BVI News

BVI seeks to attract more vessels to territory

Local officials are embarking on a five-day campaign to get more vessels to registered in the British Virgin Islands.

The campaign begins today, October 31, with the territory participating in this year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in the United States.

The Virgin Islands Shipping Registry (VISR) said they believe the event will allow officials to network with top players in the shipping sector and not only ‘promote the BVI advantage for ship registration’ but also “promote the BVI as a yachting location and destination spot”.

“As part of their engagement, the [BVI] team will network with customers and obtain feedback on what is expected from a shipping registry. The feedback is expected to be used to help guide the department in being more responsive to the needs of its customers.”

The delegation headed to Fort Lauderdale includes Acting Director of VISR, Captain Raman Bala as well as Acting Registrar, Ronald Donovan.  VISR is also partnering with BVI Finance and the BVI Tourist Board on this initiative.

BVI Finance is said to be exhibiting at this year’s boat show, which is an event that showcases an array of the maritime vessels, and a ‘medley of marine products and accessories to enhance the nautical lifestyle’.

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23 Comments

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  1. Editor says:

    … If the BVIs indeed wanted to attract more vessels to visit the BVIs, they should consider the impact of the $ 16/day/passenger cruising fee on visiting (and charter vessels) boats. Plus, of course, entry, departure and environmental levies.

    Like 21
    Dislike 1
    • Clarity says:

      We want business set up in the BVI, not elsewhere and trying to reap the sweet from the BVI. Talk all!

      Like 5
      Dislike 1
    • Santa Claus says:

      So the BVI is open for business? If you are trying to attract business here are 5 things you should do today:

      – 1) eliminate or reduce and simplify your arrival fees (only tiny insecure countries charge large entry fees) If you are trying to encourage tourism then make it really easy to arrive – consider adding an internet arrival and departure notification. The lines are often quite long at the points of arrival and departure.
      – 2) eliminate your departure fees (what civilized nations shake down their guests when they have to leave?)
      – 3) Train your arrival teams. Those snarling customs and immigration people are often quite unfriendly. If tourism is important then you should seriously consider your marine guest’s arrival and departure experience. As one who has arrived here 100s of times along with similar experiences in the windward and leeward islands, the BVI arrival experiences by boat is amongst the worst.
      – 4) The paperwork is ridiculous. Boaters are asked to complete forms with redundant entries that even the immigration and custom’s staff don’t understand or administer evenly. Onetime – an official yelled at the captain in front of me – “We don’t accept abbreviations on our forms.” The captain responded, “I’m sorry sir, there isn’t enough space on your form to write CONNECTICUT.” The official then bellowed, “No exceptions – you gots to do it! You gots to spell everything in full. You can’t abbreviate anything on our forms. Don’t you deface our forms or you will be arrested.” The captain then said, “But excuse me Sir, may I abbreviate United States of America as USA? Everyone laughed including the immigration chap.
      – 5) The paperwork is ridiculous for another reason. It isn’t stored, archived or recorded as some sort database. Captains and guests arriving by boat fill out a ridiculous amount of paperwork which is heavily criticized on arrival and departure and then this isn’t stored or entered into a modern database. HEY, we all have cell phones. Hey. we all have access to the internet even in the BVI where it is quite slow compared to everywhere else in the Caribbean except Haiti. Why not let us clear in (and out if you continue to insist) through the internet? Its much easier to fill out your forms (and save them for re-entry).

    • Frequent Sailboat Charterer says:

      Too many taxes and fees have led me to sail/charter elsewhere. Unfortunate, as I love the BVI!

  2. Ship shape says:

    Sounds like a nice vacation in Ft Lauderdale for the VISR. Truth be known, nobody will be registering their boats in the BVI because these people are at the boat show. Catamarans are purchased and put into rental programs regardless of their attendence. Yachts are registered through the yachts broker. Who are these people going to talk? The cashiers at the outlet malls?

    Like 15
    Dislike 4
  3. Wow says:

    Ha,ha your serions?
    More taxe for the yachting? You wont get more People., beleave me

    Like 8
    Dislike 2
  4. Dreamer says:

    HasCustoms and VISR sorted out the duty implications of registering a boat in the BVI? No one is going to register BVI and pay 5% duty on a new boat when they arrive in the BVI.

    Like 12
    Dislike 2
  5. Anonymous says:

    Some people still experience great difficulty when having to pay people of color, whether government or local wage earners, make and or take in a fair dollar.

    They always want us to receive the lowest of the low. We must keep our fees and wages low so they can come in and prosper at our expense.

    This is not a new phenomenon, it is an age old consciuos practice.

    I wonder if they go to EU or the USA and demand or expect low to minimal fees to do business, or do they just pay without hard feelings?

    Our government fees should represent our product and it should be paid for, not enjoyed cheaply.

    Like 4
    Dislike 12
    • @Annonymous says:

      What people dislike is paying money for nothing regardless of race or color. The only time racism comes into play is in the BVI because you all hate the white man. 8 people on a catamaran for a week and it cost $1,000 in taxes. What do the boaters get in return for that. The environmental fee is paid by tourists who do nothing to the environment of the Territory. The locals do more harm then anyone. Raw sewage into the ocean, garbage burning at the dumps but it’s the white man causing the problem. You are the problem and those like you…

      Like 16
      Dislike 3
      • Frequent Sailboat Charterer says:

        Eight people on a boat might contribute $1k in direct taxes, but what about the much bigger and indirect contribution to the BVI economy (and taxes paid) through yacht provisioning, yacht maintenance folks, taxi drivers, taxi vehicle maintenance, airport or ferry employees, charter office staff, etc. etc., and the list goes on… Beware; higher taxes kills the goose that lays the golden eggs, over and over. If you want more golden eggs, treat the goose well!

    • Yep says:

      Be it our gold,our diamonds,our land,our labour,our flesh,any and all of our coveted resources,near and far, the demonic entitlement of the grab and go monster, in exchange for the least or for nothing, wiil always show its fangs.
      Stay Woke!

      Like 3
      Dislike 2
    • Einstein says:

      Your a special kind of stupid huh? Everywhere in the world, no matter their race, color or creed, people are looking for the best value for their dollar. To some there are benefits to registering a boat here, to some not so much. It’s about value not what color the person is I’m writing for check to. Strupes!

      Like 6
      Dislike 2
  6. Jus saying says:

    Has S & R consulted with Customs on this? They have different ideas on BVI Registered and flagged vessels. Not a “Convenient” Flag state anymore.

  7. @Einstein says:

    Touched a nerve but it is a reality . Current and past history indicates that the exploitation of natural and human resources by the Caucasoids is a pervasive normality in countries where the population is African or of African descent or non white.
    Immoral but truthful and undeniable among many other denied truths.
    So your corn got stepped on but ce est la vie.

    Like 2
    Dislike 5
  8. So sad says:

    Even this initiative to stimulate the BVI economy is receiving disapproving and even racist comments… what a negative bunch of people have you all become. The BVI came in a downward spiral 3-4 years ago and I’m afraid that it will not end soon.

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
  9. @ So Sad says:

    Why when one writes or speaks truth and authentic facts about a certain race way of life , thinking, being and past to present history and practices the writter suddenly becomes a “racist?”

    Isn’t that an indication of reverse racism? And why does the real living practicing racist always seem to get offended? A real case of authentic guilt of conscience probably?

    May the government be successful in its economic endeavors, and may the cost of its product be equal to that of the rest of the world.

    We will not be blindly exploited by the exploiter today or into the future. We are “woke!!!!”

    Like 1
    Dislike 3
    • Yep says:

      Re the above query.
      These deliberate deniers of the obvious truth are boldly unapologetic in their racism or its acceptance.
      They are the most dangerous MFs(Mad Friends).
      Stay Woke.

      Like 2
      Dislike 2
    • Wendy says:

      This phenomena contributes to the permanency of racism and has been oftimes queried and also studied.
      White Fragility, a book published in June 2018 and authored by a sociologist gives insight into this behaviour. It can be purchased on Amazon.

      Like 1
      Dislike 2
    • Mmmmh says:

      You speak in riddles…but I’m probably not smart enough to understand your reasoning…. It’s easier to understand So Sad, who is right in every way. He/she is just referring to earlier made comments.

  10. Retired says:

    The VISR staff is just having a 5 day holiday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at taxpayer’s expense. Perhaps next week VISR staff will publicize their BVI ship registration results from their Florida holiday.

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  11. duck1951 says:

    Too many annoying fees as well as archaic thinking by administrators For example I noticed a lot of visitors having to go to Road town , take a cab , then a ferry to JVD . I see no reason why the Customs and immigration officials are unable to add additional officers in Jvd and permit the ferry from St.Johns and st.Thomas to go there directly . All this nickle and dimeing are already driving away the clients .Infact there are several boats that no longer frequent White Bay because of these fees . Also why give visitors a bad taste by collecting the environment fee upon arrival ? The process should be seamless and reasonable . Do we have a tourist board that can help rectify this ?

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