the relevant agencies.
Boaters clearing at their port of entry in the DR will receive a 'cruising permit' which will allow free entry and departure from all Dominican ports.
Vessels traveling in Dominican waters from one marina to another do not pay any fees regarding the Dispatch Letter. The Captain of the vessel must inform the marina with his name, vessel’s name and the number of passengers on board of the vessel any time the vessel leaves the marina. The 5% of the dockage fee in the marinas covers cruising permits up to 90 days.
There is going to be a new vessel entrance form that will be filled out with the vessel, crew and passenger information. This will be given to all governmental authorities and one copy to the captain of the vessel as proof of entry and clearance when traveling between marinas in the DR. This document is still being made by the marinas and needs to be approved by the Dominican Port Authority.
We'd love to hear from cruisers in the DR. Let us know how these new regulations are being administered and if you've run into any problems.
Write to The Cruising Compass – comments@cruisingcompass.com.
