US Customs & Border Protection - Crew Shore Leave Policy - Changes in New York

UPDATE: This policy has now been revoked. 

On October 2, 2019, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office in New York announced a new Shore Leave Policy restricting shore leave in the New York/Newark port area to crew members who have completed a minimum of five contracts. CBP New York explained that this new policy was required to address the problem of increasing desertions by crew members on shore leave at the port. It has now been clarified that a “contract” of service in the context of the policy means a full contract of service and not simply vessel voyages or calls made by a crew member to a particular port.

For additional information, Members are referred to ECM Maritime Services LLC’s: Client Alert 19-2019 dated 28 October, 2019.