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1 May: Temporary Changes in Net Coverage
For the period 14 May to 17 June, net control responsibilities will be shared among a group of five guest net controllers, as Melodye and John will be flying to the United States on holiday. Security reports taken on the air and by e-mail for May will not be uploaded at the beginning of June as would be normal process, but will be uploaded along with the June reports at the beginning of July.
15 April: Grenada Immigration Changes
Grenada has again changed, or possbiiyl clarified, the process for yachts clearing in to the country. Each person, upon the captain’s presenting all the passports, will receive up to 90 days on his visa. At the end of the 90 days, each person wishing to remain in Grenada must present his passport to either the Immigration Officer at the main office, Botanical Gardens, St. Georges, or at the office in Hillsborough, Carriacou. In addition, each person must complete and sign a form, requesting an extension and pay a $25EC fee for each additional 30 days requested.
The other change is that if the Immigration Officer is informed that one or more of the persons on the yacht will be flying out of Grenada, he will give each person the form usually completed on an incoming flight, and the stub of that form can be presented to Immigration at the airport at departure time. Previously, any person arriving on a yacht but departing by air was required to step out of line at the Immigration Desk at Point Salines Airport, to complete this form.
22 April: FADs Project Near Tobago
Petro-Canada has established twelve FADs (fish aggregation device) in the waters near the north coast of Tobago. These are intended to foster sustainable fishing for the Tobago fishermen while the Diamond Ocean Worker (see below) drilling rig is in operation. These devices consist of a flag buoy, 12 feet above the surface of the water, trailing two bamboo rafts and another buoy, the second buoy being anchored to the ocean floor. These FADs are not lit and therefore may be difficult to see. The positions of the twelve FADs are as follows:
1. 11d21.706N 60d45.800W
2. 11d20.470N 60d41.239W
3. 11d20.019N 60d45.067W
4. 11d20.978N 60d42.578W
5. 11d22.991N 60d34.668W
6. 11d21.351N 60d38.452W
7. 11d20.824N 60d49.909W
8. 11d22.718N 60d49.386W
9. 11d19.677N 60d53.071W
10. 11d22.088N 60d54.851W
11. 11d18.920N 60d56.734W
12. 11d21.661N 60d57.805W
22 April: New Gas Drilling Rig Near Tobago
Petro-Canada's Diamond Ocean Worker drilling rig has been in operation since 15 November 2007, working at four different locations in the waters north of Tobago. The current location (and last) is at position 11d38.73N 62d41.70W. The project is expected to continue until mid-June. This installation is well-lit and held to the ocean floor by eight anchors, marked by buoys. Mariners are requested to stay a minimum of 500 meters away from the plaform. There are support and supply vessels in the vicinity, including an Offshore Fishing Liaison Officer, who may be contacted on VHF 16 by calling BENE, the name of the site. North Post Radio is issuing notices to mariners on this activity.
1 April 2008: Chateaubelair Update
Contrary to some rumors being passed, the police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have not made any arrests in the cases of the armed boardings in Chateubelair. They have stationed a three-man CID team there and have plans to install a VHF radio at the police station. In addition, the St. Vincent Coast Guard has increased their patrols in the area. Yachts visiting Chateaubelair are advised to call the police and the Coast Guard on VHF 16 to advise them of the yacht's intention to anchor there.
1 April 2008: Rodney Bay Lagoon: No Anchoring
Rodney Bay Marina (St. Lucia) is undergoing major reconstruction. B and C docks on the north side of the marina have been removed. Dredging is taking place in the Lagoon as part of the reconstruction and the St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority has designated the Lagoon as a no anchoring area during the dredging activity. The Inner Lagoon can often be very crowded, due to the ban on anchoring in the Lagoon itself. In addition, yachts are cautioned not to move around after dark, as there have been some minor incidents of collision with the dredging pipes.
The availability of slips is significantly reduced and the dinghy dock in front of the Bread Basket is no longer there. The dinghy dock in front of Scuttlebutts is still available but very crowded. Yachts are encouraged to contact Rodney Bay Marina on VHF prior to entering the channel to get information on the location of the dredging equipment and to arrange for a slip.
The fuel dock is closed for water and occasionally for fuel, depending on where the dredging and construction barges are working. Please call ahead to learn the current situation.
7 February 2008: US Coast Guard Continues HF Weather Broadcasts
Date: February 7, 2008
Contact: (202) 475-3555
WASHINGTON - Last April the Coast Guard asked for public comment on the need to continue broadcasting high frequency (HF) high seas weather forecasts for single sideband voice, facsimile charts and text messages over radiotelex (e.g. HF NAVTEX). The Coast Guard required public comment because the infrastructure necessary to provide these services had exceeded its life expectancy and significant costs were involved to continue these services.
After reviewing and analyzing the substantial public response that overwhelmingly urged the continuation of these services, the Coast Guard's "business case study" concluded that it was necessary to continue HF weather broadcasts. The business case study, "An Impact Assessment of Discontinuing USCG High-Frequency Radio Broadcasts of NWS Marine Weather Forecasts" is posted at: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/high_frequency/HF-WX_notice.htm
The study concluded:
"The responding public collectively perceives that the USCG HF broadcasts are essential to their safety. There is no viable alternative to the USCG HF broadcasts because present alternatives are perceived by the public to be out of financial reach. Also, marine weather forecasts available through these alternative sources may not guarantee the same level of accuracy, timeliness, and/or sufficiency as provided by the USCG HF broadcasts."
While the Coast Guard does not have funds necessary to replace all of its HF transmitters, funds are available to replace the 20 transmitters used for weather broadcasts.
W A R N I N G 5 JANUARY 2008: PROBLEMS IN CHATEAUBELAIR, ST. VINCENT
Over the past six weeks or so, the Security Net has received reports of possibly as many as seven different incidents of crime against yachts at anchor in Chateaubelair. Two of the reports have full details and are listed In the MOST RECENT and SOWINDWARDS reports on the ISLAND REPORTS page of this website. The remaining reports are fragments and may represent several versions of the same one or two reports. There are, however, sufficiently differing details that I think the potential is there for them to be distinctly separate incidents.
One report indicated that the victims had spent many hours with the police and the coast guard, reviewing the details of their incident. They commented that the officials “were all very concerned, and were extremely kind, polite and helpful. They took the attack very seriously and guaranteed…to do all they could to bring the attackers to justice and to stamp this out immediately…”
Chateaubelair has been a trouble spot in the past for visiting yachts and it appears that this is again the situation. Until the St. Vincent authorities can assure the yachting community that the problem is properly being addressed and and are working towards a final resolution, the Security Net advises all yachts to give serious consideration to the recent events before making a decision to stop. If a yacht wishes to stop in Chateaubelair, I would suggest that the utmost in precautions be implemented - see Precautions on the History page of this website for suggestions.
Update 23 January: There are now four confirmed reports and three additional very possible. All involved armed robberies, and several included injuries. Please exercise all appropriate precautions if you must anchor at Chateaubelair.
For the period 14 May to 17 June, net control responsibilities will be shared among a group of five guest net controllers, as Melodye and John will be flying to the United States on holiday. Security reports taken on the air and by e-mail for May will not be uploaded at the beginning of June as would be normal process, but will be uploaded along with the June reports at the beginning of July.
15 April: Grenada Immigration Changes
Grenada has again changed, or possbiiyl clarified, the process for yachts clearing in to the country. Each person, upon the captain’s presenting all the passports, will receive up to 90 days on his visa. At the end of the 90 days, each person wishing to remain in Grenada must present his passport to either the Immigration Officer at the main office, Botanical Gardens, St. Georges, or at the office in Hillsborough, Carriacou. In addition, each person must complete and sign a form, requesting an extension and pay a $25EC fee for each additional 30 days requested.
The other change is that if the Immigration Officer is informed that one or more of the persons on the yacht will be flying out of Grenada, he will give each person the form usually completed on an incoming flight, and the stub of that form can be presented to Immigration at the airport at departure time. Previously, any person arriving on a yacht but departing by air was required to step out of line at the Immigration Desk at Point Salines Airport, to complete this form.
22 April: FADs Project Near Tobago
Petro-Canada has established twelve FADs (fish aggregation device) in the waters near the north coast of Tobago. These are intended to foster sustainable fishing for the Tobago fishermen while the Diamond Ocean Worker (see below) drilling rig is in operation. These devices consist of a flag buoy, 12 feet above the surface of the water, trailing two bamboo rafts and another buoy, the second buoy being anchored to the ocean floor. These FADs are not lit and therefore may be difficult to see. The positions of the twelve FADs are as follows:
1. 11d21.706N 60d45.800W
2. 11d20.470N 60d41.239W
3. 11d20.019N 60d45.067W
4. 11d20.978N 60d42.578W
5. 11d22.991N 60d34.668W
6. 11d21.351N 60d38.452W
7. 11d20.824N 60d49.909W
8. 11d22.718N 60d49.386W
9. 11d19.677N 60d53.071W
10. 11d22.088N 60d54.851W
11. 11d18.920N 60d56.734W
12. 11d21.661N 60d57.805W
22 April: New Gas Drilling Rig Near Tobago
Petro-Canada's Diamond Ocean Worker drilling rig has been in operation since 15 November 2007, working at four different locations in the waters north of Tobago. The current location (and last) is at position 11d38.73N 62d41.70W. The project is expected to continue until mid-June. This installation is well-lit and held to the ocean floor by eight anchors, marked by buoys. Mariners are requested to stay a minimum of 500 meters away from the plaform. There are support and supply vessels in the vicinity, including an Offshore Fishing Liaison Officer, who may be contacted on VHF 16 by calling BENE, the name of the site. North Post Radio is issuing notices to mariners on this activity.
1 April 2008: Chateaubelair Update
Contrary to some rumors being passed, the police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have not made any arrests in the cases of the armed boardings in Chateubelair. They have stationed a three-man CID team there and have plans to install a VHF radio at the police station. In addition, the St. Vincent Coast Guard has increased their patrols in the area. Yachts visiting Chateaubelair are advised to call the police and the Coast Guard on VHF 16 to advise them of the yacht's intention to anchor there.
1 April 2008: Rodney Bay Lagoon: No Anchoring
Rodney Bay Marina (St. Lucia) is undergoing major reconstruction. B and C docks on the north side of the marina have been removed. Dredging is taking place in the Lagoon as part of the reconstruction and the St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority has designated the Lagoon as a no anchoring area during the dredging activity. The Inner Lagoon can often be very crowded, due to the ban on anchoring in the Lagoon itself. In addition, yachts are cautioned not to move around after dark, as there have been some minor incidents of collision with the dredging pipes.
The availability of slips is significantly reduced and the dinghy dock in front of the Bread Basket is no longer there. The dinghy dock in front of Scuttlebutts is still available but very crowded. Yachts are encouraged to contact Rodney Bay Marina on VHF prior to entering the channel to get information on the location of the dredging equipment and to arrange for a slip.
The fuel dock is closed for water and occasionally for fuel, depending on where the dredging and construction barges are working. Please call ahead to learn the current situation.
7 February 2008: US Coast Guard Continues HF Weather Broadcasts
Date: February 7, 2008
Contact: (202) 475-3555
WASHINGTON - Last April the Coast Guard asked for public comment on the need to continue broadcasting high frequency (HF) high seas weather forecasts for single sideband voice, facsimile charts and text messages over radiotelex (e.g. HF NAVTEX). The Coast Guard required public comment because the infrastructure necessary to provide these services had exceeded its life expectancy and significant costs were involved to continue these services.
After reviewing and analyzing the substantial public response that overwhelmingly urged the continuation of these services, the Coast Guard's "business case study" concluded that it was necessary to continue HF weather broadcasts. The business case study, "An Impact Assessment of Discontinuing USCG High-Frequency Radio Broadcasts of NWS Marine Weather Forecasts" is posted at: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/high_frequency/HF-WX_notice.htm
The study concluded:
"The responding public collectively perceives that the USCG HF broadcasts are essential to their safety. There is no viable alternative to the USCG HF broadcasts because present alternatives are perceived by the public to be out of financial reach. Also, marine weather forecasts available through these alternative sources may not guarantee the same level of accuracy, timeliness, and/or sufficiency as provided by the USCG HF broadcasts."
While the Coast Guard does not have funds necessary to replace all of its HF transmitters, funds are available to replace the 20 transmitters used for weather broadcasts.
W A R N I N G 5 JANUARY 2008: PROBLEMS IN CHATEAUBELAIR, ST. VINCENT
Over the past six weeks or so, the Security Net has received reports of possibly as many as seven different incidents of crime against yachts at anchor in Chateaubelair. Two of the reports have full details and are listed In the MOST RECENT and SOWINDWARDS reports on the ISLAND REPORTS page of this website. The remaining reports are fragments and may represent several versions of the same one or two reports. There are, however, sufficiently differing details that I think the potential is there for them to be distinctly separate incidents.
One report indicated that the victims had spent many hours with the police and the coast guard, reviewing the details of their incident. They commented that the officials “were all very concerned, and were extremely kind, polite and helpful. They took the attack very seriously and guaranteed…to do all they could to bring the attackers to justice and to stamp this out immediately…”
Chateaubelair has been a trouble spot in the past for visiting yachts and it appears that this is again the situation. Until the St. Vincent authorities can assure the yachting community that the problem is properly being addressed and and are working towards a final resolution, the Security Net advises all yachts to give serious consideration to the recent events before making a decision to stop. If a yacht wishes to stop in Chateaubelair, I would suggest that the utmost in precautions be implemented - see Precautions on the History page of this website for suggestions.
Update 23 January: There are now four confirmed reports and three additional very possible. All involved armed robberies, and several included injuries. Please exercise all appropriate precautions if you must anchor at Chateaubelair.