see also: in May 2008:   Deputy Chief of the Border Patrol Announces State of the Agency   CBP Celebrates Significant Occasions at Advanced Training Center in West Virginia   CBP to Issue New Frequent Traveler Cards   Ecstasy and Methamphetamine Seized at Ambassador Bridge   CBP Races to Secure NASCAR’s Monster Mile   CBP Air and Marine Agents Interdict Migrants in Florida at the Start of Memorial Day Weekend   Border Patrol Agents Rescue 51 Illegal Aliens from Tractor Trailer ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers   Sea Travel

contacts for this news release

Chicago - The boating season is fast approaching and Customs and Border Protection would like to take this opportunity to remind boaters of reporting requirements and procedures.

The boating options apply to individuals who operate pleasure craft (boats) on lakes, rivers and international waterways on and near the United States borders, in order to comply with international customs and immigration reporting laws.

CBP is proactively reaching out to local marinas and boating groups to alert them of the options, which help expedite the customs and immigration process. Reporting is required for any boat coming from foreign, or any boat or crew who has come into contact with any vessel coming from foreign.

When Reporting Is Required
Boaters must report their arrival to U.S. Customs and Border Protection if having been engaged in any of the below activities:

• After having been at any foreign port or place including tying up at a foreign dock or;
• When any boat or crew who has come into contact with any vessel coming from foreign. The simple activity of fishing in Canadian waters will not require reporting arrival to Customs and Border Protection.
• There are three exceptions to the face-to-face inspection at a designated reporting location: (Charter Fishing Vessel Captains should contact their local CBP port for further guidance on reporting exceptions)
  • NEXUS
  • Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit (I-68)
  • Outlying Area Reporting Stations (OARS)
• Participation in any of the programs does not preclude the requirement for physical reporting upon request by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Reporting Procedure
U.S. Customs and Border Protection encourage boaters to enroll in the “Canadian Border Boat Program” for issuance of an I-68 permit or the NEXUS Program. The NEXUS Card or the I-68 permit will allow the boaters to report their arrival to CBP. The Master/Captain is required to report their arrival by telephoning CBP.

Vessels arriving in Ohio or Pennsylvania may call:
1-888-523-BOAT (2628)

Detroit Area, you may call:
(313) 393-3793 or (313) 393-3949

Port Huron area, you may call:
(810) 985-9541

Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, you may call:
(906) 632-2631

In New York State, you may call:
1-800-827-2851

If the boater is not enrolled in either the I-68 Program or NEXUS Program, they will be required to present themselves for face-to-face inspection or at any of the Outlying Area Reporting Stations (OARS).

OARS sites are located at 12 locations along the south shore of Lake Erie.

OARS Site	Location
Put-in-Bay	Bass Island, OH
Cedar Point Marina	Cedar Point, OH
Brand’s Marina	Port Clinton, OH
East 55th Street	Cleveland, OH
Lagoons Marina	Mentor, OH
Chagrin Yacht Club	Eastlake, OH
Grand River Marina	Fairport, OH
Ashtabula Public Dock	Ashtabula, OH
Presque Isle	Erie, PA
Dobbins Landing	Erie, PA
Perry’s Landing	Erie, PA
Lampe Marina	Erie, PA

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
Effective January 31, citizens of the U.S., Canada and Bermuda age 19 and older arriving via pleasure boat should no longer expect that an oral declaration alone will be sufficient to prove identity and citizenship for entry into the country. Instead, travelers will be asked to present documentation from a specified list of acceptable documents when entering the U.S. at sea ports of entry. Examples include birth certificates and driver’s licenses. CBP's Sea Travel page will provide further information about ID regulations when arriving by sea. ( Sea Travel )

Where to Report
Reports of arrival may be made at any of the following ports of entry. Upon report of arrival, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer will provide further instructions regarding designated reporting locations and entry processing. The boat must be made available for possible boarding at the time of the report.

Physical in-person reporting can be done by calling in advance one of the following Ports of Entry (during normal duty hours):

Port of Entry	Phone Number
Erie, PA	(814) 833-1355
Cleveland, OH	(216) 267-3600
Ashtabula, OH	(440) 998-3073
Toledo, OH	(419) 259-6424
Sandusky, OH	(419) 625-0022

The hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 6 p.m. (except for Toledo, which is closed on weekends). The boat must be made available for inspection and boarding by CBP officers.

• NEXUS
  NEXUS Marine program is a joint Canada-U.S. initiative that offers facilitated customs and immigration clearance for recreational low-risk boaters entering either country through registration into the program. NEXUS is valid for five years and satisfies the boat operator’s legal requirement to report to a port-of-entry for face-to-face inspection in accordance with 8 CFR 235.1, but boaters must still phone in their arrival to satisfy 19 USC 1433.
• Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit (I-68)
  Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit (I-68) applicants for admission into the United States by small pleasure boats are inspected and issued an I-68 permit for the entire boating season. The I-68 permit allows boaters to enter the United States from Canada for recreational purposes with only the need to report to CBP by telephoning in their arrival.
• Outlying Area Reporting System (OARS)
  OARS is another northern border method for boaters to report entry to satisfy 19USC and 8CFR requirements into the United States from Canada. The OARS program uses videophones, typically located at public marinas, which boaters may use to report to CBP.

Failure to Report
Failure to report can result in civil penalties as defined in Title 19, United States Code, Section 1436 to include a penalty of $5,000 for the first violation and $10,000 for each subsequent violation with the conveyance subject to seizure and forfeiture. In addition to being liable for a civil penalty, any master who intentionally commits a violation under subsection (a) of this section upon conviction is liable for a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment for one year or both.

Statutory and Administrative Authorities

Statute	Description
19USC1433(a)(1)	Report of Arrival of Vessels
19CFR4.2	Reports of Arrival of Vessels
8USC1225(a)(3)	Inspection by Immigration Officers
8CFR235.1	Inspection of Persons Applying for Admission
19CFR4.51	Reporting Requirements for Persons Arriving by Vessel

Reporting Suspicious Activities
Please report any suspicious activities observed to 1-800-BE-ALERT (1-800-232-5378) or the after hours toll free number 1-800-562-5943.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.