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Dominican Republic Flag of Dominican Republic

Pre Arrival:  Documents
Arrival:  Pilotage
Communications:  Pratique | Pre-Arrival
Berthing Ops:  Tugs
Cargo:  Stevedores
Pollution:  Pollution
Facilities:  Medical | Repairs
Security:  Security | Stowaway
Local Info:  Holidays | Weather
Shore:  Banks
Crew:  Repatriation
Misc:  Authority
General Information for Dominican Republic
Geo-political:
Capital City: Santo Domingo.
Nationality: (noun) Dominican, (adjective) Dominican.
Population: 9,650,054.
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 1-809.
Number of Internal Airports: 16.
Major Languages Spoken: Spanish.
Economy:
Currency: 1 Dominican Peso (DOP) of 100 Centavos.
Exchange Rates:  (as of December 2017)
USD 1.00 = DOP 48.30
DOP 1.00 = USD 0.02
Exchange rates under licence from XE.com
Main Industries: Tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement and tobacco.
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 6 n.m.
Other Maritime Claims: Contiguous Zone: 24 n.m. Continental Shelf: 200 n.m. or to the edge of the continental margin. Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 n.m.
Coastline Extent: 1,288 km.
Climate: Tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall.
Natural Resources: Nickel, bauxite, gold and silver.
Natural Hazards: Lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts.
Terrain: Rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed.
Average Temperatures: 
Month High Low
January 30° C 19° C
June 32° C 22° C
September 30° C 20° C
DOCUMENTS:  As per Dominican Republic law, vessels calling at Dominican Republic ports require a complete Dominican Republic consular despatch from each loading port, as well as from the last foreign port of call. In theory, these documents should be at the discharging port before the arrival of the vessel, as they are required for inbound Customs Clearance. In practice, this is not the case, and it does not present any problem for the vessel if the consularised documents are not received prior to the ship's arrival. If there is no Dominican Republic Consulate at the loading port, the Agent should give a certificate to this effect, and the Agent in the Dominican Republic will attend to all the local formalities. The consular fees charged by the Dominican Republic Consulates are sometimes quite steep and will depend on the quantity and value of the cargo loaded. Contact Agent if you have any questions.
The following are the papers required for the Port authorities which the Master should have ready on arrival for inward clearance:
Agency: 
2 Bills of Lading (if not couriered or faxed)
1 Crew List
1 Crew Effects Declaration
4 Manifests (if not couriered or faxed)
1 Passenger (Nil) List (disembarking/in transit)
2 Stowage Plans
Additional required for distribution by the agent:
5 Arms and Ammunition Lists
2 Bills of Lading (if not previously airmailed)
4 Cargo Manifests (if not previously airmailed)
10 Crew Lists
10 Passenger Lists (disembarking/in transit)
5 Passenger (Nil) Lists
3 Stores Lists
9 Tallybooks
Customs: 
2 Arms and Ammunition Lists
4 Cargo Manifests
2 Crew Lists
2 Crew Effects Declarations
2 Passenger (Nil) Lists (disembarking/in transit)
2 Stores Lists
Department of Agriculture: 
2 Cargo Manifests
2 Crew Effects Declarations
1 Stores List
Harbour Master/Port Authority: 
4 Arms Lists
5 Bills of Lading
6 Cargo Manifests
4 Crew Lists
1 Last Port Clearance
4 Passenger (Nil) Lists (disembarking/in transit)
2 Stowage Plans
Immigration: 
2 Crew Lists
2 Passenger (Nil) Lists (disembarking/in transit)
Police: 
1 Crew List
1 Passenger (Nil) Lists (disembarking/in transit)
Port Doctor: 
1 Crew List
1 Crew Vaccination List
1 Maritime Declaration of Health
1 Passenger List (disembarking/in transit)
1 Ship Sanitation Control (Exemption) Certificate
Boarding Party:  The boarding party that meets the vessel once alongside is usually quite numerous and includes two or three armed Dominican Republic Navy officials. Once free pratique and Customs clearance are granted, one or two uniformed Customs guards are posted on board near the vessel's gangway, and they are rotated until the vessel sails. They are responsible for ensuring nothing that is not authorised comes off or goes on board. Usually these Customs guards eat their meals on board the vessel.
Bills of Lading:  According to Dominican Republic law, all cargo is discharged from a vessel into the custody of Customs. Original Bills of Lading (or, in lieu thereof, an adequate bank guarantee) are required by Customs from the consignee before the cargo may be removed from the Customs controlled port areas. Hence, neither the Master nor the Agent may demand presentation of the original Bills of Lading prior to discharging, as the ultimate destination of the original Bills of Lading is the Dominican Republic Customs office. As this is frequently a source of confusion, it is of great importance to clear up this matter prior to the vessel's arrival, in order to avoid costly delays and/or disputes.
PILOTAGE:  Compulsory in all Dominican Republic ports. Pilots are ordered for the vessel from the respective Harbour Master's office based on the vessel's ETA at the pilot station. Refer to each port for more specific information on the matter.
PRATIQUE:  The Pan American Sanitary Code:  Established by the signatory governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United States of America, Uruguay, and Venezuela, being desirous of entering into a sanitary convention for the purpose of better promoting and protecting the public health of their respective nations, and particularly to the end that effective cooperative international measures may be applied for the prevention of the international spread of the communicable infections of human beings and to facilitate international commerce and communication. Full details available from the Pan American Health Organization website. wwww.paho.org/
Bills of Health: 
  1. The Master of any vessel or aircraft which proceeds to a port of any of the signatory governments is required to obtain at the port of departure and ports of call, a Bill of Health, in duplicate, issued in accordance with the information set forth in the appendix and adopted as the standard Bill of Health.
  2. The Bill of Health will be accompanied by a list of the passengers, and stowaways if any, which shall indicate the port where they embarked and the port to which they are destined, and a list of the crew.
  3. Consuls and other officials signing or countersigning Bills of Health should keep themselves accurately informed with respect to the sanitary conditions of the ports, and the manner in which this code is obeyed by vessels and their passengers and crews while therein. They should have accurate knowledge of local mortality and morbidity, and of sanitary conditions which may affect vessels in port. To this end, they shall be furnished with any information they request pertaining to sanitary records, harbours, and vessels.
  4. The signatory governments may assign medical or sanitary officers as public health attaches to embassies or legations, and as representatives to international conferences.
  5. If at the port of departure there is no consul or consular agent of the country of destination, the Bill of Health may be issued by the consul or consular agent of a friendly government authorised to issue such Bill of Health.
  6. The Bill of Health should be issued not to exceed 48 hours before the departure of the ship to which it is issued. The sanitary visa should not be given more than 24 hours before departure.
  7. Any erasure or alteration of a Bill of Health shall invalidate the document, unless such alteration or erasure shall be made by competent authority, and notation thereof appropriately made.
  8. A clean Bill of Health is one which shows the complete absence in the port of departure of cholera, yellow fever, plague, typhus fever, or of other pestilential disease in severe epidemic form, liable to be transported by international commerce. Provided that the presence only of bona fide imported cases of such disease, when properly isolated, shall not compel the issuance of a foul Bill of Health, but notation of the presence of such cases will be made under the heading of "Remarks" on the Bill of Health.
  9. A foul Bill of Health is one which shows the presence of non-imported cases of any of the diseases referred to in 8. above.
  10. Specific Bills of Health are not required of vessels which, by reason of accident, storm or other emergency condition, including wireless change of itinerary, are obliged to put into ports other than their original destinations, but such vessels shall be required to exhibit such Bills of Health as they possess.
  11. It shall be the duty of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau to publish appropriate information which may be distributed by port health officers, for the purpose of instructing owners, agents, and masters of vessels as to the methods which should be put in force by them for the prevention of the international spread of disease.
Other Sanitary Documents:  Every vessel, carrying a medical officer will maintain a sanitary log which will be kept by him, and he will record therein daily: the sanitary condition of the vessel, and its passengers and crew; a record showing the names of passengers and crew which have been vaccinated by him; name, age, nationality, home address, occupation and nature of illness or injury of all passengers and crew treated during the voyage; the source and sanitary quality of the drinking water of the vessel, the place where taken on board, and the method in use on board for its purification; sanitary conditions observed in ports visited during the voyage; the measures taken to prevent the ingress and egress of rodents to and from the vessel; and the measures which have been taken to protect the passengers and crew against mosquitoes, other insects, and vermin. The sanitary log will be signed by the Master and medical officer of the vessel, and will be exhibited upon the request of any sanitary or consular officer. In the absence of a medical officer, the master shall record the above information in the log of the vessel, insofar as possible.
Equal or similar forms for Quarantine Declarations, Certificates of Fumigation, and Certificates of Vaccination, set forth in the appendix (not reproduced), are hereby adopted as standard forms.
Phytosanitary Inspections:  Cargoes consisting of agricultural commodities such as grain and grain products, forest products, etc., are subject to strict phytosanitary inspections by the local agricultural authorities, often resulting in the requirement to have the cargo fumigated in the holds prior to discharging. One step, recommended in order to try to avoid this problem, is to have available copies of the phytosanitary inspection and/or fumigation certificates, if any, on hand at the time the cargo is inspected. These can be sent by fax to Agent if not available on board the vessel.
PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION:  Harbour Dues:  Most Dominican Republic ports are subject to basically the same charges, with the notable exception of Cabo Rojo and Punta Palenque, which are exempt from harbour dues. The vessel and Agents are always responsible for payment to the Port Authority and adequate arrangements should be made to avoid misunderstandings.
Vessels are sometimes forced to shift to another berth within the port or to anchorage, giving preference to other vessels. With a few exceptions, the costs for these shiftings are paid by the vessel given preference.
TUGS:  Towage is compulsory for all vessels in those ports where tugs are available. Vessels will be billed for towage according to the tariff, even if tugs are not required or used. In many Dominican Republic ports, the tugs available are not very powerful and sometimes, due to breakdowns, may not be available. Refer to the information on the specific port in question and for the most updated information, contact Agent.
STEVEDORES:  In all Dominican Republic ports, stevedore gangs are hired from the Sindicato de Estibadores and the first gang consists of 13 men plus four additionals (time keeper, water carrier, foreman, tally man). The second and subsequent gangs consist of 13 men plus two  additionals (foreman, tally man).
There has never been any shortage of gangs in Dominican Republic ports.
The Sindicato de Estibadores is not covered by liability insurance, and stevedore damage claims are all but impossible to collect. Owners, charterers and operators should cover this potential liability through P&I Club.
The stevedores' wages depend on the type of commodity and work method. Some cargoes are paid for with hourly wages and others on a per metric ton basis. Social security, Christmas fund and accident insurance is also included. Overtime compensation depends also on commodity and work method. Contact Agent for rates and further details.
Working Hours:  Monday to Friday: 0800–1200 and 1300–1700; Port authorities 0800–1500; Customs 0800–1200 and 1400–1800. Thereafter overtime applies.
Saturday: 0800–1200; Port authorities 0800–1200; Customs 0800–1200. Overtime payable to labour after 1200. Government officials are paid overtime rates all day, but Port Authority and customs personnel only after 1200.
Sunday and holidays: work can be performed against payment of overtime to labour, pilots, Customs, Port Authority and Government officials.
Hatches:  The crew is allowed by local regulations to open and close the hatchcovers, and it is customary for the crew to do so.
POLLUTION:  No garbage, refuse, etc., can be thrown overboard. Vessels liable to heavy fines for oil pollution, etc.
MEDICAL:  Since the outbreak began in October 2010 there have been 606 confirmed cases of cholera in the Dominican Republic resulting in six deaths. The local authorities are taking pro-active measures to contain any spread. You should eat and drink only well-prepared and properly stored food and bottled water whilst in the Dominican Republic. Personal hygiene is of utmost importance in avoiding infections such as cholera - e.g. regular washing of hands before meals. This is especially true if visiting the border areas. For further information go to www.nathnac.org/pro/clinical_updates/cholera_haiti_dr_110111.htm
Dominican Republic medical facilities, especially near the border with Haiti, have been under extreme pressure since the earthquake on 12 January 2010.
Private medical facilities in Dominican Republic offer reasonable to very good standards of services; however, other than primary care in public hospitals the public health service is not deemed to be adequate. Dentistry is adequate. A good range of across the counter medicines is available, including some normally only available on prescription in the UK (usually generic brands).
Malaria is present in the Dominican Republic and there have been occasional outbreaks, mainly in the border regions with Haiti. Rabies is also present, with 381 cases of the disease being reported in animals in 2009, and 170 cases in 2010.
Dengue fever is common across the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that can cause a feverish illness associated with headache, muscle aches and pains, and rash. Some cases of dengue are severe. Dengue can be prevented by avoiding being bitten by the disease-carrying mosquitoes that feed predominately during daylight hours. For more information on prevention, see the National Travel Health Network and Centre website: www.nathnac.org/profactsheets/dengue.htm
In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working group estimated that around 54,000 adults aged 15 or over in Dominican Republic were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 0.9% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS.
REPAIRS:  Spares:  Spares may be shipped in transit to the vessel and are thereby exempted from heavy Customs duties levied on imports into the Dominican Republic. Clearance for ``Spares-in-Transit'' can usually be arranged within 24–48 working hours after arrival, if previously notified. Air waybills and the shipping documents should be consigned c/o Agent and clearly labelled ``Ships Spares in Transit''. Please contact Agent for any further information including preferable routeing, etc.
SECURITY/GANGWAY:  Stevedores board vessel with special passes issued for vessel in question. Any other visitors must obtain pass from Harbour Master's office. Nevertheless it is definitely recommended that all cabins be kept locked. This also applies to hatches that are not being worked.
STOWAWAYS:  One of the greatest problems that has intensified greatly in recent times in all Dominican Republic ports is the growing number of people stowing away on cargo vessels thought to be sailing to Puerto Rico or the United States. Although Agents try in every way to induce the Harbour Master's office and the Port Authority to tighten security measures, there has been little improvement in the situation. A search is conducted by a party of Dominican Republic Navy officers and enlisted men, prior to sailing which may sometimes take several hours, yet after the vessel has sailed sometimes large numbers of stowaways are discovered on board. Warning is hereby given to all Masters to take the appropriate security measures on board to avoid this costly problem.
HOLIDAYS:  1 January (New Year's Day); 10 January (Epiphany); 21 January (Our Lady of Altagracia Grace); 24 January (Duarte's Day); 27 February (Independence Day); Good Friday (variable); 1 May (Labour Day); Corpus Christi (variable); 15 August (Restoration Day); 24 September (Our Lady of Las Mercedes Day); 6 November (Constitution Day); 25 December (Christmas Day).
These holidays are legal in the Dominican Republic and for the Diplomatic and Consular representations abroad.
Except for Catholic holidays, Independence Day and Restoration Day, any holiday which falls on Tuesday or Wednesday will be observed the preceding Monday and a holiday which falls on Thursday or Friday will be observed the following Monday.
Holidays falling on a Sunday are not observed on the following Monday as in other countries. Saturday is officially half a working day, unless an official holiday falls on a Saturday, in which case Saturday is observed as a full holiday. Although 24 and 31 December and the Thursday before Good Friday are not legal holidays, there are frequent government decrees declaring these days as non-working days, and offices are usually closed at least in the afternoons. Usually, however, stevedores will work until 1800 hrs. on these days.
Overtime on holidays is 100% over straight time rates, whereas overtime after regular working hours on normal days is 50% over straight time.
WEATHER/TIDES:  Hurricanes:  The hurricane season in the Dominican Republic normally runs from June to November. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation. You can also access the National Hurricane Centre for updates.
The hurricane season in the Caribbean frequently coincides with heavy rains, which may cause flash floods and landslides.
Earthquakes:  Earthquakes are a potential threat and tremors are felt occasionally. The 12 January earthquake in Haiti was felt in the Dominican Republic, but no injuries or major damage were reported. In December 2008, an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale was recorded 62 km. from Santo Domingo, though no damage or injuries were reported on this occasion either.
BANKS:  The currency is the Dominican peso. American dollars and Travellers' cheques are easily exchanged. Currency should be exchanged only at banks or official exchange offices (casas de cambio). UK credit cards and debit cards will function in ATMs, but you need to contact your bank in advance to ensure that transactions are not blocked. Exercise caution and be aware of your surroundings when using an ATM card. Credit card cloning and identity theft are common when using cards in shops and restaurants. It is much safer to use cash.
REPATRIATION:  Agent can arrange for arriving/departing crew members of most nationalities to join the vessel without a Dominican Republic visa, given proper pre-advice and all the information about the crew members. If the vessel is not in port when the crew member arrives, however, an Immigration officer must be in attendance, increasing the expenses. For specific information regarding distances from the airports to the different ports and other details, please refer to the individual ports or contact Agent.
AUTHORITY:  Head Office:  Autoridad Portuaria Dominicana, Oficina Central, Puerto Rio Haina, Margen Oriental, Carretera Sanchez km. 13.5, Santo Domingo Oeste, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Tel: +1 809 537 0055. Fax: +1 809 537 1706. [email protected] http://www.portuaria.gob.do Contact: Victor Osvaldo Gomez Casanova, Director Ejecutivo.