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US Customs and Border Protection Roam App Replacing Small Vessel Reporting System with CBP Roam App on September 5, 2018. Previously we promoted and received incredible response from all boaters for the release and optional use of the US Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) ROAM app which allowed boaters to preload their passenger information, check in by smart phone video conference and continue moving along to their final destination. The summer run of the ROAM app was effective and efficient for all and favored by boaters returning to the US from The Bahamas. The success and widespread use of the CPB ROAM app has transitioned into the primary means of clearing US Customs and effective September 5, 2018 will replace the older Small Vessel Reporting System. If you are unfamiliar with the CPB ROAM app, it was designed to expedite the return to the US without having to wait dockside for customs and immigration clearance. Here’s how it works: Download the app to your smart phone. Complete the necessary biographical information for each person on the vessel. Provide the necessary trip information regarding your foreign travels. Conduct the video chat with the USCBP officer that will meet all of the reporting requirements. For most boaters this means you can proceed to your homeward destination without having to report to CBP in person. You will receive a notification and email with clearance or further instructions. For expedited processing, individuals without a Trusted Traveler number may also apply to enroll as a “Verified Traveler” through the CBP ROAM app; approved travelers will receive a Verified Traveler number that can be used for future trips. What circumstances will I be required to report following video reporting? If an I-94 form or other document is required for your US return. If customs duties must be paid. If other relevant circumstances exist. Visit USCBP ROAM APP for full details and instructions on how to download and use the app. Visit www.bahamasmarinas.com for information on boating and fishing in The Bahamas.

We know this situation has changed the cruising plans for many charter companies, yacht captains, owners and crew as many of the standard Caribbean ports of call will not be operational for the 2017 / 2018 cruising season. The Association of Bahamas Marinas (ABM) is working to get the word out about the super yacht berthing capabilities within The Bahamas. Whether it’s the active lifestyle of Nassau/New Providence you seek or the remote sensations offered by the quiet beaches and pristine turquoise waters of the Bahamas Out Islands, you are be able to find a Bahamas experience that meets your needs and requirements for larger vessels. The shorter travel time to The Bahamas not only permits more playtime in port, but offers some great offshore anchoring experiences and pristine environments, all with reduced operating costs and wear and tear on the vessel. Additionally, Bahamas destinations all have airline, charter and private aircraft and water taxi access making all marinas accessible for those seeking long term dockage or need to have guests brought in. The ABM currently consists of 26 marinas throughout seven Bahamas island groups. These marinas are a collective voice in the marina industry working towards continuous quality improvements in the areas of tourism, boater safety and security, marina operating standards and in-water and on the dock training programs. Currently the ABM is working on the promotion and use of Bahamas float plans, dock master training and certification programs, travel awareness and a social media notification network utilized to inform captains and small boaters on the marina status before, during and following storms. The ABM and member marinas can be visited at the following Florida boat shows: Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show : November 1 – 5, 2017 Stuart Boat Show: January 12 – 18, 2018 Palm Beach International Boat Show: March 22 – 25, 2018 For information on all of the marinas listed below, visit the Association of Bahamas Marinas website: www.BahamasMarinas.com. Reservations at all of these resorts and marinas can also be made through our centralized reservations office: 954-462-4591 or email reservations@bahamasmarinas.com.

The Association of Bahamas Marinas has set out to position marinas as more than amenities appended to hotels for the convenience of guests who may own a boat. Instead, the ABM asserts, marinas in The Bahamas should be recognised for what they are collectively: a vital facet of the country’s tourism product that gives The Bahamas an edge on many competing island destinations. “The fabulous beaches of The Bahamas are just one feature of the many points of interaction that are possible between a visitor and the glorious waters that surround our islands,” said Stephen Kappeler, ABM president. “The nation’s maritime tradition, geographic features and location have helped to provide opportunities for us to develop a network of world-class marinas that attracts boaters and yachtsmen from nearby Florida and all the way up the Eastern Seaboard of the USA.” The Bahamas archipelago offers something for all seafarers and one’s destination may be dictated by the type of craft one is using and the Bahamas experience one seeks: sailboats are drawn to the serene experience of cruising the picturesque Exumas, a chain of islands in the southern Bahamas which are home to the celebrated Family Island Regatta, “Family Islands” being the alternate name by which Bahamians refer to the Out Islands of the archipelago, the latter being a term that makes sense if you live in the capital Nassau, or second city Freeport on Grand Bahama. On the other hand, if one’s destination demands are more for heavy duty nightlife, casinos and sumptuous dining one would head for New Providence in the central Bahamas, site of the capital Nassau and Paradise Island. The depth of water in areas of the archipelago dictate what can reach where. Pretty much all water craft can access Marsh Harbour and Hope Town in the Abacos, Port Lucaya on Grand Bahama, Nassau and George Town in the Exumas; while sailboats head for points in the Abacos, Long Island, the Exumas, Great Guana Cay and Eleuthera. The ABM’s 31 marinas are located at points throughout The Bahamas. Visit our website for a full list – https://www.bahamasmarinas.com or call for information and reservations: Toll Free: 844-556-5290; U.S. 954-462-4591.