The Virgin Islands is considered one of the finest sailing grounds in the world. The location offers sunny weather, dependable trade winds, beautiful scenery, protected anchorages and short passages between islands. From local pleasure boat owners to those who enjoy cruising on their yachts through the Virgin Islands, there is unanimous agreement that the Virgin Islands are a boater’s dream come true.
Tip: VHF channel 16 is monitored by marinas and used in the USVI.
Clearance & Immigration
Vessels entering the US Virgin Islands should proceed directly to a port of entry for clearance. Passengers and crew are not allowed to go ashore until properly cleared. All passengers must present themselves and their documents to US Customs and Border Protection. For clearance it is necessary to present not only documentation of nationality for each passenger but also the ship’s documents, identification for all crew members and clearance from the last port of call. Penalties are given per passenger for those that do not have documentation and per ship for failure to clear.
Marinas in the Virgin Islands
There are marinas on St. Thomas and St. Croix with facilities to accommodate long term regulars, transients, mega-yachts and live-aboards. St. John and Water Island do not have any marinas. There are designated anchorage sites and moorings around all four islands. Both St. Thomas and St. Croix have active yacht clubs.
Below you will find a list of marinas and areas designated for anchoring and mooring. Brief information is presented for each marina. Please contact the marinas directly for; prices, closest customs and immigration offices, arrival procedures, reservations, marina rules and other specific information.
Marinas on St. Thomas
(All marinas listed below have water and electricity. Restaurants and shops are either on the premises or nearby.)
| NAME OF MARINA | # OF SLIPS | MAX SIZE | DOCK SIDE DEPTH | PUMP OUT | FUEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Yacht Harbor (340) 775-6454 |
106 | 110′ | – | – | yes |
| Boater’s Haven Marina (340) 775-6144 |
86 | 60′ | 6.5′ | yes | no |
| Crown Bay Marina (340) 774-2255 |
99 | 200′ | 20′ | yes | yes |
| Fish Hawk Marina (340) 775-9058 |
4 | 50′ | 6′ | no | yes |
| Independent Boatyard (340) 776-0466 |
80 | 50′ | 7′ | no | no |
| Pirate’s Cove Marina (340) 774-4655 |
30 | 55′ | – | no | yes |
| Saga Haven Marina (340) 998-1301 |
55 | 75′ | 6.5′ | no | yes |
| Sapphire Beach Marina (340) 714-3837 |
65 | 60′ | 10′ | no | no |
| Yacht Haven Marina (340) 774-6050 |
160 | 400′ | – | yes | yes |
Tip: All facilities can do repairs except; Fish Hawk Marina that caters mostly to local sport fishermen and Sapphire Beach Marina where minor repairs can be done.
Marinas on St. Croix
| NAME OF MARINA | # OF SLIPS | MAX SIZE | DOCK SIDE DEPTH | PUMP OUT | FUEL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Cay Marina (340) 718-1453 |
150 | 100′ | 8′ | yes | yes |
| Salt River Marina (340) 778-9650 |
– | – | – | – | – |
| St. Croix Marina (340) 773-6011 |
60 | 200′ | 12′ | yes | yes |
Tip: St. Croix Marina offers full boatyard facility for repairs.
Mooring and Anchoring Areas in the Virgin Islands
Regulations on Short Term Anchoring: Anchoring in the USVI is allowed in any bay or harbor for up to 14 cumulative days, within a six (6) month period, in any one location. After 14 days you can move to another bay or harbor and the regulation of short term anchoring is reapplied. You can also apply for a long-term anchoring permit from the division of environmental enforcement (DPNR) for anchoring in a designated long-term anchoring area for a duration of one (1) month. Any questions or concerns feel free to contact DPNR at 340-773-5774 on STX or 340-774-3320 on STT/STJ.
| DESIGNATED MOORING AND ANCHORING AREAS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Thomas Benner Bay ** Bolongo Bay Cowpet Bay * Elephant Bay Secret Harbor ** Pacquereau Bay Long Bay Hull Bay * Jersey Bay * Long Bay Red Hook Vessup Bay Charlotte Amalie Harbor Villa Olga (Frenchtown) Careening Cove |
Water Island Honeymoon Bay* |
St. John Coral Harbor Great Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Chocolate Hole |
St. Croix Chenay Bay Christiansted Harbor Cotton Garden Bay Frederiksted Harbor Salt River Teague Bay |
| *March 2019: currently at capacity and subject to availability **Designated sanctuary Source: Rules and Regulations for Mooring and Anchoring Vessels in the USVI by Dept. of Planning and Natural Resources |
|||
National Park
There are restrictions on vessels traveling through and anchoring in National Park waters around St. John and St. Croix. Please contact the National Park Service for details on their regulations; (340) 776-6201 for St. John and (340) 773-1460 for St. Croix.
The Friends of the National Park organization have set up about 210 moorings in National Park waters around St. John in an effort to protect coral reefs and marine habitats from damage caused by anchors.
Other Moorings
The Reef Ecology Foundation of St. Thomas and St. John have set up 45 moorings for public use. This organization was set up to help protect coral reefs around the islands. The moorings set up by the Reef Ecology Foundation use special easy-to-see blue striped buoys. Use is free but restricted to boats under 60′ long. The sites include; Thatch Cay, Grass Cay, Congo Cay, Carvel Rock, Great St. James, Little St. James, Cow and Calf, Capella Island, Flat Cay and Saba Island for St. Thomas/St. John and Long Reef, Salt River, Cane Bay, Davis Bay and Annaly Bay on St. Croix. For more information on sites and regulations contact (340) 775-0097.
Cruising & Mooring Permits
There are no required cruising permits in USVI waters. If a vessel remains in the USVI for 6 months or more the vessel must be registered with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR).
Mooring permits are not required for any public moorings or National Park moorings and day use is free. Public moorings are not intended for overnight use and the National Park has a fee for night use. Mooring permits are issued to an owner of a registered vessel. In order to obtain a permit for anchoring or mooring an applicant is required to apply in person, through a resident agent or through any representative duly authorized to complete application procedures in the owner’s behalf. A first time applicant is required to submit with the application a current colored photograph of the vessel and an affidavit executed by the applicant fully setting forth the facts to support the applicants claim of ownership. Source: Section 405-1 Application Instructions and Procedures for Mooring.
Yacht Clubs
- St. Thomas Yacht Club (340) 775-6320
- St. Croix Yacht Club (340) 773-9531
For More information
On anchorage and mooring sites, mooring permits, registration and other like information and regulations contact the Department of Planning and Natural Resources: (340) 774-3320 or (340) 775-6762 for St. Thomas/St. John and (340) 772-1955 for St. Croix.
