The islands of French Polynesia are a stunning and popular archipelago for cruising yachts. However, from early 2025, the number of spots available in some of the more popular anchorages will be severely restricted with the implementation of a new booking system.

Published 3 months ago

Source:  Radio1

2025 Implementation for Recreational Vessels

The Polynesian Directorate of Maritime Affairs (DPAM) has implemented its Escales computer system to direct and control ships that come to French Polynesia.  The system is already operational for cruise ships and yachts over 20 meters, but extending the system for sailboats and vessels will not be completed by the end of the year as initially hoped.

Important Role to Play

On September 20, DPAM officials invited the Tavana (Territorial Administrators) for an information meeting with about 30 municipalities responding to the call.

“It was a ‘rather positive’ reception because these Tavana have an important role to play”, said Cathy Rocheteau, the head of DPAM.

DPAM officials indicated the booking system for vessels under 20m would now be implemented in early 2025 and which all sailors must use if they wish to visit some of the more popular islands in the archipelago.

“We are aware that we need tools to support us ,” said Teura Iriti, Mayor of Arue. ” The tool that is being offered to us (DPAM Escales) seems to be a great tool, now it is up to everyone to provide as much information as possible by bringing together their constituents, their fishermen, their yacht club if applicable. This is first and foremost a discussion that needs to be had at the population level.”

Because the active support of the municipalities will be needed to make the system work, those that agree to welcome boaters must delimit, if this has not already been done, the possible anchoring areas so that the DPAM can take the corresponding orders. And then, of course, it will be necessary for municipal referents, if possible sworn, to be designated to monitor the adequacy between the Escales system and what they will have before their eyes.

The Tavana must also work on possible solutions for collecting wastewater and waste and on pooling the resources of several municipalities on the same island. This raises the question of sharing the fee collected through the Escales system with the municipalities, as Simplicio Lissant of Punaauia and Damas Teuira of Mahina (in the north of Tahiti) point out, who also mentions the possibility of consulting his population.

In any case, technicians are still working on the online payment of anchoring/mooring fees.   “We hope to have a pilot municipality,” said  Cathy Rocheteau. “Note that for the moment, the Country has not set a maximum number of desired moorings for this niche of recreational boating tourism.”

Too many boats

Officials Noonsite spoke to in Mahina, said there are often too many boats in the anchorage and “often they end up stuck on the beach.”

“More boats are coming and it is not sustainable any longer for the bay and population living here. The bay doesn’t look authentic anymore, there is too much boating traffic,” the official told Noonsite.

Tahiti Anchorage Cleanup

Port and municipal authorities in Tahiti began preparing for the implementation of the system after undertaking a “clean-up” of boats at anchorages in and around Tahiti in August 2023.  This included removing abandoned boats and asking others to leave from popular anchorages in front of the Hotel Intercontinental and the Parc Vairai.

“Before coming to Tahiti, boaters must make sure they have a place to berth/anchor, because more and more regulations will be applied,” said Jean-Paul Le Caill director of the Port of Papeete.

“In theory, it will not be possible to come to the port district of Tahiti without a place in a marina or on a legal anchorage.”

Anchoring Restrictions Elsewhere

Many of the other islands have anchoring restrictions in place and local officials in some areas are actively policing and seeking the removal of any vessels that disobey local rules.

DPAM Anchorage Zones

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Related News:

• Sailboats – meeting between Tavana and DPAM on the Implementation of the Escales System – Radio1
• Port Decides to Apply Regulations – Radio 1

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Related Links:

• DPAM – Escales des Navires
• DPAM – Arrival Requirements

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