Charter vessel seized after being operated without license or permits
Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Customs, Wade Smith, said a charter vessel was recently seized after its operator knowingly lacked the necessary charter requirements.
Speaking during an interview with ZBVI radio, Smith said Customs officers met last week with a number of charter companies and there was one in particular that they instructed could not conduct charters because it did not meet the requirements of the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry.
This was in addition to the vessel not having a commercial vessel license, a trade license, or cruising permits.
“That vessel continued and was engaged in the trade, engaged in the charter. They conducted their charter and during a patrol by the Customs Department, that vessel was identified, questioned and the captain and the crew instructed the guests to make a statement to the Customs officials—telling them that they were friends of the captain to avoid paying cruising permit taxes but there was a charter that was paid for and they were penalised,” Smith explained.
Smith, while declining to state the monetary figure or the name of the vessel, said the fine was paid and the vessel was released.
West End charter boats denied clearance to leave
Meanwhile, the Customs boss said there were also a number of water taxis, which are essentially charter boats, attempting to leave the territory with guests over the weekend though they did not meet the necessary requirements.
He disclosed that there were approximately eight vessels that were leaving from the West End area, but these were all denied clearance by HM Customs.
Smith said passengers on the vessels were being ferried to and from the United States Virgin Islands (USVI).
Other water taxis which met the requirements, Smith said, were able to take those passengers out of the BVI into the USVI.
Safety a priority
Smith said it has been established through various fora that safety is the number one priority and water taxis first have to meet the safety requirements as established by the laws that are governing the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry.
He said the offending vessels were not issued commercial recreation vessel licenses by the Customs Department, hence they could not engage in that particular trade.
Owners first need to make an application to the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry with the requisite documentation in order to be certified. After this, they have to make an application to the customer service department for a commercial recreation vessel license.
These weren’t done to date in this instance with these specific vessels, Smith said.
Smith said the captains were not charged at that time, but were given a stern warning and told they may be penalised if it happens again.
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We just start to make money after a 2 years drought and these men now harassing and fri%%ing up people
and what about the captains and water taxis that are working legally but all of you are stealing their fares….
that’s your comment. You must be an outlaw. Your comment is really stupid. That’s all!
Well this whole thing funny. One has to establish borders and parameters. Seems like they were warned, then they lied about it ??♀️ BVI customs roll up on dem man like, “buss in de door, waving the 44, All you heard was Poppa, don’t hit me no more”. Total B.I.G. Style ?
WS seems to be on a personal crusade to drive all boaters out of BVI waters. Except his friends in the import export business of course.
This guy needs to go.
I get it but when the customs dept and shipping don’t reply to emails or return calls when captains try and get the correct paperwork sorted….people just trying to make a living, just saying.
This is nonsensical. The only ones guilty here are HM Customs. Customs have taken a relatively simple procedure and turned it into a bureaucratic House of Horrors.
They are doing exactly ZERO to enhance the economy of the BVI and promote tourism in the territory… ZERO. Instead, HM Customs are chasing away business.
It’s only about the money… Collect their cruising tax and let the tourists and boats spend some money! Instead, Customs is busy justifying their gov’t jobs by shuffling paper.
SHAME!
Every day you go there is something different one of them will tell you do it that way when u go another day and met with another worker that one now telling you no do it this way. Lol.
Does this mean that foreign vessels carrying passengers from USVI into BVI and then traveling through the BVI onto Jost / Baths etc they all have trade license / BVI commercial license / cruising permits, as they are operating a water taxi service within our waters ?
It means nobody is going to come to the BVI any more.
USVI is open for business.
We’re friendly, welcoming, and don’t charge stupid fees.
The answer to Question is that evidently so despite the fact that to legally operate a water taxi in the USVIs requries a USCG license (which requires passing a not so easy exam, documented sea time), as well as vessels to be inspected for safety requirements. Now that it seems to be clear that any vessel travelling in BVI waters for commercial purposes has to have trade license, work permit, cruising permit etc, when do we require Tropical Shipping, and all the barges that bring in materials and supplies to the islands have same? Or, is this just a ploy to drive water taxi business to ferries? All it will do is make people go somewhere else. It’s enough hassle to get here,
Customs are killing us. We are only just starting to get back on our feet and they decide to change the whole process of obtaining a commercial license days before they were due to expire. After being told that we had time to get our documents in order from shipping registry, we were then told something entirely different. The shipping registry has a list of boats which are compliant and are simply waiting for their new documents, which was supposed to be relayed to customs for temp permits. This list has been completely miscommunicated between VISR and customs and as a result, businesses have been shut down and are losing money every day. If only this administration was aware of the long term damage they are doing to our territory, and the large quantity of vessels leaving because of all this nonsense. It’s a total disgrace. Charter vessels bring an enormous amount of revenue to the BVI and with financial services being affected, how does the BVI expect to survive without tourism? Every boat brings in passengers, who spend money at local bars, restaurants, grocery stores and gift shops. Boats pay gv fees, keep an enormous amount of people employed, they pay dockage, gas, water, electricity, provisions etc etc. If you lose boats, you lose revenue its that simple.
And YOU!, yes you Local capt are the biggest problem in the BVI. You can not see that this is the greatest opportunity we have had to right the many, many, illegal, abusive wrongs that were being committed by these undocumented Illegal charter boat operators on a daily basis stealing MILLIONS from the territory and eating your lunch, but I guess as long as you aright it is all good. Non of you would dare try any of this nonsense in the USVI but those of you who prefer the easy way, pass a few bucks under the table and go long are the ones that will be kicking and screaming the most as we put our house in order. Those of you who have sense will understand that it will be a little painful as we get things in place as you the legitimate business owner will be the ones who benefits the most. It will take patience and understanding of the bigger picture from you. As far as visitors not coming, hogwash we will always have visitors as long as we do not allow people like you to make us a lawless country and those that do visit at least we will know they did not get here on an illegal charter boat.
You have literally no idea what you’re talking about. And this is why I tend to stay away from these threads because of ignorant people like you. There are LOCAL businesses being affected by the total LACK OF COMMUNICATION and NONSENSICAL policies being put in place. Do some reading and get your facts straight.
It seems the local capt is speaking as a BVI Captain and not a USVI operation coming over here. I would believe them that Government has caused a clusterf**k, what’s new really?
Oh please! It makes no difference BVI Captain or USVI operator they all abuse the system because the policies were not enforced. Oh yeah, sure, so much revenue making in the charter industry in the BVI but how much that belongs to the BVI stays in the BVI. So now policies are being enforced, not so easy to operate illegally and abuse the system so better to criticize, whine, leave and find somewhere else to abuse. Every country on the globe has had a major rethink, reevaluation and reconsideration of their industries and the way they do business but we should not implement change in our systems because it is not easy and convenient for you as we go through the change process. No worries, go ahead leave, when all the kinks are worked out and you come back you will still be welcomed. As for the local captains, get yourself straight pay your insurance, pay for your cruising permits, pay your SS, NHI and payroll tax and if you are crying that you don’t have money to pay these things you need to have a serious re-consider about your business and better to offer your skills to someone who is truly running a business.
Once again, you have no idea what you’re talking about
Sit down Ian
OK…how many BVI -based water taxis are there? There don’t seem to be too many of them that want to take people to USVI for the day (ferries apart)? There don’t seem to be too many that are aavailable to fetch people from there. How many of those BVI water taxis have properly lioensed, trained and insured captains? Do you really believe that if USVI water taxis are shut down that enterprising BVIslanders will fill their place? And, have you considered the monies toursts brought in water taxis bring into the local economy vs the wages of a water taxi captain, or revenue the water taxi compay earns?
Whoa! Close the door! Let us not be distracted by the us versus them narrative. This story is about illegal operators in BVI waters and the policies and enforcement in place to ensure, to a degree that this lawless behaviour ends. No one is saying that these companies or water taxi businesses can’t do business here, it just requires that they follow the rules of the country in order to legally operate. You have proven exactly the point when it comes to local captains, they on here kicking up and screaming more than you because these policies are being also enforced on them. At this point they are to blind to see that if they got the proper licenses, certification and insurances, paid their fees and governmental obligation and ran a real business it would open more access to the USVI. But of course you already know if we keep them ignorant of these facts push the narrative of us versus them and how much you are not wanted, better for you. LOL!
Its about time. The BVI is too slack. People come and do as they please, and BVI belongers cannot go to the US and about and do as they please. They will spend years in a federal prison all over the US.
Belongers in prison. Hmmm
Sounds like the COI is coming to an end
A lot of Belongers are born in US Territories and can indeed come and go into the US as they please. Those belongers that are in Federal prison are not there just because they went or attempted to go to the US.
Anyone ever tried getting a recreational fishing license from shipping dept? Asking for a friend
Depend what kind of fish
Square Grouper
???
Looks like they want the charter companies to register their boats in the BVI. But what about charter companies that have a base with boats in other islands and some of those boats have to be back and forth how will it work out for them. Why register a boat here when it only coming in for a week or 2 to do a charter and go back to another base?
I wonder if they have BVI trade licences and cruising permits, while they are plying our waters and disgorging thousands of poor tourists, while polluting the environment?
Hon premier why did u let wade back in customs and couldn’t you guys give us atleast a year to catch ourselves before u started this. Police dept is getting a clean up customs needs one also
Is this directed by the Premier to kill off the marine industry which is mainly driven by white folk? Can you not see from his actions that dislikes so call “Europeans” making a dollar in the BVI? Since the COI he and his band of merry men are on the rampage.
IF Customs and the Shipping Registry were efficient it would be ok but they are not and the miserable service in Customs makes it worse. Seriously sort your own departments out before you trash our industry. Most of the officers try to be intimidating bullies when they are customer service agents. Plus shipping – another bunch of people with a stick up their butt. All these people must remember they are service dept. They provide a service to customers and should be friendly and accommodating.
Hopefully they will be all going to the Tourist Board Customer service training.
I am glad let the law do this thing
This is simple BVI needs a kinder more efficient way to issue licenseing and stop over regulating everything.
example
If want to go catch a fish just one fish i need to spend 2 days
chasing permits and licensing. I not against licenseing
I’m against spending 2 days chasing licenseing.
Get rid of all unnecessary Gov. employees and put an easy simple on line form and payment system in place
Also
Tourists entering the Territory don’t need to treated like criminals being interrogated by the FBI. We need kinder gentler administration