Country Files

(Revised August 4, 2006)

The following countries either require information that is not directly requested on UN Standard Form A, require additional application forms, and/or have a unique clearance history or ship operations requirement worthy of note (indicated by asterisk). The information is wholly based on Department of State vessel clearance files.

Return to Guidance and Forms for Authorization to Conduct MSR in Foreign EEZs). 

Albania	Cuba*	Japan
Angola*	Denmark	Maldives
Australia	Dominican Republic	Mexico*
Bahamas*	Ecuador	New Zealand
Bermuda	Egypt*	Nicaragua
Brazil*	Greenland	Panama
Canada*	Grenada*	Peru
Chile*	Guatemala	Russian Federation*
Colombia	India*	Turkey*
Costa Rica	Italy	Venezuela
Croatia	Jamaica

ALBANIA

• Letter addressed to the Harbor Master requesting permission for the cruise.
• Letter addressed to the Ministry of Transport requesting permission for the cruise.

ANGOLA

• Denial of access in 2003 indicated that prior collaboration with an Angolan scientist is absolutely necessary for clearance, and that a note in Standard Form A should address the proprietary nature of the data to be collected. The denial also suggested that applications be submitted “with adequate advance notice” -- the LOS-required six-month lead-time.

• If research is to be conducted: 
  -- In a commonwealth park or reserve
  -- On marine mammals; and/or
  -- Within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park include copies of the special permit application form(s).
• If conducting fisheries research, include Port Access Form.

• NOTE: Vessels are required to clear into an official port-of-entry prior to commencing any activities and clear out at a port-of-exit upon completion of the cruise. This requirement has been waived in the past under no particular circumstances.

• NOTE: Mooring Notice to Operators (Subsurface Moorings in Bermuda Time-Series Area). This notice is to warn ship operators and cruise scientists of the presence of several subsurface and surface moorings located near the Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Site.

• Estimated coordinates and time (Zulu) of entry and departure point of territorial waters.
• If calling at a Brazilian port, complete a Port Access Form.
• Copy of collaboration agreement with a Brazilian research institute/agency.
• NOTE: The Government of Brazil prefers that the request is made via diplomatic channels 60 days prior to the call. All research vessels entering a Brazilian port must follow this procedure, whether or not MSR is being conducted in the EEZ of Brazil.

CANADA

• Obtain “Foreign Fishing Vessel License” from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans -- Canada. Contact:
  -- East Coast licenses, Connie Farr (902-426-6453)
  -- West Coast licenses, Barry Ackerman (604-666-3991)

CHILE

• Entire application must be in Spanish.
• If research is proposed within the 12nm territorial sea, include an endorsement letter from a Chilean collaborator.
• NOTE: No clearance is required to test on-board instrumentation, as long as the data taken is not kept for archival or publication purposes. Notification is recommended.

• Entire application must be in Spanish.
• Contact Department of State for Biodiversity Studies Permit and Marine Genetic Research Permit, if applicable.
• Notarized copies of:
  -- International Load Line Certificate
  -- Classification Documentation/Registration
  -- Certificate of Inspection/Seaworthiness – obtained from port of embarkation
• Air-courier notarized documents to:
  Ignacio Gomez
  Economic Assistant
  American Embassy
  Cra. 45 No. 22-D-45
  Bogota, d. C., Colombia
  Phone: 57-1-383-2606

COSTA RICA

• If the ship is conducting research in a national park, the Operator must send a written request for the ship, crew, and passengers to enter the national park. The letter must include date of arrival and number of days staying within park.

• Fees:
  -- Entering into the territorial sea (12nm from shore) -- 20 kunas for the request, 70 for the clearance.
  -- Scientific research -- 20 kunas for the request, 50 for the clearance.

• NOTE: Vessel Operators en route to Cuba must understand and comply with U.S. Coast Guard security zone procedures.
• Entire application must be in Spanish.
• Provide precise geographic coordinates for the research activity.

• Review the guidance provided by the Danish Polar Center
• Note that your Standard Form A will prompt you to provide all of the information requested on the Danish forms -- submitting Danish forms is not necessary

• Be aware of the rules pertaining to the Silver Bank Marine Mammal Sanctuary

• Entire application must be in Spanish.
• Copy of the ship's license/registration.
• Letter on institution letterhead listing:
  -- Name and address of the representative or empowered agent in Ecuador;
  -- Commitment to deliver to the Ecuadorian Government, with no cost, of the complete results and conclusions of the developed research; and
  -- Commitment to observe the regulations of marine environment preservation and compensation.

EGYPT

• NOTE: The U.S. has not received clearance for research in the waters of Egypt since 1994.

• See DENMARK

GRENADA

• Vessels should stay clear of the area surrounding the Kick'em Jenny volcano.

• Notarized load line certificate.

• NOTE: The U.S. has not received clearance for research in the waters of India since 1995.

• The exact geographic areas in which the research is to take place, and in particular the indication by geographic coordinates of the places of research and/or sampling, possible deep anchorage's and/or the terminal points of the contour lines.
• In the case of seismic prospecting, the characteristics of the energizing system employed and its power. If explosive charges are used, the exact geographic coordinates, the depth of every single point of explosion, the type and quantity of explosives used, and the exact day and hour of the explosions should be given.
• In case of dredging operations, the geographic coordinates of the starting and end points must be given.
• The geographic coordinates of all points must be shown on nautical charts of an adequate scale, with reference to the prime meridian of Greenwich, and particularly detailed in cases in which the programmed surveys are carried out in proximity to the coast or the islands.

JAMAICA

• Letter of support from host country researcher or institution.
• Complete list of scientific film and data recording equipment.
• Indication of funding resources.

JAPAN

• In place of UN Standard Form A -- use Japan’s MSR Application Form.

• Include the possible environmental impacts of the research, what environmental precautions are being taken, and whether the purpose of the research is for commercial purposes or not.

• The following forms in Spanish:
  • Mexico's MSR Application Form
  • Radio Form
  • If collecting biological samples, include SEMARNAT Wildlife Collection Form
  • If collecting fish, include Fisheries Form
• Letter from Mexican collaborator regarding their involvement and endorsement of the research.
• Letter from Department chair of the U.S. institute sponsoring the research. Letter must provide his/her endorsement of the research and request that the officially designated observer names and contact information be provided at least two months prior to the start of the research. (U.S. Scientists should be prepared to pay for the travel expenses of two officially designated Mexican participants.)
• Two passport-sized pictures of the Chief Scientist.
• Fee payment if research requires the following:
  • Access to insular territory (islands): $374.00 pesos (approx. $35.00 U.S. Dollars)
  • Extraction of biological samples: $9,674.00 pesos (approx. $860.00 U.S. Dollars)
    U.S. Embassy Mexico City will confirm the total charge upon request. The payment must be made in the form of an international draft or cashier's check payable to "La Tesoreria de la Federacion." Check must be sent via air courier directly to the U.S. Embassy for appropriate processing, address follows:
    Angelica Narvaez
    Office of Science Affairs
    U.S. Embassy
    Mexico City, Mexico
    Reforma # 305
    06500 Mexico D.F.
• NOTE: Mexico very rarely accepts applications submitted less than six months prior to the start of the research in the Mexican EEZ.

NEW ZEALAND

• CV of ship captain.
• INMARSAT number, radar and sonar frequencies.
• List government agency responsible for supervising the project (if applicable).

NICARAGUA

• Entire application must be in Spanish 
• Copies of (send as pdf via email):
  -- International Load Line Certificate (American Bureau of Shipping)
  -- Classification Documentation/Registration
  -- Certificate of Inspection/Seaworthiness – obtained from port of embarkation

PANAMA

• Supply a Spanish translation for the nature and objectives of the project (UN Draft Standard Form A, 2.1)

PERU

• Supply a Spanish translation for the nature and objectives of the project (UN Draft Standard Form A, 2.1)
• Copies of (send as pdf via email):
  -- International Load Line Certificate (American Bureau of Shipping)
  -- Classification Documentation/Registration
  -- Certificate of Inspection/Seaworthiness – obtained from port of embarkation
• Letter nominating legal representative/agent in Peru. Include name and address

• Include (in Russian) Russian Federation's MSR Application Form
• Air-courier notarized copies of materials to:
  Office of Environment, Science and Technology (EST)
  American Embassy Moscow
  Bolshoy Devyatinskiy Pereulok 8
  121099 Moscow, RUSSIA
  Tel: +7 [495] 728-5312
• NOTE: Of the two applications for cruises to be conducted in 2006, the Department of State has received NO RESPONSE from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, despite all efforts to obtain a response.
  Note that of the two cruises, one was aboard a U.S.-flagged ship, and the other aboard a Russian-flagged ship.

• NOTE: A cruise in 2003 was forced to call in Sinop, where passports were taken and the ship was charged exorbitant fees.

• Entire application must be in Spanish.
• Photocopies of passports of the Captain and Chief Scientist (UN Standard Form A, 1.3)
• Direct and indirect environmental impact assessment of the project.
• CV of Venezuelan counterpart. Contact Mr. Perez Nieto, President of the Oceanology Commission at (58416) 6056589, to request support to determine which would be the ideal Venezuelan institutions interested in participating in the project.
• Copy of vessel registration.