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31 July 2010 - Chagauramas Dinghy Thefts on the Upswing
The Most Recent page and the Southern Windwards page list two thefts of dinghies and outboards, appropriately chained and locked but the thieves were able to cut through using bolt cutters. Additional e-mails report that there have been at least ten burglaries of yachts on the hard and in the anchorage, as well as four outboards stolen from yachts at the TTSA mooring field and three thefts during the last week of July.
Few details have been reported outside of Trinidad but there does seem to be an increase in crime against yachts there. The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard is now patrolling the Chagauramas from dark until dawn and there is talk of re-instituting the cruisers’ safety watch.
Any yacht visiting Trinidad should be prepared to take all appropriate precautions with regard to the security of the yacht and the dinghy and outboard.
29 June 2010 - Website Update
The HISTORY page of this website has been updated to include a new sub-page, that of Passage Precautions, which includes information and instructions for filing a float plan for the Grenada-Trinidad route. Passage Precautions came about in direct response to the piracy attack on S/V Triton on 23 December 2009, but also in general response to an increase in reported incidents primarily in Venezuelan waters.
22 June 2010 - Clarification of Grenada Fees Increases
The changes in the Grenada cruising permit arise from a re-interpretation of the 2000 Yachting Act by the Customs Department. A letter was sent by the Deputy Controller to all Customs Supervisors dated 13 April 2010, giving the new regulations, and, depending on when that letter was received at the various ports of entry, the change was implemented over the next few days.
These changes apply to all foreign flagged yachts, regardless of the status of their owners (Grenadian nationals, residents, work permit holders, etc.). It came about in an attempt to increase income within the Customs Department whose budget is financially stretched; yacht clearance fees supposedly form a significant part of department revenue.
The fees can be paid when the yacht initially clears in to Grenada, or the captain can opt to pay the fee for one month, with the remainder due when he clears out. There will be no penalties for paying at the end of the stay and no refunds if the yacht clears out earlier than planned, having already paid for additional months. The cruising permit is valid for one month or until the yacht leaves Grenada, whichever is sooner. Thus, if the initial clearing is on 3 June, the cruising permit expires at the end of the day of 2 July.
What remains unclear at this point is the status of those yachts which had cleared in to Grenada prior to 13 April and that issue has been referred to the Minister of Finance. Those yachts may be required, upon clearing out, to pay retroactively to 13 April 2010, or to the beginning of 2010, or to their last entry date, or some other version.
While yachts stored on the hard in a boatyard are exempt from the fees for the calendar months of storage, there is also some question as to whether the same exemption will be applied to boats stored at marinas, or all boats at marinas (occupied or not). The exemption will not be extended to those boats stored on mooring buoys or at anchor under caretaking contracts.
Questions and/or requests for clarification should be directed to MAYAG (Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada), mayagadmin2@spiceisle.com <mailto:mayagadmin2@spiceisle.com>.
13 May 2010 - Grenada Fees Change
The following is a press release issued by the Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada (MAYAG):
“MAYAG PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: CHANGES TO CRUISING PERMITS IN GRENADA
St. George’s, May 13, 2010 - The Government of Grenada has reviewed fees for visiting yachts, and in line with much of the Caribbean, the cruising permit fee is now charged on a monthly rather than ‘one time’ basis.
The monthly cruising permit fees are as follows:
Length Overall of Yacht Fee EC$
Not exceeding 40 feet 50.00
Exceeding 40 feet but not exceeding 60 feet 75.00
Exceeding 60 feet but not exceeding 80 feet 100.00
Exceeding 80 feet 150.00
Complete months spent in boatyards are exempt from the above fees. MAYAG has requested that the exemption also be applied to time on the dock in marinas, as well as proposing an amnesty period for yachts already in Grenada with an old ‘one time’ cruising permit. MAYAG is awaiting confirmation from Customs on these requests, and we will publish more information as soon as it is available.
Overall, the tax and fee structure for yachts in Grenada is still favourable. Yachts in Transit pay only 2.5% on imported parts and supplies, and yacht services - including dockage and yard storage - for foreign flagged vessels are exempt from VAT.
For more information, please email MAYAG at mayagadmin2@gmail.com <mailto:mayagadmin2@gmail.com>.”
This is the end of the press release. As further information becomes available and questions are answered, watch for more news posted on this website.
The Most Recent page and the Southern Windwards page list two thefts of dinghies and outboards, appropriately chained and locked but the thieves were able to cut through using bolt cutters. Additional e-mails report that there have been at least ten burglaries of yachts on the hard and in the anchorage, as well as four outboards stolen from yachts at the TTSA mooring field and three thefts during the last week of July.
Few details have been reported outside of Trinidad but there does seem to be an increase in crime against yachts there. The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard is now patrolling the Chagauramas from dark until dawn and there is talk of re-instituting the cruisers’ safety watch.
Any yacht visiting Trinidad should be prepared to take all appropriate precautions with regard to the security of the yacht and the dinghy and outboard.
29 June 2010 - Website Update
The HISTORY page of this website has been updated to include a new sub-page, that of Passage Precautions, which includes information and instructions for filing a float plan for the Grenada-Trinidad route. Passage Precautions came about in direct response to the piracy attack on S/V Triton on 23 December 2009, but also in general response to an increase in reported incidents primarily in Venezuelan waters.
22 June 2010 - Clarification of Grenada Fees Increases
The changes in the Grenada cruising permit arise from a re-interpretation of the 2000 Yachting Act by the Customs Department. A letter was sent by the Deputy Controller to all Customs Supervisors dated 13 April 2010, giving the new regulations, and, depending on when that letter was received at the various ports of entry, the change was implemented over the next few days.
These changes apply to all foreign flagged yachts, regardless of the status of their owners (Grenadian nationals, residents, work permit holders, etc.). It came about in an attempt to increase income within the Customs Department whose budget is financially stretched; yacht clearance fees supposedly form a significant part of department revenue.
The fees can be paid when the yacht initially clears in to Grenada, or the captain can opt to pay the fee for one month, with the remainder due when he clears out. There will be no penalties for paying at the end of the stay and no refunds if the yacht clears out earlier than planned, having already paid for additional months. The cruising permit is valid for one month or until the yacht leaves Grenada, whichever is sooner. Thus, if the initial clearing is on 3 June, the cruising permit expires at the end of the day of 2 July.
What remains unclear at this point is the status of those yachts which had cleared in to Grenada prior to 13 April and that issue has been referred to the Minister of Finance. Those yachts may be required, upon clearing out, to pay retroactively to 13 April 2010, or to the beginning of 2010, or to their last entry date, or some other version.
While yachts stored on the hard in a boatyard are exempt from the fees for the calendar months of storage, there is also some question as to whether the same exemption will be applied to boats stored at marinas, or all boats at marinas (occupied or not). The exemption will not be extended to those boats stored on mooring buoys or at anchor under caretaking contracts.
Questions and/or requests for clarification should be directed to MAYAG (Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada), mayagadmin2@spiceisle.com <mailto:mayagadmin2@spiceisle.com>.
13 May 2010 - Grenada Fees Change
The following is a press release issued by the Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada (MAYAG):
“MAYAG PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: CHANGES TO CRUISING PERMITS IN GRENADA
St. George’s, May 13, 2010 - The Government of Grenada has reviewed fees for visiting yachts, and in line with much of the Caribbean, the cruising permit fee is now charged on a monthly rather than ‘one time’ basis.
The monthly cruising permit fees are as follows:
Length Overall of Yacht Fee EC$
Not exceeding 40 feet 50.00
Exceeding 40 feet but not exceeding 60 feet 75.00
Exceeding 60 feet but not exceeding 80 feet 100.00
Exceeding 80 feet 150.00
Complete months spent in boatyards are exempt from the above fees. MAYAG has requested that the exemption also be applied to time on the dock in marinas, as well as proposing an amnesty period for yachts already in Grenada with an old ‘one time’ cruising permit. MAYAG is awaiting confirmation from Customs on these requests, and we will publish more information as soon as it is available.
Overall, the tax and fee structure for yachts in Grenada is still favourable. Yachts in Transit pay only 2.5% on imported parts and supplies, and yacht services - including dockage and yard storage - for foreign flagged vessels are exempt from VAT.
For more information, please email MAYAG at mayagadmin2@gmail.com <mailto:mayagadmin2@gmail.com>.”
This is the end of the press release. As further information becomes available and questions are answered, watch for more news posted on this website.