ESEACLEAR � LAUNCHES IN ANTIGUA - QUICK VESSEL CLEARANCE FOR ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK

16 Apr, 2012

 

16th April 2012 Antigua, West Indies eSeaClear ® LAUNCHES IN ANTIGUA – A FREE ONLINE SERVICE THAT ASSISTS YOU TO CLEAR YOUR VESSEL THROUGH CUSTOMS, IMMIGRATION & PORT AUTHORITY. Clearing into Antigua can now be a faster and more efficient process with plans to expand to more Caribbean countries.



Captains can register and enter information about their vessel(s), crew / passengers and declarations online. Prior to arrival at a new country, the Captain simply ensures the information is accurate for the upcoming voyage and submits a new notification. Upon arrival, authorities can access this information to help expedite clearance through all three border agencies. This service is currently available in English Harbour, Falmouth Harbour, Jolly Harbour and St. John’s Deep Water Harbour.



Launched 3 years ago for Customs only, the service has been developed and enhanced using important user feedback from yacht skippers and now incorporates all three border agencies: Customs, Immigration and Port Authority. Countries must meet standards for equipment, internet connectivity and staff training in all departments before they are considered fully compliant to eSeaClear.



eSeaClear is the brainchild of Bob Potter, who said: “We listened to feedback from our users and developed eSeaClear with the yacht skipper in mind. The Captain’s like the speedier clearance, plus the data-entry issue of the authorities has been solved. Everyone wins.”

Potter has been working closely with Antigua’s Ministry of Tourism on this initiative. Antigua & Barbuda is the first country to be fully compliant following extensive training and improved facilities at the clearance ports. There will be an official launch during Antigua Sailing Week, where all participants and visiting yachts are invited to arrive and depart using eSeaClear.

The service is voluntary. Captains can register with no commitment. Privacy is paramount and the information submitted is secure within the border agencies and never shared with any third party.



User Feedback constantly improves the service with the ability to trace areas of difficulty to specific areas (anonymously) and adjust training or procedures with immediate results. Says Potter “If you use the service, please take a few moments to comment on the experience…good or bad, so that we can continue to improve the system”.

iPhone / iPad app coming soon as well as the ability to pay mooring and cruising fees online. Stay tuned.

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