Westward Ho! Alerts for Pacific sailors
by Noonsite 3 Oct 2019 06:37 BST
Requirements for Advance Notice of Arrival:
Following the arrival of a yacht in Fiji recently that failed to complete the necessary notification in advance plus visited a non-port of entry prior to clearing in resulting in a large fine, cruisers heading westwards across the Pacific are reminded to familiarize themselves with each new country's requirements in advance.
Noonsite was established for exactly this purpose and the Formalities section for each country gives you an overview of all the paperwork and procedures required for clearing in and out, so you can avoid unnecessary problems.
Fiji - Navigation Hazard:
First reports of a large field of volcanic rocks (pumice) completely covering the ocean surface started coming in mid-August from yachts en-route from Tonga to Fiji. The hazardous pumice was covering the ocean surface up to a depth of approximately 15cm causing problems with rudder movement, clogged water intakes and abrasion of hulls. The pumice raft has been tracked since and is now centered around Fiji and the Lau Islands, continuing to drift westwards.