Warning to Vessels Calling in Dakar

A clamp down by Customs has resulted in a recrudescence in fines levied against vessels calling in Dakar in the last few weeks.

According to Budd’s local office, the Dakar port regulations which stipulate that vessels must provide Customs officers with a full declaration of all ship’s stores including the personal effects of crew members, bunkers, paints and lub-oil as soon as they arrive are now being applied both very literally and with great severity to all vessels in the port, whether or not they have berthed yet.

As a result, several Masters have found themselves being threatened with massive fines (in one case, over Euros 3,000,000.00) and/or detention by Customs officers because they were either unable to provide fully accurate information on the contents of their ship’s stores/bunkers so soon after their arrival in the port (on one occasion at least, because a heavy swell had made it impossible to accurately calculate the bunkers) or because their declaration was not in the required format (loose sheets attached to official forms).

Budd Dakar would therefore strongly recommend that vessels calling in their port:

- Ensure that they accurately complete the declaration of ship’s stores/bunkers in accordance with the latest port requirements (their Agents should be able to provide this information) before they arrive.
- Insist that all documents issued by the port authorities, and Customs officers in particular, be signed by the Master in the presence of the Agent.
- Take whatever pacific measures are required to prevent the Customs officers from coming on board if either of the above conditions has not yet been met.

Please do not hesitate to contact Budd Dakar for further information or assistance.

Budd, Dakar

28 Feb 2008 - 12:37:29