| CLEARANCE
FORMALITIES
PHUKET
Upon arrival in Phuket, there are a number of formalities that have
to be undertaken, much the same as at other ports. Outlined below
are the steps required and the relevant authorities and departments
that need to be contacted and visited.
- On
arrival in Phuket one can anchor off or berth in one of the marinas
or main anchorages. There is no specific port of entry. One must
simply visit the below offices within 24hrs of arrival.
- It
is the captain’s responsibility to go ashore and check the
yacht in/out with the authorities. The authorities are Immigration,
Customs and the Harbour Master.
They should be visited in that order.
- Many
nationalities are granted entry visas for 30 days on arrival without
a visa, or if you already hold a visa, stay will be granted for
its duration. Check in advance which nationalities are eligible
for 30-day visas on arrival.
- The
captain of a yacht does not require a visa. Instead he/she will
be registered as being in transit with the vessel and will be
issued a 30-day stay. The captain can sign off the yacht by posting
a US$500 returnable bond.
- The
yacht will be granted a six month stay extendable to one year
without paying any duties.
- Immigration
and Customs have their head offices in Phuket City, and the Harbour
Master’s office is in Ao Mackham commercial port. However,
clearance is undertaken at the one stop shop service in Chalong
Bay in the south of the island.
- Documentation
required to check in:
- all
passports (captain and crew);
- the
yacht’s registration; and
- clearance
certificate from your last port.
- Working
hours are Monday to Friday 08:30 – 16:30.
Immigration and Customs are not usually open on Saturdays, Sundays,
holidays or after hours. However, a limited after-hours service
is available; check the office notice boards for the duty officer’s
number. Over time charges will apply.
- Fees
- Customs:
100THB
- Immigration:
300THB plus 10THB per passenger
- Port
Control (Harbour Master): 100THB
Note:
The above is a guideline, and was accurate at the time of going
to print. For exact details and prices check with the relevant authorities
or contact a yacht agent.
Contact
Numbers
Immigration t: +66 (0) 7622 1905 ext 32, Yacht Control
Customs t: +66 (0) 7621 1105
Harbour Master t: +66 (0) 7639 1174
Ao
Chalong (Chalong Bay) One-Stop Clearance Service
Immigration, Customs and the Harbour Master have sub-offices in
the same building, located at the pier in Ao Chalong – t:
+66 (0) 7638 3900, no after-hours service is available.
MYANMAR
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is one of the last untouched cruising
grounds in the world. The Mergui Archipelago located 95nm North
of Phuket contains around 800 densely forested and mountainous islands
that are surrounded by tropical reefs. Most of these islands are
uninhabited and remain in their pristine and natural state. Wildlife
is prolific both above and below the water. The native inhabitants
are nomadic sea gypsies who choose to live aboard their uniquely
crafted wooden boats. Surviving out of the sea and on wild game
from the islands, and preferring to keep to themselves, these people
remain little changed by the modern world.
Permits
To enter Burma yachts must obtain a cruising permit beforehand.
These are issued by the government in Yangon (Rangoon) from the
Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, and take about 3 weeks to process.
Alternatively permits can be obtained from yacht agents in Phuket
(see the Directory of Services at the back of this guide). Fees
vary depending on the number of crew/passengers and the intended
length of stay. It is compulsory to take a Burmese guide onboard
while the vessel is in Burmese waters.
ANDAMAN
ISLANDS
The Andaman Islands are Indian Territory. Forming part of the Andaman
and Nicobar chain, they are situated in the Bay of Bengal 420nm
Northwest of Phuket. The Andaman and Nicobar chain consists of 572
islands, most of which are uninhabited, densely forested and fringed
by stunning coral reefs. At the time of writing the Nicobar Islands
were off limits. The climate is tropical with medium to heavy rain
during the monsoon season (May to October) and clear dry periods
through the hot season (December to April). The population is hugely
varied including Malay, Indian, Pygmy and Aboriginal, most of whom
live in and around the capital city of Port Blair. The rest of the
islands are speckled with small villages and stunning scenery.
For
more details on the Andaman Islands, visit: www.andamansearally.com
www.andaman-islands.net
www.andaman-nicobar.com
www.and.nic.in (official Tourism
Ministry website)
Entering
The Andaman Islands
To enter the Andaman Islands all crew must have Indian visas. Prior
to leaving the last port of call one must contact the Harbour Master
in Port Blair to inform them of arrival. They will request that
you fax through certain documents (ship’s registration, crew
and passenger list) to expedite clearances. Six hours prior to arrival
one must hail Port Blair Port Radio on SSB channels:
H.F.
working frequencies (SSB Radio):
07:00 to 19:00 LMT - 8.294 MHz
19:00 to 07:00 LMT - 6.224 MHz
Indian
local mean time is +5.5 hrs.
Port
Blair Port Radio also monitors Channel 16 (VHF - International Frequencies).
During the day the local forecast is available at 09:30 and 16:00
local time on the daytime HF frequency.
Once
in contact, follow their directions. Upon arrival in Port Blair
the vessel will be boarded by the Customs, Immigration, Port Control
and Navy. They will outline what to do, and where to go and not
to go. This can be a long process and it is advisable to use an
agent for all of your clearances to save time and confusion. See
the Directory Of Services at the back of this guide for reputable
agents.
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