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In an effort to keep the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle out of Efate the Vanuatu government has issued a state of emergency and banned all vessels from entering Havannah harbour. They also request that no lights are used by boats transiting and working around the area- with the exception of lights needed for navigation. We will update when further information comes available.
Many of you have your own blogs so please let us know what they are in case we need more detail in an emergency. If you do not have a blog just send us an email before you go with your boat and crew details so that we know who we are talking to.
Make sure your boat and crew data is accurate and in the case of emergency have a contact number. Early in the 2019 season two boats made use of emergency services so it speeds things up to have this information available. Please note: https://followingsea.net is no longer operational. www.yit.nz closed down in December 2020 but may still be running unsupported www.noforeignland.com/ is used by many mostly in the Caribbean and I do not know much about it but if you use it let me know. In the past couple of years boats have had problems trying to extend their stay in Tonga. Immigration has a clear process for crew and a stay of up to six months is possible. However a boat only gets 4 months on entry so a process needs to be followed with Customs. This is detailed in Flotsam and the key person in Tonga for all yacht related correspondence is Mr Felefonum Mapakaitolo.
May 15, 2018 sees the new requirements for boats entering NZ come into force. Hulls need to be clean and an approved bottom paint used.
See www.yit.nz/Forum for details and read the MPI publications.  Cascade Bay, Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island has finally opened their new dock at Cascade Bay. Previously cruisers had to use the dock at the main port of entry in Historic Kingston. Situated in the south of the island Kingston is rather turbulent in some weather conditions! The new dock at Cascade on the east of the island gives cruisers an option when there is a sou' wester blowing. And it enables you to get ashore more easily from this anchorage. It is a ways from town but normally passing vehicles will usually offer a lift. Thanks Ashley for the photograph - taken March 2018. Please note that you need to have a NZ or Australian passport to arrive at Norfolk without a visa. See Flotsam for details After 8 years of operation we finally developed our own web site in 2018 to concentrate on Weather and Communications for cruisers in the South Pacific.
www.ghradio.co.nz with email ghradio@xtra.co.nz Any questions and comments relating to weather and radio communications should be directed to ghradio@xtra.co.nz. Return emails may come from our home address chameleonhouse@xtra.co.nz. (winlink users please note). During 2021 we will be making some changes to our email address. This comes along with a move to fibre ( at long last) and the use of detailed AIS information. Stay tuned! Prior to our broadcasts we closely monitor where boats are so that we can include the weather for that area. If you email us it is useful to have up to date reports in by mid afternoon so that David can check your actual conditions versus model predictions. And let us know if you have AIS. |
