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Capt. Rob
Guest
Where do I go to register my boat. Are there any speical permits I need to take out divers, sightseers, fisherman etc. ?
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boat registration
A
Andy
Guest
Capt.,
In order to use your boat commercially (for hire) in the Dominican Republic, it MUST carry the Dominican flag. This means that first, the import tax and duties on the boat must be paid. After the tax is paid, then you pay a HEFTY fee to the Marina de Guerre for the actual DR registration, the cheapest I found was over $30,000rd. This varied depending on who you talked to and how much of a cut they got. And if you get through all this, then you may very well have to pay a regular user's "fee" to your local Commandante.
I brought my 40' Sportsfisherman to the DR to charter fish the boat. After fighting for 10 months with the Aduana both here in Samana and in Santo Domingo regarding the boat's real value and subsequent tax (supposedly 42%, but they started my boat evaluation much higher)and having the boat illegally impounded during the process and kept where it sustained several thousand dollars damage (the fuel dock in Samana) from other boats hitting it, being denied the ability to move the boat to its regular anchorage in Las Galeras despite having paid for the permit to do so (I refused to pay a $3,000rd monthly bribe to Samana's Port Commandante for HIS permission), finally getting permission to move the boat to the boatyard/mooring at Carenero (owned by the then-governor and his family) where it was taken out of the water WITHOUT MY PERMISSION OR KNOWLEDGE and the keel driven through the bottom of the boat in what I and others believe was a deliberate attempt to keep me from competing with the only other sportfishing boat in the area (owned by the governor and his family), having to rehaul the boat out of the water at another yard for 78 days and costing $8,000 USD to repair the damage, I just gave up. And to top it all off, I had to sell the boat afterwards at a loss just to repay the money I borrowed to repair the boat.
Also bear in mind that what happened was not unique as I've talked to a number of people who have had a lot of problems with foreign registered boats in the DR.
Think twice before you give up your home country registration/flag and all the advantages it affords before you enter into this RISKY venture. I guarantee it's going to cost you dearly.
In order to use your boat commercially (for hire) in the Dominican Republic, it MUST carry the Dominican flag. This means that first, the import tax and duties on the boat must be paid. After the tax is paid, then you pay a HEFTY fee to the Marina de Guerre for the actual DR registration, the cheapest I found was over $30,000rd. This varied depending on who you talked to and how much of a cut they got. And if you get through all this, then you may very well have to pay a regular user's "fee" to your local Commandante.
I brought my 40' Sportsfisherman to the DR to charter fish the boat. After fighting for 10 months with the Aduana both here in Samana and in Santo Domingo regarding the boat's real value and subsequent tax (supposedly 42%, but they started my boat evaluation much higher)and having the boat illegally impounded during the process and kept where it sustained several thousand dollars damage (the fuel dock in Samana) from other boats hitting it, being denied the ability to move the boat to its regular anchorage in Las Galeras despite having paid for the permit to do so (I refused to pay a $3,000rd monthly bribe to Samana's Port Commandante for HIS permission), finally getting permission to move the boat to the boatyard/mooring at Carenero (owned by the then-governor and his family) where it was taken out of the water WITHOUT MY PERMISSION OR KNOWLEDGE and the keel driven through the bottom of the boat in what I and others believe was a deliberate attempt to keep me from competing with the only other sportfishing boat in the area (owned by the governor and his family), having to rehaul the boat out of the water at another yard for 78 days and costing $8,000 USD to repair the damage, I just gave up. And to top it all off, I had to sell the boat afterwards at a loss just to repay the money I borrowed to repair the boat.
Also bear in mind that what happened was not unique as I've talked to a number of people who have had a lot of problems with foreign registered boats in the DR.
Think twice before you give up your home country registration/flag and all the advantages it affords before you enter into this RISKY venture. I guarantee it's going to cost you dearly.
S
Sarah
Guest
Well Capt. Rob, I was going to say congratulations on getting your boat out of customs. But from Andy's post, it looks like you need more wishes of good luck! What a nightmare...
J
John Thomas
Guest
How about bringing the boat for personal use and keeping the USA registration? How long can the boat remain in the DR? Permits required?
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Andy
Guest
A cruising permit (tempory bandera) is issued for a period of 6 months if you intend to keep a foreign registered boat here for extended periods of time. For my boat, it was $3,000rd per 6 months registration. This permit is supposed to allow you to keep the boat anywhere in the DR and not just in a "port of availability" where Customs is located.
Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and Florida also require Cruising permits if an out-of-state or Foreign registered vessels remain in their waters for extended periods. I only mention these four as I'm directly familar with them. I'm certain other countries, states, etc have similar requirements.
You start the application process with a request to your local port Commandante and then the forms, photographs and a CHECK (no cash) is forwarded on to Santo Domingo where the permit is granted.
Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and Florida also require Cruising permits if an out-of-state or Foreign registered vessels remain in their waters for extended periods. I only mention these four as I'm directly familar with them. I'm certain other countries, states, etc have similar requirements.
You start the application process with a request to your local port Commandante and then the forms, photographs and a CHECK (no cash) is forwarded on to Santo Domingo where the permit is granted.
C
charly
Guest
hola Capt. Rob.
I only can say (and Iam a real Capt.*LOL* Deep sea Lic.), liszen to Andy.......
Even if you read my story about DAVE (see the Link) , you can not know what later happend, because I stopped to write (but readers now give me a lot of pressure that I have to continue), time ago.
But in the over next part, port authority take his boot away and in the years he spend more money to lawyers (b3cause all of them told him, he will get it back)than the boot was worth, and it was a nice........
And its not only this case I know........
cu(charly
I only can say (and Iam a real Capt.*LOL* Deep sea Lic.), liszen to Andy.......
Even if you read my story about DAVE (see the Link) , you can not know what later happend, because I stopped to write (but readers now give me a lot of pressure that I have to continue), time ago.
But in the over next part, port authority take his boot away and in the years he spend more money to lawyers (b3cause all of them told him, he will get it back)than the boot was worth, and it was a nice........
And its not only this case I know........
cu(charly
C
Capt. Larry Emmons
Guest
You can bring your foreigh registered boat, by sea, into any "puerta habilitada" for a short period of time with no problem. "Puerta Habilitada" is defined as a port with installations of the Marina de Guerra (Dominican Navy), customs and immigration.
You can not dock the boat anywhere except the docks of the puerta habilitada without a cruising permit. Unless things have changed within the last year or so, the Marina is extremely reluctant to issue these permits (with reason because of drug transportation and illegal U.S. immigration problems).
The price for permits allowing you to dock or anchor anywhere other than the dock of a puerta habilitada is based upon a set price per foot of length of the vessel plus an administrative fee and the permit is for six months. The RD $ 3,000 fee is for a vessel in the 35 to 40 foot range.
Puerta habilitadas are Montzanello, Luperon, Puerta Plata, Samana, Punta Cana, La Ramana, San Pedro de Marcoris, Boca Chica and Santo Domingo. West of Santo Domingo, I do not know because I have not sailed there.
I would suggest that if your vessel is a Documented vessel by the United States Coast Guard, that you maintain the U.S. documentation instead of trying to change the title to the Dominican Republic.
Try to find a way to get around the DR title thing for commercial purposes.
You can not dock the boat anywhere except the docks of the puerta habilitada without a cruising permit. Unless things have changed within the last year or so, the Marina is extremely reluctant to issue these permits (with reason because of drug transportation and illegal U.S. immigration problems).
The price for permits allowing you to dock or anchor anywhere other than the dock of a puerta habilitada is based upon a set price per foot of length of the vessel plus an administrative fee and the permit is for six months. The RD $ 3,000 fee is for a vessel in the 35 to 40 foot range.
Puerta habilitadas are Montzanello, Luperon, Puerta Plata, Samana, Punta Cana, La Ramana, San Pedro de Marcoris, Boca Chica and Santo Domingo. West of Santo Domingo, I do not know because I have not sailed there.
I would suggest that if your vessel is a Documented vessel by the United States Coast Guard, that you maintain the U.S. documentation instead of trying to change the title to the Dominican Republic.
Try to find a way to get around the DR title thing for commercial purposes.
C
Capt. Rob
Guest
WELL I THINK MY PROBLEM IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. MY BOAT HAS ALREADY CLEARED CUSTOMS. MY WIFE IS DOMINICAN AND I THINK I CAN REGISTER THE BOAT IN HER NAME. ALSO I HAVE BEEN TOLD IF YOU HAVE RESIDENCE STATUS THINGS ARE DIFFERENT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WHEN THIS OCCURES YOU ARE THE PATRON. AND THERE IS NO NEED FOR U.S. COAST GUARD LIC. OR INSURENCE. YOU ALWAYS HEAR SO MANY DIFFERENT STORIES IT IS HAD TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH. ANDY I AM TRULY SORRY FOR YOUR PROBLEMS. i HAD NO DAMAGE TO MY BOAT. AND OTHER THAN IT TAKING 8 MONTHS TO CLEAR MY THINGS THROUGH CUSTOMS I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. OF COURSE I HAD TO GET MY WIFE TO COME HERE AND PUT EVERYTHING IN HER NAME EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A COMMON PROPERTY LAW HERE. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD YOU CAN FLY BOTH FLAGS U.S. AND DOMINICAN. MAYBE MY BEST BET IS TO CONTACT THE U.S. EMBASSY. ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. OH BY THE WAY I LIVE HERE. THE BOAT WILL REMAIN HERE.
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Andy
Guest
Capt. Rob,
Contact Lt. Commander Scott Bauby, USCG, attached to the Military Assistance Office at the US Embassy, 221-2171, ext. 260. Scott may be able to assist you. Tell Scott I said Hello and good luck with your venture.
Contact Lt. Commander Scott Bauby, USCG, attached to the Military Assistance Office at the US Embassy, 221-2171, ext. 260. Scott may be able to assist you. Tell Scott I said Hello and good luck with your venture.