Briefly Entering US Waters

[Tsehum Pete]

The Haro Strait orca whale pod of roughly 30 whales hang out in the waters between Sidney at the bottom end of Vancouver Island and the San Juan Islands. Next weekend, I am considering motoring from Sidney into Haro Strait in US waters, looking at the whales briefly with my 25-year old son (who has never seen a whale), and then motoring back into Canadian waters. Because I may enter US waters, not stop on land and then return to Canada, does this mean I have to go to the nearest US customs port and formally check in etc. I think I probably have to check in with both US and then Canadian customs on my return. Just wondering whether the Canadian whale-watching tour boats formally check-in. They do not seem to. Any US immigration experts out there. I do not want to have my boat seized.

 

[Jadedcrew]

Customs

Hey Pete. As long as you don't go ashore, or make contact with a US boat you do not need to clear customs with either country. If you leave a Canadian port, and return to a Canadian port you are just sailing.I have sailed from Stuart Island to Sucia crossing the border and back several times, but ultimately ending up in the U.S.

 

[Tsehum Pete]

Whale Trip

Thanks Mick for the advice. I double-checked with two US border offices and they both gave me the same answer:- we cannot touch US land;- we cannot put anyone or anything overboard;- we cannot connect with any other US vessel;- we cannot go to Disneyland.Otherwise, we can go into Haro and view the whales. I checked with Canada Border Agency and although technically we should check in on return to Canada, we do not really have to.Thanks again Mick,Peter

 

[JC on Bainbridge]

I am not sure about anchoring though....

I don't know what the rule is if you go into US waters, anchor for a few hours but not go ashore, then return to Canada. By touching bottom, is that the same as touching land?Yes, we plan to go up to Desolation and further north starting this weekend, and we hope to see the J, K, and L pods on the way. I read in the paper about the meeting and greetings of the 3 pods last week. Must have been exciting to see.

 

[Ross]

consider this: If you sail off shore 50 miles and

sail south to latitude 38 north, turn and sail a reciprocal course to your home port, you have entered US territorial waters but have not landed, therefore you have not enter US territory. Many vessels cross into US waters while going from one foreign port to another foreign port but they don't need to clear US Customs. Example: a ship leaving Saint Johns N.B. bound for Cuba will probably enter US waters at least twice. Once near the coast of Maine and once near the coast of Florida.