see also: in October 2008:   Mexican Military Makes Accidental Incursion into the U.S.   CBP Officers Apprehend Illegal Alien Hidden on Rail Car   Border Patrol Agents Make Several Drug Seizures Near Laredo   CBP Officers at the Calexico Downtown Port of Entry Intercept Cocaine Smuggling Attempt   CBP to Open Andrade Port of Entry Earlier During Agriculture Harvest Season   Layered Enforcement Snags U.S. Citizen, Foils 3 Smuggling Attempts   CBP Announces Online Method for Meeting SENTRI Vehicle Requirements ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Baltimore – Annapolis, Md., will play host to international boat shows this weekend and next weekend, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers will staff the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary booths to answer questions about international pleasure boat reporting requirements.

As hard as it is for many to imagine, the Upper Chesapeake Bay is an international port call for private vessels. And when these vessel operators, either traveling through the Baltimore region from Canada to destinations south, or returning to the U.S. from Bermuda or the Caribbean, make a port call for fuel, food stores, touring or for rest, they must report their arrivals to the nearest CBP office. The Baltimore CBP port office is located at 40 South Gay Street in Baltimore.

Well over 200 international pleasure boats made port calls to the Baltimore region from foreign ports during fiscal year 2008. The fiscal year ended at the end of September. Fiscal year 2008 arrivals easily surpassed the 182 vessel arrivals during fiscal year 2007. These vessels include larger sport fishing vessels, cruisers, yachts, and ocean sailing vessels.

Additionally, foreign vessels operating on cruising licenses and traveling coastwise from other U.S. ports must also report their arrival to CBP at every U.S. port they visit.

Typically, vessel operators arriving from foreign ports must call (410) 962-2806 to learn their specific reporting requirements. Vessels arriving after routine business hours should call 1-800-973-2867.

“This federal regulation is little publicized, but no less important than requiring international airline travelers to clear Customs and Border Protection processing at our nation’s many airports,” said Walter Simmons, acting CBP port director in Baltimore. “Foreign visitors must be properly admitted into the U.S., and it is vital to our nation’s security that federal officials know who is visiting our country.”

And as in international airline travel, there are consequences for failing to report international vessel arrivals.

Penalties for failure to report vessel arrivals, as contained in 19 CFR 4.2(a), include a $5,000 penalty for a first offense and $10,000 for each subsequent violation. The vessel may also be subject to seizure and forfeiture.

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.