The following port clearance information is provided to help sailors visiting Rodrigues Island, Mauritius. This information is based on two U.S.A. citizens on the 42-foot catamaran

ARRIVAL DAY/ DATE: Friday, May 29, 2015

ARRIVAL PORT: Port Mathurin, Rodrigues Island, Mauritius

DEPARTURE DAY/DATE: June 9, 2015

DEPARTURE PORT: Port Mathurin, Rodrigues Island, Mauritius

Consider the navigational information noted below as suggestions, and rely on your own sailing skills for accuracy and safety.

PASSAGES TO RODRIGUES

Most yachts are running in the southeast trade winds during late April, May, June, July, and August of the year. They approach Rodrigues from the east or north.

Some yachts head off to Rodrigues after visiting Chagos, and the passage is about 1,200 nm. Most sailboats struggle to get south during this passage because the winds are typically from the southeast and south. To get in soothing, many yachts leave Salomon Island, Chagos when there is no wind (motoring) or the winds are from the west or west south-west. They motor or sail southeast leaving the Great Chagos Bank and the Diego Garcia Atoll to starb’d (to the west). Make sure you stay at least 7 nm away from the Diego Garcia Atoll, or military monitors will be contacting your vessel.

During 2015 many sailboats tried to sail the rhumb line from Diego Garcia to Rodrigues, which initially gave them a fast, comfortable, on-the-beam reach during the initial part of the passage. However, almost all of the sailors found the last 300+nm miles to Rodrigues slow, very tight on the strong winds, often requiring tacking and extremely uncomfortable sailing in 2 to 3-meter waves. Near Rodrigues, the winds tend to scream from the south-southwest, south, or south southeast at 20+ knots, regardless of what the grib files show. So, after leaving Chagos try your best to head due south, and then go further south, because it is impossible to be too far south. In my case, I stayed tight on mild east southeast winds for four days, got to about 17 degrees south, then turned to start (west) and had a comfortable and fast run all the way to Rodrigues. You definitely want to approach Rodrigues from the east whenever possible. Approaching from the northeast, north, or northwest resulted in bashing to windward, sick sailors, ripped sails, a broken rudder, and a de-masting in 2015.

RODRIGUES PORTS OF CALL

There is only one port of call in Rodrigues, Port Mathurin the capital city. Even if your last port of call was Mauritius, you must clear in and out at Port Mathurin.

AGENTS

You are NOT required to have a shipping agent when clearing into and out of Rodrigues.

VISA AND BONDS

Most visitors do NOT need a visa for visiting Rodrigues. Upon arrival, you can request a 30, 60, or 90-day tourist visit. Be on the safe side, most cruisers enjoy Rodrigues so much they stay longer than 30 days, and often skip a long stay in Mauritius because of its big smoke (city) issues.

You can stay a maximum of 6 months, during any 12 month period, in Rodrigues, Saint Brandon, AND Mauritius (combined). If you want to stay longer than 6 months you must request an “exemption” from the Immigration Department. Your exception request must be in writing and submitted near your 50th day of visitation. Your request will be sent to the Prime Minister in Mauritius for consideration. There are 13 legal exemption categories for extending your stay.

Note: Under most circumstances, yachts are permitted to stay in Rodrigues/Mauritius waters for a maximum of 90 days. A bond worth 10% of the value of the yacht is required for boats staying longer. See the Customs officials for further details.

APPROACHING PORT MATHURIN HARBOUR

1. When you are two hours away from Port Mathurin call the Rodrigues Coast Guard on VHF channel 16. They monitor the radio 24/7. They will ask you the following questions:

A. The name of your vessel.

B. Your expected time of arrival.

C. The flag of your vessel.

D. The number of people on board and their nationalities.

E. Your last port of call.

2. When you are approaching the outer entrance of Port Mathurin Bay call the Port Mathurin Port Captain on VHF channel 16. Ask him for permission to enter the bay, channel, and port area and to tie up to the commercial wharf there. If the wharf is full, you may be directed to anchor in the turning basin or outside the channel.

As normal, approach the port with your yellow Q flag flying.

NIGHT TIME APPROACH

Port Mathurin is closed at night and the Port Captain does NOT permit ANY vessels to enter or depart the port at night. At night some vessels anchor in Port Mathurin Bay, just outside the channel leading to the harbour. I dropped my anchor in 13 meters of water, sand bottom, at 19.40.12 S and 063.25.79 E. This location gives you good protection from all directions except the north.

CHARTS AND REFERENCE POINTS

There are numerous reefs northeast, north, and west of Port Mathurin.

The outside waypoint for the deep Western Pass channel approach to Port Mathurin Bay is 19.39.234 South and 063.24.89 East. After reaching this location go to the inside waypoint of 19.40.17 South and 063.25.66 East. Along with this route the water will exceed 12 meters at all times. When you reach the inside waypoint you will see a clearly marked channel on your starb’d side. The channel is marked with a series of matching channel markers, leave the red poles to port and the greens to starb’d.

Proceed to the southwest end of the concrete wharf with your fenders on your starb’d side. The depth of the water in the channel, anchorage area, and alongside the wharf is 9 meters or more.

WHARF vs ANCHORING

Usually, the Port Captain has several employees standing on the wharf waiting for your dock lines when you first arrive. The various governmental officials will board your yacht several minutes after your tie off to the wharf.

Many yachts remain tied to the concrete wharf when they visit Rodrigues. The advantages of this are:

1. Free wash water from a rainwater catchment tank. The water tap is at the east end of the wharf warehouse (State Trading Corporation building).

2. Free dockage.

3. If your generator is broken and you need electricity, the Port Captain has made arrangements in the past for a long electrical cord leading to your vessel.

4. Easy-on and easy-off access to the main shopping district.

5. Your vessel is in a secured fenced area with 24/7 guards.

6. Very good protection from all winds and waves, except the north.

Unfortunately, you are tied to a large concrete wharf which has a very limited amount of commercial truck traffic Monday through Friday, 0700 to 1500. The wharf is only busy the two days following the departure of the supply ship. And, like all commercial wharfs, it is dusty and dirty at times.

All yachts must leave the wharf when the supply ship visits Rodrigues. This occurs about once every other week. The arrival dates and times for commercial ships are posted on the exterior wall of the wharf security guard shack and the Port Captain will advise you accordingly. The guard shack is located at the west end of the wharf where you must enter/exit.

While commercial ships are at the wharf you must anchor a hundred meters to the north of the wharf in 9 meters of water, mud bottom, or go outside the channel to anchor until the ship leaves in 2-3 days. The anchorage can hold about a dozen yachts. Strong winds from the west, north, or east can whip through the anchorage. The fine mud bottom combined with a good anchor (Rocna, Manson, etc.) held the boats in place. Some boats with short scope, CQRs and knock-off anchors dragged in May 2015. The anchorage is literally surrounded by a drying reef and concrete walls. A current runs through the anchorage area/turning basin. The boats that dragged seemed to be too close to the wharf and in the strong current areas where the bottom is hardpan with a thin layer of mud. And, there is not much room for recovery if a boat drags.

For the most part, my C-Map and Navionics charts rang true.

DINGHY DOCK

If you anchor out you take your dinghy to the harbour launch/tug Albion or Solitaire, which are tied up at the west end of the wharf. Tie your dinghy to the launch/tug and climb across it to reach the wharf. The Albion and Solitaire are orange, white, and black. The Port Captain may move a small platform barge into place to make getting ashore easier.

CLEARING-IN PROCEDURE

Within a minute or two of docking at the Port Mathurin wharf the governmental officials will start boarding your vessel. If a cargo ship is at the wharf or the entire wharf is occupied by yachts, you must drop your anchor in the nearby harbour/turning basin or raft up to another yacht. If anchored, the Coast Guard’s small black inflatable will shuttle the officials to your vessel.

1. Health Official: 

You will complete a Health Card for each member of the crew, and complete a Maritime Declaration of Health form. The official will give you two copies of the Combined Remittance Voucher & Receipt form (CRVR). Later that day, or during the next business day, you must take the CRVR to the governmental cashier office.

The cashier office is open Monday through Friday, from 0800 to 1500, and is located in the Rodrigues Assembly Building (governmental office building) which is due east of the wharf. There is a security fence between the wharf and the cashier office, so you have to take a long way around, i.e., exit the wharf at the security checkpoint at the west end of the wharf, walk out to the first street, turn left, walk several blocks and you will run directly into the Assembly Building. The cashier office is on the first floor (north end) of the light yellow building with white trim.

The cost of the health inspection is about $18 USD, 647 rupees, and you MUST pay in exact change. The cashier will give you a paid Rodrigues Regional Assembly receipt for the health inspection fee. You must take the paid receipt to the Bureau Sanitaire (Health Department) office which is located on the second floor of the fresh market building. The market is located one block east and one block south of the cashier’s office. The Bureau Sanitaire office is open Monday through Friday, 0830 to 1400.

2. Immigration: 

They require the passport of each crew member and a crew list. He will have you complete a Disembarkation Card for each crew member, fill in a PIO (Passport Immigration Office) Crew List form, and a PIO General Declaration form. After signing and dating all the forms he will stamp your passports. You automatically get permission to visit Rodrigues for up to 90 days. If you want to stay longer, just ask and your wish will be granted.

3. Port Captain: 

He will stop by, introduce himself, and shake your hand. He will have you complete a Port Authority – Declaration Of Entry form. If you have questions or concerns about anything on the island, he’s the man. His office is located on the top floor of the large wharfside building near the security checkpoint.

Yvan Manuel is the Capitaine du Port and he provided wonderful support for all the yachts.

work phone (country code +230) 831-1626

Cell phones 5988-6111 or 5253-5213

E-mail titanikyvan@gmail.com.

4. Coast Guard: 

He will ask you several dozen questions and will want a copy of your ship’s papers. Some of the more unique questions are a Serial number of your dinghy, the serial number of your outboard motor(s), MMSI number, guns, spear guns, etc. If you declare a spear gun, he will remove it from your vessel for safekeeping at his office.

5. Customs: 

As the Customs official stated, “We have continued the British tradition of generating paperwork.”

Customs will review your passports, ship’s papers and crew list. Also, make sure you know you call sign number.

You will have to complete 13 forms for Customs, they include:

IMO (International Maritime Organization) Crew List

IMO Crew Effects Declaration

IMO Passenger List

Declared Goods Manifest

Yacht Declaration Form

Mauritius Revenue Authority

Master Supplementary Declaration

IMO General Declaration

IMO Cargo Declaration

IMO Ship’s Stores Declaration, and

IMO Dangerous Goods Manifest.

NOTE: Customs often works according to island time. They might check you in upon arrival (which is unlikely), or the following day, or start the process in two days. Also, the Customs agents typically avoid completing paperwork on yachts and ask you to meet them at a nearby office, the location of which is forever changing.

All of the officials requested “boat stamps” on some of their documents. All of the above should take about an hour and the death of one tree.

YACHT INSPECTION

During my stay in Rodrigues about twenty vessels cleared-in, and not a single yacht was inspected.

KEY CONTACTS

1. The PIO (Passport Immigration Office) which is located in the Police District Headquarters building at the west end of town on Rue Max Lucchesi. Immigration is open Monday through Friday from 0845 to 1615, and Saturday 0845 to 1200.

2. The Customs office which is located in the Mauritius Revenue Authority office in the Arcades Clyderlex building on the south side of town on Victoria Street. Customs is open Monday through Friday 0845 to 1200 and 1245 to 1400.

3. The Port Captain Office, which is located near the guard shack at the wharf. The Port Captain and wharf staff typically work Monday through Friday 0700 to 1530 and Saturday 0700 to 1200. The Port Captain will contact the Coast Guard for you.

4. The Coast Guard station is located at the extreme western end of Port Mathurin, across the river on the shoreline road. They monitor VHF radio, channel 16, 24/7 or you can contact the Coast Guardsman assigned to the wharf security shack, which is manned 24/7.

CLEARING-OUT PROCEDURE

You must clear-out of Rodrigues if you are heading off to Mauritius, Saint Brandon, or another country. One or two business days PRIOR to departure, inform the Port Captain that you will be departing for a specific location. Tell him your desired departure time. He will contact the Immigration, Coast Guard, and Customs authorities, and confirm your appointment time for clearing out. If clearing out during the weekend, holidays, or prior to 0900 on weekdays, be prepared to pay overtime charges.

The clearing-out meeting will take five minutes and is typically held at the security shack at the west end of the wharf. The captain and all crew members must attend the meeting. Make sure you take all passports, your boat stamp, the completed Disembarkation Card you received from Immigration when you cleared-in, and a copy of your crew list with you. You will deal with:

1. Immigration: You will give him a copy of your crew list. The office will collect your completed Disembarkation Cards, and stamp your passports.

2. Coast Guard: You will complete, sign, and stamp the Yacht Departure Declaration Form.

3. Customs: You will receive a Certificate Of Clearance form. Review the form and make sure that all the information is accurate.

Once you have done the above you and your crew must remain on board your vessel or inside the secured wharf area. I.e., no last minute runs to the fuel station, grocery store, bottle shop, bakery, or market. Prior to sunset, your vessel should be underway and outside of the Port Mathurin anchorage. The Coast Guard will be monitoring your departure. Give a quick VHF channel 16 calls to the Port Captain to request permission to leave the Port Mathurin harbour. Call the Coast Guard on channel 16 to request permission to leave Port Mathurin Bay and to confirm your departure and next destination. There is no duty-free access to goods for yachts departing at this time. The duty-free goods are only available for cargo ship crews or at the airport for flight departures.

SAILING TO MAURITIUS FROM RODRIGUES

The distance from Port Mathurin, Rodrigues to Port Louis, Mauritius is about 350 nm. If you travel at 6 knots it will take you about 2.5 days. This typically creates a problem for sailing to Mauritius, which requires a very early daytime departure from Rodrigues so that you can arrive in Mauritius during daylight hours several days later. However, Rodrigues officials will NOT allow you to depart at first light. For planning purposes, it is almost impossible to leave Rodrigues prior to 0900, even if you paid a “consideration” for early clearance. So, you have three options:

1. Cruise at an average speed of 7 knots. For most cruisers, this is hard to do, if not downright impossible. Especially given the light winds typically encountered in the wind shadow of Rodrigues for the first 4 hours. Leave as early as possible and arrive during daylight hours.

2. Reduce your average cruising speed to about 4.8 knots and enjoy three full days at sea. This option allows you to depart Rodrigues late in the morning or anytime prior to 1700 and arrive during daylight hours.

3. Sail at about 6 knots and arrive at Port Louis, Mauritius in the dark.

FYI, many yachts have begged the officials to complete their departure paperwork late in the day and asked for permission to physically depart early the next morning. Their answer, read my lips is, “no, no, and no.” In July 2015 documentation was given to the local agencies to request that they change their clearance procedures so that a yacht could complete the paperwork in the afternoon and leave at first light the next day. Hopefully, things will change for the better for future cruisers. The documentation was sent to Mauritius for review…

PETS

Pets are welcomed at Rodrigues, with no prior paperwork. During the clearance procedure, state that you have a pet on board and the officials will contact the local veterinarian for a brief health assessment. There is no charge for the veterinarian visit to your yacht.

CLEARANCE COSTS

Monday through Friday, during normal business days:

Clearing in costs 647 Mauritian Rupees, about $18 USD, for the health inspector. All other agencies are free.

Clearing out costs nothing (unless you insist on an early morning clearance and prepay the overtime charges). Any way you look at it, what a bargain. There is no financial excuse for NOT visiting Rodrigues.

Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays:

Health Inspector charges vary according to the wages of the person who clears you in. Normally you would add about $30 USD to your normal health inspection charge.

Customs, afternoon on Saturday the extra charge is $45 USD. On Sundays and holidays, the overtime charge is about $55 USD.

There are no additional overtime charges for the Immigration, Coast Guard, or the Port Captain.

Note: Some governmental officials will expect a “consideration” of about $8 USD for clearing out prior to 0830 on a weekday.

TIDES

The tides max out at about 2 meters. One must make allowances for the tide range when securing mooring lines on the concrete wharf. There is no floating dock here

SUMMARY

Rodrigues Island is a wonderful place to visit, it is like stepping back in time 20 years. Whatever you do, don’t sail by Rodrigues without stopping in for a week or month or two. It may be a small island community lost in a time warp, but it has many modern conveniences and super friendly citizens. YOLO stopped by for several weeks, got lost in the time warp for over 6 weeks, and loved every minute of it.

Submitted by: Jason Trautz, s/v YOLO (You Only Live Once, life is not a rehearsal)

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The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of Noonsite.com or World Cruising Club.