New rules for mandatory cargo carrier liabili...
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Although strict enforcement of temporary visas and allowed stays by the Brazilian immigration authority (Federal Police) is in place after more than a decade, our offices are still seeing cases where vessels and crew have been fined for offences which could be easily avoided.
The situation is experienced in various Brazilian ports but is certainly more prevalent at the Port of Rio de Janeiro where stringent immigration controls are in place.
The crew’s immigration cards are often kept in Master’s safe together with their passports and seaman’s books. It is therefore essential that the Master or a designated officer closely monitors and controls the maximum allowed time of stay and inform the owners and agents of any approaching expiration date so that early action can be taken to avoid deportation notices and fines. Noting that where a crewmember does not hold a visa and is expected to exceed his maximum allowed stay, the vessel’s agents must apply to the Federal Police for an extension of the stay, ideally within a maximum of five days prior to the expiration date, by producing the passport or seaman’s book, the receipt of payment of the extension tax and the application form.
