Yesterday I went to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to participate in the Small Vessel Reporting Service. This is a service by Customs and Border Patrol to allow you, the Yacht owner, to bypass having to visit a video phone upon return from Canadian Soil.
The normal proceedure is to visit a video phone location when coming back in US waters. So for me that is about a 15 mile trip to E.55th Marina after a long journey and then travelling west back to Edgewater Yacht Club. This SVRS process eliminates that step completely.
EACH one of your passengers must have this to clear customs via a phone call. If you have SVRS and they dont you can come into port and report via calling the 1-800 number but your travellers will have to go to E55th and do the video phone and you are legally responsible for having them do so. If they skip it you both are in trouble.
This is a completely FREE program that becomes and add on to your Passport and is valid for the whole time your passport is valid.
Here is the fun part. You can have this WHOLE process done in two days because it is all automated. People mentioned this used to take 4-6 weeks. This is no longer the case.
The first step in this process is to visit the United States Customs and Border Protection website which is located here
https://svrs.cbp.dhs.gov/Default.aspx
The first step is gathering your paperwork. You will need three documents.
1. Your Passport
2. Your boat registration (Mine was in my boat as is required for boat operation)
3. Title (I own my boat so I am guessing they would need the memorandom title if your boat is still financed)
These three docments are the ones you bring to your appointment AND they are also needed to complete the information at the website.
One of the things that will be tough to find and you WILL need it for your appointment is your HULL ID number. That is a number found above the starboard transom usually stamped right into the Hull on the outside just like a car's VIN number. That number is on the Title but it was NOT on my registration. So when they say bring your "boat documentation". They mean both those documents.
Now that you have your three documents it is time to start the online application
Click on the blue hyperlink as indicated in this image.
On the first page Click Next.
On the second page. Click Next again.
On the third page this page was initially confusing. I am NOT a participant in any of the trusted traveller programs so I just leave this page blank and click NEXT.
On the fourth page here is the settings you enter.
This part is slightly confusing because you are to select Chicago and then you will see a choice is Cleveland Hopkins Airport.
This is what I chose because it is close. Know that if you choose Hopkins Airport you WILL have to go through security, walk about a mile into the deep recesses of Terminal A and pay 4 dollars for parking.
You can choose other places like Sandusky which MAY be easier. This guide is for going to Customs / Border Patrol at Cleveland Hopkins Airport.
Then on to the Boater Address information Page. Clicking Next.
Boater Documentation Page is next. On this page there is 9 digit number on the first page of your passport. That number you enter in the website is not checked but you must make sure it is correct. If not you will get to the appointment and the appointment will have to be rescheduled!
When you are sure you have entered that information in correctly click ADD document. Then click next on the bottom.
On the next page this is the part where you add your boat information.
Click the box and then click ADD New Vessel.
Here are the parts that are important.These are the things they did check that the appointment.
If you hover over registration number it will pop up with a description of what they are looking for. That is the number on both sides of the boat that starts with OH. It will also be on your registration.
HULL ID is the serial number of your boat. That will be on your title.
Registered name: That is your boat name. In my case "Dulcinea"
Manufacturer: Mine was S2 Yachts (once again use what is on your title. They dont know and whatever is on your title IS what they will be checking against.)
Model: Here is where this gets confusing and was the one sticking point of my interview with Customs. On my title it says "Yanmar" which is the model of the engine. Not "9.2C" My boat is a S2 and the model is a 9.2C. If you want less hassle. Put Yanmar. I put 9.2C and they gave me a weird look because the model on the TITLE said Yanmar. Apparently this is common where there is errors on the title.
(Boat) LENGTH! Very important. once again if you have a 30 foot boat it PROBABLY is a 29' 11" boat. There is a reason behind this. It will tell you on your title. The rules for boats 30 foot or more are different.
Here is the info on boats 30 foot or larger
U.S. pleasure craft and foreign-flag vessels without a cruising license, which are 30 feet or longer in length, must pay an annual fee of $27.50 for the user fee decal. User Fee Decals may be purchased online through the CBP Web site.
Click ADD. At the top it will say Vessel Added.
Then hit CLOSE.
on the page that follows you will see your boat information is added.
Click Next past the remarks page.
Scroll through and then click Finish when you are done.
Check your Registration number, your Hull ID, Your manufacturer, Model, Make sure all that information is correct because they WILL check it and reject your application if it is wrong.
When you click Finish you will get an email almost immediately
Clicking in the blue hyperlink will bring you to a page to select a time for the very next day. Times the service is available is from 10am to 3pm monday through friday.
On the day you go make sure you have 4 pieces of information.
1. Your drivers license (I guess the passport would have been enough)
2. Your boat registration (The document you keep on your boat)
3. Your title or memorandum of title
4. Your passport.
On the day of your appointment. You will be going to the actual Cleveland Hopkins Airport.
Park in short term parking. The fee is 4 dollars per hour. You will take about 30 minutes most of which is walking time. They do NOT validate. (I asked)
When you arrive you have to call them first because they have to escort you through security.
First you call 216-267-3600 and select Option 1. When the person answers tell them you are there for an appointment. They will meet you at the baggage claim level in the middle. It will take about 10 minutes for them to arrive. In my case we then walked up to TSA checkpoint C. This apparently is the only way to enter.
You will go through security just like you are flying. Do not have anything on you that is banned. I went through that Xray scan. I had to take my shoes off. All that. They screened me despite me not going on an actual flight. I was escorted the whole time too.
From there we walked from the C checkpoint down to the End of terminal A. Then we went in the Customs area which was through a secured door and downstairs.
I presented my 4 documents and they checked them against what was in the computer.
I was then completely fingerprinted. (with a digital scanner type unit)
They also took a photo from a webcam and they put it in the system.
From there I was done.
I recieved the confirmation email and my SVRS number in email as I was being escorted from the Customs area. It was from start to finish a very quick and easy process.
Now when I come in to port from Canada I do NOT have to go to E55th and report in via the video phone. I just file a float plan and call a 1-800 number and tell them. I have returned as soon as I get back to my dock straight from the trip to Canada.
The whole process was free except for the 4 dollars for parking at the airport.
