Safety & Security Notice for Cruising Visitors

Welcome to Trinidad and Tobago! The Yacht Services Association of Trinidad and Tobago (YSATT) is the non-profit, umbrella organization for the yacht trade services in Trinidad & Tobago. In Chaguaramas, we have an enviable reputation for excellent security in the boatyards and in the bay outside the yards, having had not one single dinghy or outboard theft in the past three years. We want to keep it like this and to do so we ask that you adhere closely to these rules:

• Always ensure that your boat is properly locked and secured at all times
• Do not anchor your boat in deserted anchorages.
• Ensure that you hire contractors known to the boatyards, YSATT and other cruisers. Do not hire someone “off the street” to do work for you.
• Become acquainted with the cruisers around you, look out for suspicious behaviour by unknown persons and let your neighbours know.
• Be aware of your surroundings when handling cash and/or credit cards in public places (ATMs, banks, shops etc.) As always, it is preferable not to carry large sums of cash with you; leave your cash in a safe place: the bank, hotel safe boxes, or ask your boatyard/marina if they provide services for securing valuables.
• Do not invite strangers onto your vessel. People met in bars may not be as friendly as they first appeared.
• Pull your dinghies out of the water at night and make sure that they are properly locked to your vessel. Dinghy and outboard motor theft ranks amongst the highest yacht related crimes committed in the Caribbean.
• Travel in groups as much as you can – particularly when taking public transportation or walking on the road
• The use of controlled drugs such as cocaine, marijuana etc. is against the law. If you are approached to buy these drugs firmly decline. Breaking these laws carry stiff penalties – not just fines but prison sentences.
• Report all incidences of crime to the relevant authorities.
• Listen to the cruisers net which airs every morning from 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. on Channel 68 for ongoing matters and updates related to safety and security.
• If you are a victim of crime or a crime has been attempted against you, it is imperative that you report the incident to the following:
• CDA Police – 634-4304, 634-4312 extension 300. The CDA police are expected to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week to incidents of crime within the Chaguaramas area.
• Carenage Police – 637-3123. Let them know whether you have reported the crime to the CDA. If the situation warrants it, then ask them to request assistance from the Coast Guard
• If for some reason you are unable to get through to the Police, call Rapid Response at 999.
• If the incident occurs in a boatyard or marina, report it immediately you the relevant Security personnel.
• A complet list of Emergency Numbers can be found here.

Note: that the Coast Guard as well as the CDA Police monitor Channel 16 at night, you can call on your VHF also to request assistance. Coast Guard will response to distress and medical emergencies. Safety and Security is a matter of concern throughout the Caribbean, for locals and cruisers alike. We urge you to follow the recommended precautions.