Cruising Permits for Foreign Vessels

[Gord May]

Earlier this year, the cost of a cruising permit was raised from $100 to $300; but almost immediately reduced back to $100.
Recently, I read that the permit has been once again raised, this time to $150 for boats under 35'.
Does anyone have diffinative information on the current cost of cruising & fishing permits, and any plans the Government may have to change them in the foreseeable future?
Thanks and regards,
Gord
~~_/)_~~

[tamara]

At the moment the fees are $150 under 35 feet, $300 for 35 plus.
The plan is to make it across the board $300 by January 2004
There is much debate in the government to try and see if concessions have to be made, or if they will stand on these fees. ONLY TIME WILL TELL.

The permit is good for 1 year, but only if you stay in the bahamas.
We usually cruise into Bimini, on to Nassau and then on to Turks/ St. Thomas and Virgin Gorda and return along a similar path thru the bahamas. This will mean that we will pay 2x, so I think we will probably try another course to come back this year. I don't mind the $300, but $600 on the same trip is a bit much. I think the government is ironing out these details.

[Gord May]

From "SOUNDINGS - TRADE ONLY TODAY" (July 31/03)

BoatU.S. protests new Bahamian fees

The Boat Owners Association of the United States is using its 540,000-member clout to protest sharp increases in cruising permit fees in the Bahamas.

The island nation on July 1 boosted its previous $100 entry fee to $300

[tamara]

As much as I don't like to pay the extra bucks. The route to Bimini and Andros is just too easy and inviting. I'll continue to travel to and throughout the bahamas.. and beyond when I get the chance.
I know others claim they will cruise elsewhere, not stopping in the bahamas, but the proximity to the states is just too close to deny.

We continued to travel to the bahamas when the airlines raised their prices from $150 to $400 a couple of years ago. Don't know what the big fuss is about now.

Prices go up, life goes on.

[cfisher]

The Bahamas Gov't is making the same stupid mistake that the US Gov't did 15 or 20 years ago when it significantly increased taxes on large boats. Events followed Ecnomics 101, it killed the US boatbuilding industry and reduced the tax income and the same time. Every year tens of thousands, of boats pass thru the area to and from northern US waters to the south of the Bahamas. Stopping in the Bahamas is convient for supplies, etc. However Bermuda will do just fine. While I fly down to the Bahamas several times every year, the Bahamas are not the center of the universe, and can very easily be bypassed by boats on their way to southern waters. The rich can avoid getting screwed by governments, but working people can't. In the Bahamas they will loose both jobs and tax income.