CLEARANCE PROCEDURES FOR VISITS TO BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES IN
THE CARIBBEAN BY UNITED STATE OFFICIALS, SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT
(REVISED
JUNE 1990)
AREA OF APPLICATIONS
1.1 These procedures apply to the following British Caribbean Dependent Territories and to their respective territorial waters
parenthesis)
SCOPE
Anguilla
(3 nm)
British Virgin Islands
(3 nm)
Cayman Islands
(12 nm)
Montserrat
(3 nm)
Turks and Caicios Islands
(12 nm)
2.1
These procedures apply to
all United States warships, military aircraft, US
Coastguard and armed forces personnel, including those of the
National Guard;
all personnel employed by, or acting on behalf of, US Federal Law Enforcement agencies; together with their ships and
aircraft;
all personnel employed by, or acting on behalf of, US State of local law enforcement agencies; together with their ships and
aircraft;
all other US Federal or State employees visiting the
Dependent Territories in an official capacity;
research vessels.
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PURPOSE
3.1 The purpose of these procedures is:
to safeguard the HMG's sovereign rights and
responsibilities over the Dependent Territories;
to safeguard the safety, rights and property of the
government and peoples of the Dependent Territories;
ensure that all activities undertaken by those to whom
these procedures apply are in conformity with the laws of the
territory concerned;
proper co-ordination between US and Local
agencies and the security and confidentiality of activities
AIRCRAFT TRANSITS
4.1 Refuelling and other routine stopovers by US military and
government operated aircraft require prior notification and
clearance. This must be sought from the FCO and the Governor via
the British Embassy in Washington and not from the Dependent
Territority direct. Wherever possible at least 5 working days
notice should be given though every effort will be made to obtain
short notice clearance when operational needs deem this to be
unavoidable.
The information required for aircraft clearance is as
4.2
follows:-
I
aircraft type and tail number;
name of operating agency;
purpose of visit (refuel, overnight stopover etc)
airfield for which clearance is requested;
eta/etd;
airfield at which the aircraft will arrive and from which
it will depart;
name and rank of pilot;
numbers of crew and passengers and their status
4.3
Teg military, civilian/diplomatic);
details of any weapons that may be fitted to the aircraft,
or which are carried on board (see 4.4 below)
details of any dangerous cargo, contraband or similar
loaded on the aircraft.
quantity and type of fuel required.
The granting of clearance by the Embassy does not obviate the need to file formal flight plans and to adhere to Local air traffic
control procedures.
4.4 In seeking clearance any weapons, either fitted to the
aircraft or carried on board by the passengers or crew, must be
declared. Weapons systems fitted to the aircraft must be rendered
safe prior to arrival. Personal weapons must be secured on board
the aircraft in a locked
locked metal container. Should this be impossible
arrangements must be made with the local police for safekeeping.
This may include removal of the weapons to the Police armoury for
the period the aircraft is in the Dependent Territory.
4.5
For special provisions related to law enforcement/surveillance
missions flown by US Government aircraft see also Section 6.
SHIP VISITS
5.1
Routine visits by US Naval vessels, US Coastguard cutters and
research vessels must have prior clearance. This should be sought
via the British Embassy in Washington. The maximum possible notice should be given and, except where this is unavoidable, this should
be taken to be an absolute minimum of 5 working days. Clearances
for ship visits are normally made telegraphically though, where urgent operational reasons require a short notice clearance, this
can done by telephone.
5.2
The information required for ship visit clearances is as
follows:-
name of vessel/type/side number etc;
name of operating agency;