2008 Reporting Requirements For All Private Boat Operators In Puget Sound

Pleasure boaters arriving in the U.S. must report to U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) immediately upon arrival.  This requires physically reporting to a designated CBP office, unless enrolled in a Registered Traveler Program that would allow arrival reporting by phone.  Boaters are strongly encouraged to apply for participation under one of the Registered Traveler Programs to expedite clearance after arrival (Participation in any of the Registered Traveler Programs does not preclude the requirement for a physical report upon request by CBP).

Who Reports?
All U.S. citizens and aliens seeking entry to the U.S. must report upon their arrival.

When Do I Report?
Reporting is required:
                 After having been at any foreign port or place;
                 After having had contact with any hovering vessel.

Note: Small pleasure vessels leaving a United States port into international or foreign waters, without a call at a foreign port, are not considered to have made a departure for the purposes of CBP reporting requirements.  Therefore, certain fishing vessels or any vessel that leaves from a United States port and returns without call [at] a foreign port or place, have not departed the United States, and are not required to  report their arrival to CBP; i.e. a fishing trip into Canadian waters and return to the U.S. without landing in Canada.

If it occurs after the normal business hours of a port, boaters must utilize 1-800-562-5943 to report the arrival.  A CBP officer will provide further instructions regarding reporting and entry processing.

Where Do I Report?
Boaters entering the U.S. via Puget Sound are required to go to one of the following Ports of Entry immediately upon arrival:

Regular hours of service at the above locations are 8 AM – 5 PM.  Extended summer hours are from 8 AM – 8 PM, commencing May 10, 2008.

I-68 and NEXUS participants (Registered Traveler Programs) may use the 1-800 number above to phone in arrivals.

Appointments must be made in advance for clearance with ports not listed above.  Appointments will be honored only during regular business hours.
If arrival occurs after the normal business hours of a port, boaters MUST UTILIZE the 1-800 number to report arrivals.  A CBP officer will provide further instructions regarding reporting and entry processing.

Required Travel Documents
U.S. and Canadian citizens 19 years and older who enter the U.S. at land and sea ports of entry will need to present either a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document (passport, NEXUS card, Enhanced Driver’s License, other documents to be determined) or a combination of identity and proof of citizenship documents such as a driver’s license along with a birth or naturalization certificate.  Children 18 and under will be able to enter with proof of citizenship.

Verbal claims of citizenship and identity alone will not be sufficient to establish identity and citizenship for entry into the United States.

Failure to Report
Failure to report can result in civil penalties as defined in Title 19, USC, Section 1436, to include a penalty of $5,000 for the first violation with the conveyance subject to seizure and forfeiture [your boat may be confiscated – ed].  In addition to being liable for a civil penalty, any master who intentionally commits a violation under subsection (a) of the above section upon conviction is liable for a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment for 1 year or both.

Fees
All documented or registered vessels 30 feet in length or greater are required to pay an annual processing fee of $27.50 U.S. if crossing the international border.

Payment is required for the vessel at or before the time of the first arrival of each calendar year.  If you report your arrival in person or by telephone and a fee is applicable, you may charge your fee to your American Express, Discover, Visa, Master Card or U.S. bank account.  Your bank must be a participant of the Automated Clearing House to effect electronic payment from your account.  A non-transferable decal will be issued upon payment and mailed to your address of record.  CBP will not grant a clearance if outstanding fees are due.

Decals may also be purchased via the internet at:
https://tradelinks4.mellon.com/cbp/Dispatcher
Additional information on decals can be found on the CBP website at www.CBP.gov.

This information is excerpted from a fact sheet from  the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U..S. Customs and Border Protection provided by P/C Fred Bereswill.  The I-68 and NEXUS Registered Traveler Programs will be covered in a future issue – ed.