New Procedures for Small Boat
Reporting Beginning 2016
Release Date:
December 22, 2015
U.S. Customs
and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations announces new
procedures that are coming to the inspection process for
foreign flagged private boats. These procedures will be in addition to the
reporting process currently in place.
![Aerial view of CBP's port at Friday Harbor in Washington state.](CBP_files/image002.jpg)
Aerial view of CBP's port at Friday Harbor in Washington state.
All operators of pleasure boats must report to CBP
immediately upon arriving into the United States from a foreign port, place or
location; or if they had contact with another vessel outside the U.S.; or if
they have received merchandise outside U.S. territorial waters. Foreign flagged
pleasure boats must also make a formal vessel entry on CBP form 1300 within
48 hours and pay applicable fees. At the time of entry boaters may request a
cruising license from the applicable CBP port director.
“The cruising license will greatly facilitate multiple
entries during the year and avoid additional fees for boaters,” said Bellingham
Port Director Diana Sandoval.
A cruising license may
be available to boats departing from Canada and arriving in the Puget Sound
area. A cruising license may exempt foreign flagged pleasure boats (from
certain countries) from having to undergo formal CBP entrance and clearance
procedures, except at the first CBP port of entry each and every year. Cruising
licenses are normally valid for one year.
The operator of a foreign flagged or undocumented foreign
pleasure boat without a valid U.S. cruising license must obtain CBP clearance
before leaving a port, place or location in the United States to depart to
foreign waters or must obtain a permit-to-proceed if traveling to another port,
place or location within the United States.
The master, or operator, of a foreign flagged boat not
traveling under a cruising license will be required to file a formal entry and
clearance each time they enter the United States, file the appropriate
paperwork and pay the applicable fees.
Foreign flagged boats traveling under a cruising license
would not be required to purchase a CBP decal, which is
currently $27.50 for the year.
For questions, please contact the Small Boat Reporting Line
at 1-800-562-5943.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border
agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control
and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of
entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the
country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.