Mexray - 2-1-2006 at 06:46 PM
...hot off the wire from Latitude 38 Magazine...
Transponders to Be Required on Cruising Boats in Mexico?
February 1 - Los Cabos, BCS
We know that it sounds absolutely insane, but Capt. Jim Elfers, who is the Marina Manager at the under-construction The Marina at Puerto Los Cabos,
reports that the powerful SCT Ministry wants all foreign boats over 34-ft in Mexico to carry transponders. The way SCT figures it, it would cost about
$80 a month, and the fee would have to be collected by marina operators. Why the SCT want to require them on small boats is a mystery to everyone.
Apparently, they are under the impression that's what is required in the States.
As you can imagine, marina operators and cruisers aren't thrilled at the prospect. Many members of the Mexican Marina Owners Association will be
flying to Mexico City next week for a meeting with the SCT to try to derail the proposal. We'll have more as it becomes available.
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Better Late than Never
February 1 - San Diego
Captains John and Patricia Rains have finally gotten their most recent edition of Mexico Boating Guide published and on the streets. We'll have a
review after we've had time to look it over.
Photo Courtesy
www.mexicoboating.com
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Mexico Is Still Mexico
February 1 - Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico
Business dealings in Mexico have been becoming more fair and transparent in recent years - but they still have a long way to go. For example, last
year we reported that the Mexican government had awarded a concession to a company to tear down and rebuild the Nuevo Vallarta Marina - which had been
a disaster from the first day. Well, it turns out there had been some funny business between a government agency and the outfit that was awarded the
contract. So there was a lawsuit against the government - and the plaintiffs won. That means the concession to the marina will come up for bid once
again.
And over at the Yacht Club Marina project at La Cruz, there seems to be all kinds of legal problems with respect to the project taking land that
didn't belong to them, not having the right permits, and infringing on the property rights of a bunch of homeowners. If that wasn't enough, the first
decent swell of the winter reportedly destroyed the project's temporary seawall, and broke the boom on the project's main crane.
Bruce R Leech - 2-1-2006 at 06:56 PM
Why the SCT want to require them on small boats is a mystery to everyone.
simple answer. Drugs