CHARTER · ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

Chartering a boat in St Vincent & the Grenadines: licence, rules and safety

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EMERGENCY AT SEACall 999. MAYDAY on VHF 16 · DSC 70.

Licence and charter rules

Charter: Charter boats must hold an SVG Cruising Licence. For bareboat charter, the Ministry of Tourism says experienced sailors complete a sailing résumé for the charter company; it does not mention a national licence.

Ministry of Tourism, St. Vincent and the Grenadines · Ministry of Tourism, St. Vincent and the Grenadines ▾
tourism.gov.vc (2026-10-14): “charter boats must be in possession of a St. Vincent & The Grenadines Cruising License.”
tourism.gov.vc (2026-10-14): “Simply complete a resume outlining your experience and the charter company will help you choose just the right yacht for you.”

Arriving by boat

Go directly to a designated port of entry before stopping anywhere else; fly the Q flag and only the captain goes ashore with three crew lists, last clearance, passports and ship's papers. Private yachts pay a Cruise Tax; clear out at an official port before leaving.

Ministry of Tourism, St. Vincent and the Grenadines · Ministry of Tourism, St. Vincent and the Grenadines ▾
tourism.gov.vc (2026-10-14): “Visiting yachts arriving in the territorial waters of St. Vincent & The Grenadines must proceed directly to a designated port of entry to complete clearance formalities before stopping at any other anchorage.”
tourism.gov.vc (2026-10-14): “Private vessels must pay a Cruise Tax to enable unlimited stay in St. Vincent & The Grenadines waters”

Season and weather

Hurricane season is 1 June – 30 November.

NOAA National Hurricane Center · UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ▾
nhc.noaa.gov (2026-10-14): “The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The Atlantic basin includes the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of America.”
gov.uk (2026-10-14): “The hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from June to November.”

Forecast: The SVG Meteorological Services (Argyle) issues forecasts with sea conditions and marine advisories/warnings at meteo.gov.vc.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Meteorological Services ▾
meteo.gov.vc (2026-10-14): “Sea Conditions: Slight in open waters, with swells 0.5m to 1.2m Marine Advisory/Warning: None”

Rules on the water

The Grenadines — Bequia / Union Island: In the Tobago Cays Marine Park, use the moorings or anchor in sand, never on coral or seagrass. Fishing is banned, as is discharging bilge or wastewater, and the speed limit is 5 knots.

Tobago Cays Marine Park · Tobago Cays Marine Park ▾
tobagocays.org (2026-10-14): “Do not anchor in coral or sea grass beds, but use moorings where provided or select sandy areas. Do not take any corals or other marine life. Do not fish.”
tobagocays.org (2026-10-14): “Do not discharge bilge or wastewater in the Park. Do not disturb nesting or roosting seabirds. Do not exceed speed limit of five knots. Do not bring pets to the Park.”

The Grenadines — Bequia / Union Island: Do not buy lobster out of season, which runs from 1 May to 31 August.

Tobago Cays Marine Park ▾
tobagocays.org (2026-10-14): “Do not buy lobster out of season (that is from May 1 to August 31).”

Hazards and warnings

Monitor the alert level of Kick 'em Jenny, the submarine volcano off Grenada, and keep out of its maritime exclusion zones.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ▾
gov.uk (2026-10-14): “You should also monitor the alert level of the underwater volcano Kick ‘em Jenny, located 5 miles off the coast of nearby Grenada. Keep out of maritime exclusion zones and follow the advice of local authorities if there is increased volcanic activity or an eruption.”

The Grenadines — Bequia / Union Island: The most extensive coral reefs in St Vincent lie on the windward sides of Mayreau, Union Island and the Tobago Cays, so take care with navigation and anchoring there.

Tobago Cays Marine Park ▾
tobagocays.org (2026-10-14): “Around the windward sides of Mayreau, Union Island and the Cays exists the most extensive and well-developed coral reef complexes in St Vincent.”

Charter bases in St Vincent & the Grenadines

The Grenadines — Bequia / Union Island

Before you sail

All rescue numbers for St Vincent & the Grenadines Print an emergency card Person overboard: what to doEngine failure: what to do when you lose powerThunderstorms, lightning and squalls on the water: what to doRan aground? What to do

Frequently asked

What are the rules for bareboat charter in St Vincent & the Grenadines?

Charter boats must hold an SVG Cruising Licence. For bareboat charter, the Ministry of Tourism says experienced sailors complete a sailing résumé for the charter company; it does not mention a national licence.

When is the best time to sail in St Vincent & the Grenadines, and when is storm season?

Hurricane season is 1 June – 30 November.

How do I clear in when arriving in St Vincent & the Grenadines by boat?

Go directly to a designated port of entry before stopping anywhere else; fly the Q flag and only the captain goes ashore with three crew lists, last clearance, passports and ship's papers. Private yachts pay a Cruise Tax; clear out at an official port before leaving.

What is the emergency number at sea in St Vincent & the Grenadines?

Call 999. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.

Other charter countries

CroatiaGreeceTürkiyeItalySpainFranceMaltaPortugalBritish Virgin IslandsSaint-MartinSint MaartenGrenadaSt LuciaMartiniqueGuadeloupeBahamasThailandMalaysiaSeychellesFrench PolynesiaNew CaledoniaFijiSwedenNorwayDenmark

Every line above is a plain-English summary of an official source — open “▾” for the exact wording. Rules change: confirm with your charter company and the local authority.