Clearing into New calediona??? when should u notify of intent to enter??

[Bluespot]

Hi,
Pretty new to the whole clear in/out of vessels into country's.
trying to learn a bit about when/how & who you should make first contact to, notify intent to enter New Calediona water coming from FIJI.
I have been told that you just call up once you are almost their, is this correct?, can't find a lot of info on Noon site about it.

[MarkJ]

I don't know as I have t been there.

But as a generalisation there will be many countries you visit that you wont know the exact method to clear in. What I do if Noonsite isnt a help is look at Google Eart of the port of entry I am thinking of using and see where theres other cruising boats anchored, and hopefully the dinghy dock.
If theres no cruising boats work out why. Maybe you should be clearing into another port, or they just dont have them.

Then head there, ring for the harbour master when a few hundred meters out of the bay, channel etc, if no answer proceed in. Motor up to the anchored cruising yachts and ask someone what to do, where the Customs/Immigration is, do you have to go ashore, or do you have to wait on board. Wheres the dinghy dock etc.

You will find most people very willing to tell you how to do it.

If you are in some wierdo country where theres no other cruisers, no radio contact, no English, etc etc, then you just motor in and look around for what looks like the government dock. Or the town dock, anywhere. If its that unusual for a foreign boat to be there people will be waving at you showing you where to go.

Every country si different, every procedure is different. It makes every landfall exciting!

[Boatguy30]

Originally Posted by Bluespot

Hi,
Pretty new to the whole clear in/out of vessels into country's.
trying to learn a bit about when/how & who you should make first contact to, notify intent to enter New Calediona water coming from FIJI.
I have been told that you just call up once you are almost their, is this correct?, can't find a lot of info on Noon site about it.

I recall just going into the marina with the Q flag. Rate was reasonable so stayed a week. Spent a nite on a mooring in route to Noumea on a mooring, no issues.

[Gerrycooper56]

Same as boatguy30, we just arrived with Q flag and arranged clearance with the marina in Noumea. Watch out for quarantine though, the bastards took all our meat from the freezer except a leg of NZ lamb

[Boatguy30]

They sealed our freezer with tape and allowed us 1 week, didn't have much left and ate the remainder on the way to bundaberg. We had the impression it would have been OK to cruise up the coast a bit prior to final departure after clearing out, but weather was good for the passage.

[Gerrycooper56]

They took everything except the leg of lamb which we bought in Fiji and sealed it in a bag with official seals on it. We left the following weekend and decided, as the quarantine guys weren't working on Sunday to have roast lamb for Saturday dinner. We kept the bone and the bag in case we were challenged!
From memory Fiji was 24 hours notice and Oz was 96

[Jim Cate]

The procedure is:
After entering NC waters, proceed to Noumea, with Q flag flying. If entering from the East via the Havanah channel, it is permissible to stop overnight. Do NOT launch the dinghy and do not let anyone on board. As you approach Noumea, start calling Marina Moselle on channel 68 and make your intentions known. When just outside the breakwater in Petite Rade, call again for a berth assingnment. You will be met at the dock, usually on the visitor's pontoon (the last one in towards the market). The marina staff (who all speak English) will notify the officials and give you a bunch of forms to fill out. Immigration and Quarantine will visit your boat, usually quickly. Customs may or may not come. If they have not arrived within two hours of notification, you are free to lower the Q flag and hoist the courtesy flag (required) and go ashore.

No fees, usually no hassle. Firearms will be taken, and ARE a big hassle, so best not to have them. The easiest country to enter that we have yet encountered.

Cheers,

Jim

[Bluespot]

Thanks ever so much for the information, very helpful.
regards
Bluespot

[JPA Cate]

Bluespot,
There is a sign on the breakwater that has written which channel to use for Marina Moselle. Jim's pretty sure it's Ch. 68; but I remember it as 67; however the one that works is there on the sign. They will ask you the length of the vessel and whether it is a monohull or a multihull, and as Jim said, arrange to meet you at the dock.

Enjoy.

Ann

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Bluespot,
There is a sign on the breakwater that has written which channel to use for Marina Moselle. Jim's pretty sure it's Ch. 68; but I remember it as 67; however the one that works is there on the sign. They will ask you the length of the vessel and whether it is a monohull or a multihull, and as Jim said, arrange to meet you at the dock.

Enjoy.

Ann

Hmmm... another old-fart memory issue! But, one can call Noumea Radio on 16 and ask... they will tell you. Also, if asked they will repeat their scheduled wx report in English for the language impaired.

The marina likes you to call them long before the sign that Ann mentions is in view...

Cheers,

Jim

[Bluespot]

Thanks for all the helpful advise, we will arrange for the delivery crew to call as per your recommendations as soon as they near. Most probably go into Port du Sud and then the real fun begins, all marinas that we have spoken to are full and we need to tie our lagoon 380 up for several weeks until our berth that has been secured becomes available on 1 May. 5 weeks of trying to keep her saf ean secure is going to be tricky.