Boat Ownership HELL!

[jezzaaa]

Hi all - as some of you may remember, I bought a jet boat about 5 weeks ago, and did the ownership transfer at Mina Port CNIA in Abu Dhabi. I'm still waiting for the ID checks etc so i can get the registration card and GPS/Transponder/ePassport thing fitted. It's so frustrating...I phone them every day to check and always get the standard 'after tomorrow' response!

Anyway...the form I was given when we filled in all the paper work says we're not allowed to use it until the registration is complete and the ePassport is installed.

So does anyone know what the penalty is going to be if we use it and get caught by the coast guard?? A fine I can stand...I think it's 5000dhs for not having an ePassport. But what about not having the registration card either? I have the paperwork showing that the ownership is done and we're waiting for the ePassport to be fitted. Is there any chance we might get the boat confiscated?

Cheers all,
J.

[Chilli]

Do you not have a local who can call up on your behalf? If you did I suggest this will be sorted within minutes or hours.

Good luck with it...no idea what an epassport is, so not much help I'm afraid.

[jezzaaa]

Hi Chilli - funnily enough, I've just asked one of our Emirati colleagues to phone them and ask what's going on. I didn't want to do this until I absolutely needed to but...

This is week 6 and I'm worried that next week is Ramadan, if you know what I'm saying!!

Cheers matey.

BTW...the ePassport is a GPS transponder which is a legal requirement. I assumed whole of UAE but obviously if you don't know what it is, then it must just be Abu Dhabi. It gives the boats position to the authorities basically, any time they want to check. Big Brother stuff!! ;-)

[Gentleman Geoff]

If it floats, flies or . . .




. . . I'm sure you know the rest!

[dxbtiger]

That e-transponder is news to me, have 2 mates who have registered boats recently in Dubai and they are not fitted here.

Get the local to ring, nothing like a bit of Wasta!

[dictys]

If you operate your boat without it being registered you a liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and a fine not exceeding AED 50,000.00, or both. In addition to this an order for the confiscation of the boat may be made.

In summmary, it is not worth it.

Edited by dictys on Thursday 5th August 13:57

[jezzaaa]

dictys said:

If you operate your boat without it being registered you a liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and a fine not exceeding AED 50,000.00, or both. In addition to this an order for the confiscation of the boat may be made.

In summmary, it is not worth it.

Edited by dictys on Thursday 5th August 13:57

Hi Dictys....ok, you've put the fear of God into me now!

What about if the registration is in progress, and we have the paperwork to show we're waiting for the CNIA to get back to us...?

Cheers for the info,
J.

[dictys]

Until the registration paperwork actually comes through unfortunately the above will apply so if it was me I wouldn't risk it.

[jezzaaa]

Hi all...finally got this almost sorted last week! We have now got a photocopy of the registration card, and are just waiting to have the ePassport/GPS thingy fitted (missed out on that day cos Ramadan has restricted the fitter working hours to finish at 13.00)!

So,we went down to the CNIA offices at Mina Port, ignored the young Emirati that had been dealing with it up until then, and went and spoke to one of the older guys. He was, to his credit, annoyed that we'd been waiting for 6 weeks for the ID checks, chastised their young colleague for not sorting it out, took the paperwork to the Security department and got it sorted for us within about an hour!

So thanks everyone for the advice...all sorted now.

Cheers,
J.