Immigration - Heineken Regatta

Immigration

Coast Guard

The Coast Guard of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba are checking every dinghy on the following items on board:
You need to have on board:

an anchor
light
lifejackets
the driver need to show a copy of the Captain licence.

Please make sure you comply with these rules while you are a vistor to our shores, this is for your safety as well as the safety of other on the water

Regulations

Regulations are easy on St.Maarten /Saint Martin.
Here we give you detailed information on what to do when you arrive by boat or by plane.

In case of arrival by boat

The Regatta organization is pleased to announce that the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority has advised that:

It will be NOT necessary to clear out of Simpson Bay when going to Marigot unless the vessel is not returning to Simpson Bay.
Regatta Participants will not be charged a second week of mooring fees as a result of their interrupting their stay in the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Waters.

The Regatta organization still wishes to attend the participants to the fact that on regular scheduled openings, the Simpson Bay Bridge has a limited duration of opening and when this period is exceeded then the bridge wil not open again for a scheduled opening. There are of course extra openings scheduled from March 6th through March 9th but these are limited.
Extra opening hours are mention on this page as well under Bridge Opening Hours.

You are requested to check in with the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority office situated in the Police Station just west of the bridge in order to pay the indebted and harbour fees based on the Bridge Ordinance (AB 1994 no.4) and the Harbour Fees Ordinance (AB 1984 no. 5)

You need to bring the following documents:

The vessel registry documents
Passports of the crew & guests
The Immigration clearance documents
The Customs clearance documents
The vessels insurance documents
The last payment invoice of bridge, Harbor and Clearance fees if available
The Clearance documents of your last Port of Departure

Other than in case of an emergency duplicates/copies will not be accepted.

When a crewmember had to leave for emergency reasons, a copy of the return ticket and passport needs to be handed in.

Depending on country of Residence the duration of stay is limited. The maximum stay is 3 months.

When you enter St.Maarten at Philipsburg, Great Bay you can to go to the Sint Maarten Port Authority in Point Blanche for your convenience.

In case of arrival by plane

You need to fill out an immigration form handed to you on the plane. On that immigration form you must indicate your local address. Please make sure that you have a return ticket or a ticket to another foreign destination.

Weekly fees

The fees for cruising boats, passenger ships and yachts per week or a portion of a week amount to:

8 up to 13 meters in length	USD 20 per boat
13 up to 18 meters in length	USD 40 per boat
18 up to 23 meters in length	USD 60 per boat
24 up to 28 meters in length	UDS 90 per boat
28 up to 33 meters in length	USD 120 per boat
33 up to 38 meters in length	USD 150 per boat
38 up to 43 meters in length	USD 180 per boat
43 up to 50 meters in length	USD 210 per boat
50 up to 75 meters in length	USD 250 per boat
75 meters or larger in length	USD 290 per boat

Bridge fee

The Bridge fee amounts to: NAF 180,-/ USD 100 per boat for boats of minimum 28 meters (90ft.) in length entering in the Simpson Bay Lagoon. Special Bridge openings may be requested for opening between 6.00 AM and 6.00 PM at a fee of $ 1000 (as per January 1st 2008) regardless the length of the vessel and must be paid in advance. The request must be made 24 hours in advance. Special Bridge openings are paid per vessel and per opening.

Bridge Opening Hours

Please be aware of the fact that entering the Simpson Bay Lagoon through the bridge is at your own risk.

The daily Seasonal opening hours for the John Sainsborough Lejuez Bridge at Simpson Bay from December to April are:

Outbound	Inbound
09.00 AM	09.30 AM
11.00 AM	11.30 AM
16.30 PM	17.30 PM

Extra opening hours from March 6 through March 9.

Outbound	Inbound
07.30 AM	09.30 AM
9.00 AM	11.30 AM
11.00 AM	15.00 PM
	15.45 PM not on Thursday!
16.30 PM	17.30 PM

Customs Clearance fee

On the French side and in Great Bay it is not necessary to clear in or out. In Simpson Bay you MUST clear in!

USD 2 for boats of 1 - 99 net tons
USD 5 for boats of 100 - 499 net tons
USD 9 for boats of more than 500 net tons

Harbor Clearance fee

USD 5 for boats of 1 - 99 net tons
USD 10 for boats of 100 - 499 net tons
USD 20 for boats of more than 500 net tons

VHF radio channels

Bridge tender & Coast guard listen to VHF channel 12.

If you need any additional information about immigration requirements, please call the Immigration Department in St. Maarten. They can be reached through the central Police Department operator at (+599) 542-2222. You can also contact the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority: (+599) 545-3183.

Marigot Harbour Rules

Anchoring in Marigot Bay

To Anchor in Marigot Bay the vessels have to follow these instructions:

Yachts have to display a black ball during the day and a white light at night;
Vessels must respect distance between vessels to avoid collision;
The authorities do not allow dinghy's on the enclosed Ferry Port.