Reporting Requirements for Recreational Vessels Arriving in U.S. along Lake Erie Shoreline

When Reporting Is Required

Boaters must report their arrival to U.S. Customs and Border Protection if having been engaged in any of the below activities:

• After having been at any foreign port or place including tying up at a foreign
  dock, or
• After having had contact with any hovering vessel

The simple activity of fishing in Canadian waters will not require reporting arrival to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

There are three exceptions to the face-to-face inspection at a designated reporting
location:

• NEXUS,
• Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit (I-68), and
• Outlying Area Reporting Stations (OARS)

Participation in any of the programs does not preclude the requirement for physical reporting upon request by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Reporting Procedure

U.S. Customs and Border Protection encourages boaters to enroll in the “Canadian Border Boat Program” for issuance of an I-68 permit or the NEXUS Program. The NEXUS Card or the I-68 permit will allow the boaters to report their arrival to CBP. The Master/Captain is required to report their arrival by telephoning CBP.

If the boater is not enrolled in either the I-68 Program or NEXUS Program, they will be required to present themselves for face-to-face inspection or at any of the Outlying Area Reporting Stations (OARS). OARS sites are located at 12 locations along the south shore of Lake Erie:

• Put-in-Bay, Bass Island, OH
• Cedar Point Marina, Cedar Point, OH
• Brand’s Marina, Port Clinton, OH
• East 55th Street, Cleveland, OH
• Lagoons Marina, Mentor, OH
• Chagrin Yacht Club, Eastlake, OH
• Grand River Marina, Fairport, OH
• Ashtabula Public Dock, Ashtabula, OH
• Presque Isle, Erie, PA
• Dobbins Landing, Erie, PA
• Perry’s Landing, Erie, PA
• Lampe Marina, Erie, PA

Where to Report

Reports of arrival may be made at any of the following ports of entry. Upon report of arrival a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer will provide further instructions regarding designated reporting locations and entry processing. The boat must be made available for possible boarding at the time of the report.

Physical in-person reporting can be done by calling in advance one of the following Ports of Entry (during normal duty hours):

Hours are Monday through Friday 0800 - 1700 and on Saturday and Sunday 1000 - 1800 (except for Toledo, which is closed on weekends). The boat must be made available for inspection and boarding by CBP officers.

NEXUS

NEXUS Marine program is a joint Canada-U.S. initiative that offers facilitated customs and immigration clearance for recreational low-risk boaters entering either country through registration into the program. NEXUS is valid for 5 years and satisfies the boat operator’s legal requirement to report to a port-of-entry for face-to-face inspection in accordance with 8 CFR 235.1, but boaters must still phone in their arrival to satisfy 19 USC 1433.

Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit (I-68)

Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit (I-68) applicants for admission into the United States by small pleasure boats are inspected and issued an I-68 permit for the entire boating season. The I-68 permit allows boaters to enter the United States from Canada for recreational purposes with only the need to report to CBP by telephoning in their arrival.

Outlying Area Reporting System (OARS)

OARS is another northern border method for boaters to report entry to satisfy 19USC and 8CFR requirements into the United States from Canada. The OARS program uses videophones, typically located at public marinas, which boaters may use to report to CBP.

Failure to Report

Failure to report can result in civil penalties as defined in Title 19, United States Code, Section 1436 to include a penalty of $5,000 for the first violation and $10,000 for each subsequent violation with the conveyance subject to seizure and forfeiture. In addition to being liable for a civil penalty, any master who intentionally commits a violation under subsection (a) of this section upon conviction is liable for a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment for 1 year or both.