Arriving in SVG by yacht at night: what is allowed and what is not

Night arrivals are common on a delivery or a fast passage down from St Lucia but customs and immigration hours, port lighting and anchoring rules all shape what you can actually do before morning.

Can you clear in at night?

Ports of entry keep published hours. Outside those hours you must anchor and remain aboard, crew and guests should not go ashore until the vessel is cleared. Overtime clearance can sometimes be arranged in advance, it is never a last-minute request.

Choosing a safe overnight hold

• Young Island Cut (St Vincent): The anchorage can be deep, so vessels should select their anchoring position carefully.
• Admiralty Bay, Bequia: wide, well-lit approach and good holding — the usual choice for a dark arrival.
• Chatham and Clifton (Union): reef approaches. Wait for daylight.

What to have ready after you arrive

Crew and guest lists, last port clearance, ship's papers, and any firearms or controlled-item declarations. Having these scanned and sent ahead means clearance is a formality at first light rather than a two-hour queue.

What we do

We monitor your ETA, confirm which office will be staffed at your arrival hour, hold your paperwork ready, and meet you at the dock at opening. If your slot slides overnight, we adjust the pilot, berth and transfer bookings rather than letting them lapse.

FAQ

Can guests fly in and board a yacht that has not cleared? No. The vessel clears first.

Is there an overtime fee? Outside published hours, yes — it varies by port and by service requested.

Can you meet us at 05:00? Yes. Message us the night before with your revised ETA.

Related: Clearance and formalities, Bequia, Talk to the team.