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US/Canadian Border Sailing

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/22/2012 : 16:56:33

Just curious to know if anyone has altered their sailing excursions due to the Canadian Border Services Agency's rule requiring US boaters to phone in whenever they cross the border on the water (unless in transit from one US port to another)? Due to these requirements, my brother, an avid fisherman, stopped fishing in Canadian waters and he didn't purchase a Canadian fishing license this year, the first time in a long time.

[url="http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/facts-faits/096-eng.html"]Simplified Cell Phone Reporting for Private Boaters[/url]

Don Lucier

North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2012 : 20:08:53

I don't consider it particularly onerous and don't expect it to impact my summer sailing. The only problem I forsee is getting hammered by AT&T if I happen to get a Canadian cell tower. I suppose I could get an add on Canada package on a monthly basis.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2012 : 05:33:52

I don't think it's particularly onerous myself except for the fact that when calling in you may be asked to proceed to the nearest Canadian reporting site, which for me is a 3-4 hour sail (depending on wind direction it could be more) and since that reporting site isn't manned, I'd have to sit there waiting for Border personnel to arrive. After the inspection, I'm now obligated to report to US customs and immigration when returning to the US as I've now landed in Canada with the closest reporting station being 30 miles in the opposite direction. This has the potential to make for a very bad day!

From the CBSA web site...

When pleasure craft operators call the TRC, they will be required to answer a few questions regarding their trip, passengers onboard the vessel, and their declarations. It is the responsibility of the owner/operator to ensure all those onboard have proper identification. After recording the information provided, the border services officer (BSO) at the TRC will make a decision on whether a verification or examination is required or not. If no examination is necessary, the officer at the TRC will provide a report number to the owner/operator. The receipt of this report number will constitute release and approval for entry into Canada.

If a verification or examination is to be conducted, the BSO at the TRC will advise the owner/operator to proceed to the closest reporting site and to ensure that all goods and passengers remain onboard until the verification team arrives. A report number will be provided by a BSO following the verification process. Owners/operators should keep their report number available during their entire stay in Canada.

The international boundary for me is almost, literally, a stones throw from the end of my marina channel and virtually all of my sailing is in Canadian waters. The rules definitely have me going....Hmmmm?

Here's an interesting article...[url="http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20110617/NEWS03/306179983"]New York Boater reports Crackdown[/url]

Edited by - dlucier on 04/23/2012 05:45:53

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2012 : 07:15:50

How does this differ from the existing standard? I haven't travelled to teh US in the past 5 years, but those who do tell me that when you arrive at a marina you call in and then wait for customs to show up.

Seems about the same.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2012 : 07:45:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 How does this differ from the existing standard? I haven't travelled to teh US in the past 5 years, but those who do tell me that when you arrive at a marina you call in and then wait for customs to show up.

Seems about the same.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">As I read it, you have to call in if you cross the line in the middle of the lake then be subject to the decision of the person on the other end of the phone.

The problem with this is that it seems to assume a requirement for a cell phone with adequate coverage. Cell phones aren't rquired by law in the US the last time I checked. Are they in Toronto? It also assumes accurate navigation equipment and skills -- also not a requirement. Not many border signs floating on bouys 25 miles offshore. I wonder how many walleye fisherman off Port Clinton really know what side of the border they're on.

I'm not a lawyer but, the vagueness in this seems to be such that enforcement would be pretty hard if you don't land in Canada.

Edited by - John Russell on 04/23/2012 07:46:46

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2012 : 07:47:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 How does this differ from the existing standard? I haven't travelled to teh US in the past 5 years, but those who do tell me that when you arrive at a marina you call in and then wait for customs to show up.

Seems about the same.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This isn't referring to "landing" or travelling to a foreign port/country, but instead just simply sailing over the international border on the water. If a Canadian citizen sails/boats over the US boundary on the water to fish, float, zig-zag, spend the day, etc. they are not required to report to US Customs as long as they don't land/tie up in the US and are returning to their country of origin, but if a boat from the USA side simply sails over the border even momentarily, say 20 miles out on Lake Erie, they have to call in to Canadian authorities and possibly report to a Canadian reporting port.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2012 : 08:13:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 As I read it, you have to call in if you cross the line in the middle of the lake then be subject to the decision of the person on the other end of the phone.

The problem with this is that it seems to assume a requirement for a cell phone with adequate coverage. Cell phones aren't rquired by law in the US the last time I checked.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

According to their rules, if you don't have a cell phone to call when you cross the border on the lake, you are required to proceed directly to a reporting port in Canada. So if you inadvertently cross the border while drift fishing 25 miles out without a cell phone, you'll need to go directly to a reporting port.

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2012 : 08:41:38

I understand the arguments behind the regulations. Illegal trafficking across the St Lawrence (human, cigarettes, ...) over the past 10-15 yrs has been remarkable. But unfortunately the current regulations/atmosphere is so foreign (pun intended) to what I grew up with in the St Lawrence valley. I've heard many stories similar to the one Don cites in his link. As for difficult to enforce...maybe, maybe not. There are countless security cams along the length of the river. Originally placed to help manage ship traffic but now also used for security. Another example, two summers ago the Admiral, a professor at UVM, had taken a couple of graduate students in an 18' Whaler to sample a cyanobacterial bloom in the northern reaches of Lake Champlain. They were soon overtaken by a black, unmarked, low profile speed boat with no markings of any kind and everyone on board heavily armed, full face masks and not friendly. The Admiral was informed they had drifted over the border by a couple of hundred meters and was then thoroughly questioned. Note this was a relatively remote part of the lake (Missisquoi Bay) and everything on/in her boat was marked with University stickers. The ICE "check" was carried out professionally and it ended amiably, but still scary.

Unfortunately this is the new reality and there will be a bit of a learning curve for the public, but I suspect from a cost perspective, few individuals who call in (and do not touch shore) will be required to report to a reporting site. But I could be wrong....

Edited by - glivs on 04/23/2012 08:46:19

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2012 : 10:23:25

After a little more reading, I see the issue. Could get interesting. I wonder what CBS will do about some of our regattas on Lk Ontario where they could have 50 boats on course.

I also wonder which border they are referring to in Alaska and the Straits of Juan de Fuca where disputes exist about the actual borderline. I imagine CBS will respect the border as it is drawn on Canadian Federal maps, which differs from the BC map and the USA map in the Juan de Fuca example.

All of my experiences with border checks have been in a car, and I have had no trouble worth talking about - at least not in a sailing context. At the end of the day I am glad we have those guys out there, and I know they are feeling considerable pressure from both the US and Canadian administration to tighten things up.

The best solution to all this is for you guys to all surrender to Canadian superiority and join us as the 14th province. We have poutine, you know you want it.

Edited by - on

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