RE: changes in boating laws

It was nice to see that they are thinking of changing the laws reguarding sailing into the D.R. Now what they need to do also is revise the law about having to check in with the Marina de Guerra everytime you want to take your boat out. You must show your Matricula,Certifacation de Navigacion,list the names of those who will be going with you,where you are going, and what time you will be back. And you thought flying was a HASSEL! They say because if there is a problem they can send someone to get you. Who? The Marina de Guerra has no boats and don't answer radio calls. When they go to inspect a boat on the water they use a local fishermans boat. At any time they can refuse you permission to go out. They don't make the locals abide by the same laws. They go out with no life jackets,lights,insurance,etc. I say lead by example. The last time I took my boat out they sent a Drug Inforcer to check my boat out he tore it apart had me at the dock for two hours found nothing and wanted me to pay for his services. I think the 10,000 dollars in duty I paid to bring it down, the cost of regristration,the money I pay at Club Natico to keep it should cover a simple inspection. Needless to say he got nothing out of me except a dirty look.

It's about time they got rid of these draconian rules which keep good people away and attract the criminal elements. If the government would only learn that if they also eliminated all tariffs and customs duties we would have money flowing all over. Red tape and taxes is the poor man's way to make money.

Capt Rob,

The check-out procedure with the Marina de Guerre has been eliminated in the new law (and the President proposes to eliminate it immediately until the new law is passed by the chamber if I read/interpreted the news item on DR1 correctly) and a 3 month cruise permit with unlimited movement instituted. I suspect that this is part of the complete overhaul of the 1937 DR Maritime law that a friend of mine at the US Embassy was assisting the DR government revising this antiquated document.

Although unnecessary hassle by any government maritime and drug agents is deplorable, what you endured is nothing more than I and many fellow American yachtsmen in the US have had happen to them. And foreign yachts crusing US waters are also subject to stringent clearing in and out regulations with unauthorized stops between ports being illegal (same as DR law). Ask any captain/owner of a Canadian registered yacht who winters in Florida about this.

maybe now I can do some serious fishing! Try to explain what Bonefishing is to a Dominican Navy Popeye. Your in a foot of water looking for a fish that your not going to eat? Ay si Claro!!!