Starting today, new rules are in place for cruising to the Bahamas.
In addition to higher fees and more paperwork, our big Bahamian Brother will be watching: AIS will be required to be installed and operable while in the country’s waters.
The Bahamas Parliament has enacted the Port Authorities (Amendment) Bill 2025, introducing sweeping changes to maritime regulations. Taking effect on July 1, 2025, this comprehensive legislation may significantly impact boat owners, because fees to clear Bahamian Customs in U.S. registered private vessels will rise substantially, and AIS may become mandatory on all boats. Read below for details, which we have summarized.
For the full regulations, visit: bahamas.com/getting-here/boating/boat-regulations.
Here is an outline of the new AIS regulation for cruising to the Bahamas. We took this straight from the regs.
Vessels 50 feet and over must be equipped with an Automated Identification System (AIS) and it must be properly functioning at all times. Keep AIS turned on whether docked, traversing, or passing through Bahamian water.
The Fine? $1,000 for non-compliance.
The new fees can be summarized as follows. All temporary permits are for a period not to exceed 12 months.
- For vessels under 34 feet LOA. a temporary permit costs $500 per year and a two-year FDCC (see below) costs $1,500
- Vessels 34- to 100-feet LOA will be charged $1,000 for a temporary permit and $1,500 for a two-year FDCC.
- Vessels longer than one hundred feet in length, will be charged $3000 for a period not exceeding 12 months.
In addition, Bahamas will implement a new Frequent Digital Cruising Card, otherwise known as the “FDCC.” This would be issued by the Comptroller, and comes with some responsibility on behalf of the vessel owner or master. In turn the cruiser gets a special number called a Pleasure Craft Request, or PDR. An FDCC allows for unlimited trips to The Bahamas for a period of two years.
Compliant vessels must report to the Customs authority upon each entry for clearance. Upon approval, the vessel shall be issued a Pleasure Craft Request (PCR) number that shall be used for all subsequent voyages. All applicable fees must be paid. The vessel’s registration number shall be linked to the FDCC. The FDCC shall permit unlimited visits for a period not exceeding two years from the date of issuance.
Read Next: Preparing for an Open-Water Passage
The FDCC shall be valid for two years, according to officials.
The fees for FDCC shall be, for a vessel (a) not exceeding thirty-four feet in length, one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). Boats exceeding thirty-four feet in length, but not exceeding one hundred feet in length, two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500). For vessels in excess of 100-feet LOA, the fee is $3,000 dollars.
The immediate impact for boaters from the U.S. includes significant fee increases, a new digital system that should streamline repeat visits and the fact that operational AIS on board is a requirement.
