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Customs and Immigration

There are two ports of entry to Barbados, Bridgetown Harbour and the new Port St. Charles about ten miles north of Bridgetown on the west coast. Clearance is easier up in Port St. Charles as it not a commercial port. However, customs have a strange rule that you have to clear out of the same customs station you clear into. So if you decide to go clear in at Port St. Charles, you will have to return there when you want to leave.

In either case you must proceed directly to the port of clearance and contact them for directions of where to berth. You may not anchor and dinghy in. (See also Carlisle Bay and Port St. Charles sections.) Once berthed you will need to visit Customs, Immigration, Port Authority and Health officials. When berthing in Bridgetown Harbour, lay out lots of fenders and take care, as at some states of the tide their big fenders will be at your lifeline height.

Fees

Customs charges are Bds $25 for clearing in and $25 for out, with an anchoring fee of $8.33 making a total of $58.33. Overtime fees are extra and start at 2200 hrs.

Cruising permits

Once you clear into Bridgetown Harbour you can go and anchor in Carlisle Bay. But if you want to visit any other areas, including Port St Charles from Bridgetown, or Bridgetown (and Carlisle Bay) from Port St. Charles you will need permission from customs and port authority, and will have to give them your schedule.

Other anchorages lie along the west coast. At this point customs are reluctant to give you permission to visit these. There are plans to open up more cruising areas and marker buoys are being placed at several locations where there are sandy areas big enough to permit anchoring. A chart showing these authorized anchoring areas will eventually be available from the Barbados Port Authority.

Firearms

If you have firearms on board you must declare them and the Customs officers will hold them for you until your departure

Arriving Crew

If crew are joining the boat and flying in, it is necessary for them to have a letter from the captain stating this, it is further recommended that the captain meet the crew at the airport with the ships papers.

Transshipment

Imported ships supplies can be transshipped duty free to your vessel under customs supervision.

Visas

Visas are required for citizens of China, Taiwan, Pakistan, non-commonwealth African countries and all South American countries except Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela. If you are dropping crew off in Barbados they will need a ticket to a country where they have right of domicile.

Pets

Barbados is rabies free and animals are not allowed to enter the island without stringent quarantine procedures. Yachts with pets aboard must remain at anchor with the animals kept on board. Under no circumstances are you to bring your pet ashore.

Clearing out

You must clear out of the port you cleared into, only the captain need go with the papers, unless discharging crew, in which case the crew should also see immigration, and they will need a ticket back to the country where they live or have right of abode.

Fishing

Non-commercial trolling and hand-lining for fish, for your own consumption are OK except in designated marine parks.

Anchoring regulations

Over 50% of the shallow waters around the island have coral reefs. These are vital to the tourist industry and yacht anchors are seen as a major threat. Anchoring (collecting or otherwise damaging) coral is forbidden. Penalties of US$25,000 and possible imprisonment are in place for anchoring on a coral reef. In a recent case a mega-yacht was given a huge fine and compelled to leave it’s anchor on the reef (so raising it would not cause further damage).

Buoyed anchoring areas may be in place in the future; in the meantime you are responsible for making sure you anchor in sand not on coral. All areas not clearly visible as sand bottoms should be considered as coral reefs. You must also get permission from customs and port authority.