(Washington, DC, January 18, 2006) — Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen announced that the representatives of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Customs and Border Protection will be in the territory to meet with representatives of the Virgin Islands Charteryacht League and other members of the charter yacht industry on Saturday, January 21, 2006 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at American Yacht Harbor, Marlin Deck on St. Thomas.  The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the impact of the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) requirement that all vessels transmit a passenger and crew manifest to U.S. Customs and Border Protection prior to arrival at a U.S. port and the devastating impact it is having on the charter yacht business. It will also be an opportunity to press for a full waiver.

“I am very pleased that we finally have a date for a meeting with Customs and Border Patrol officials from Washington, as I have pressed for, as a means of furthering our efforts to secure relief from the impact of the APIS regulations on our marine and charteryacht industry,” Christensen said.

Christensen has written to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff requesting that he grant boaters in the territory a waiver from APIS requirements. Although it was not granted, the Secretary directed the agency to instruct its ports to exercise prosecutorial discretion and waive the 24 hour turnaround time requirement for vessels that are engaged in “short-turn voyages” and amend the regulation so that operators could transmit their manifests no later than 60 minutes prior to departure.

“The meeting on Saturday is a fulfillment of my pledge to continue to press for a full waiver,” Christensen said. “Though it will take time to achieve, I hope we can use this meeting to educate federal officials on the real impact of APIS on the industry and make a case for the full waiver.”