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for entering Puerto Rico. © Copyright 2006 J.A. Rogers (All rights reserved) Boqueron is the anchorage on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico cruising boaters most often prefer as their arrival point after crossing the Mona Passage and before making their way eastward along the south coast of Puerto Rico. Boqueron is not an official port of entry however and some officials at Mayaguez to the north, which is the official port of entry for the west coast of Puerto Rico, have apparently been a little upset at being bypassed by cruising boaters for the better anchorage at Boqueron. While it is currently the law that vessels without US registry or with non-US citizens aboard undergo formal entry at an official port of entry, US registered vessels with only US citizens aboard are completely within the law to make their arrival anywhere they choose, as long as upon their arrival they make a required phone call to report to a US Customs office on the island. After the captain of the vessel reports in by phone, Customs and Immigration officers have the authority to require boaters to meet procedures in addition to those outlined in the notice below, such as bringing their boats into a port of entry for inspection, but this is usually not required of US registered vessels with only US citizens aboard. To help eliminate the confusion caused by some ham operators, the reprint below is the complete text of the current policy of the US Customs Service, Puerto Rico district headquarters. There has been no update since this notice. Boaters will be on the side of the law by following the guidelines in this notice. For questions concerning these procedures, contact US Customs supervisor Ray Vargas at district headquarters in San Juan: (787)253-4537. |
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
US CUSTOMS SERVICE
MAY 18, 1993
NOTICE NO. 93-52 VES-04-DD:OTA JE
NOTICE
TO: ALL PLEASURE VESSELS OWNERS/OPERATORS, CARRIERS, BROKERS AND OTHER CONCERNED
FROM: DISTRICT DIRECTOR, SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO
SUBJECT: AMENDMENT TO NOTICE NO. 88-56, DATED AUGUST 8, 1988: UPDATING OF THE TELEPHONE REPORTING SYSTEM FOR PLEASURE BOATS
The purpose of this bulletin is to update the procedure to be followed for reporting arrivals of pleasure vessels and processing such vessels, their occupants and possessions utilizing the telephone reporting system.
In the past, Customs inspectional personnel in this district traditionally boarded all pleasure vessels arriving direct from foreign and the US Virgin Islands. This enabled members of the boating public to meet their reporting obligations. Due to the limited benefits obtained from this practice, customs concluded that a report by telephone and a selective boarding system would be more adequate. In June, 1983, the new telephone reporting was implemented and since then, some pleasure vessels have been physically boarded while the majority have been processed through the telephone system. The operating instructions set forth in this issuance shall apply only to Customs handling of the reporting requirements of operators of pleasure vessels, excluding commercial, fishing, and/or charter boats. This concept is applicable to the district of Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra.
Guidelines
A. Operators of pleasure vessels, arriving in the United States territorial waters after having been within foreign jurisdiction or to the US Virgin Islands are required to report their arrival to Customs immediately (see 19 USC 1433). This report may be made by any means of communications including telephone. (Boats required to enter and clear, i.e. vessels engaged in trade, foreign yachts arriving from foreign or arriving under a permit to proceed, etc., in addition to reporting their arrival, must make formal entry at the port of entry).
B. The arrival report shall be made by the operator of the vessels or his designated representative to a Customs officer. Telephone reports shall be made from:
1. A public or private marina within a Customs port of entry at which the boat shall come to rest or
2. If not within a Customs port of entry, at the first public or private marina at which the boat comes to rest after entering the US territorial waters where a telephone report can be made.
3. Telephone reports will be made to the following numbers:
A. During regular business hours 08:00 A.M. to 05:00 P.M. Mondays to Saturdays:
San Juan (#1 La Puntilla St.) 253-4533/-4534/-4537/-4538; Ponce (Ponce Playa) 841-3130/-3131; Mayaguez (Calle Aduana-Comerio) 831-3342/-3343; Fajardo (Calle Union, Puerto Real) 863-0950/-4075; Vieques (Vieques airport) 741-8366; Culebra (Culebra Pier) 742-3531
B. During other than regular business hours:
Mondays through Saturdays 05:00 PM to Midnight (253-4533/34/37/38); Sundays and holidays 00:00/24:00 hours (253-4533/34/37/38). This service is provided at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport regardless of the port of arrival.
Operators of pleasure vessels must also contact the local US Immigration and Naturalization service (INS) and report their arrival. The local telephone number for INS will be provided by the Customs inspector effecting this telephonic clearance.
Overtime Charges
Customs overtime charges shall not be assessed for telephonic release of pleasure vessels that are not physically boarded regardless of the time of day. If circumstances require physical boarding for examination or inspectional purposes, the party-in-interest will be required to reimburse the government for services after regular working hours (05:00 PM through 08:00 AM). Public law 91-258 provides for a maximum payment of $25.00 by the owner or operator for these services. Payment will be required at the time the services are rendered.
Penalties
Applicable law section are as follows:
1. All incoming pleasure boats must report immediately (19 USC 1433); Failure to do so results in a $5,000.00 penalty.
2. Incoming foreign boats without a valid cruising license have 48 hours to make formal entry and clearance. Failure to comply will result in a penalty of $5,000.00 (19 USC 1435).
Penalties are imposed for failure to report the arrival of a vessel and failure to make entry and clearance of foreign yachts. If, after coming to rest within US territorial waters, any person leaves the boat for purposes other than to report arrival to Customs, such action will constitute a failure to report (title 19USC 1436). Penalties are also imposed for unlading passengers, baggage or merchandise without the proper permit.
(Signed by Alfonso Robles)