Bahamas
General Information for Bahamas
Geo-political:
Capital City: Nassau. 25° 05.00′ N, 077° 21.00′ W
Nationality: (noun) Bahamian(s), (adjective) Bahamian.
Population: 337,721 (July 2020).
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 1-242.
Number of Internal Airports: 54 (2020).
Major Languages Spoken: English (official) and Creole (among Haitian immigrants).
Economy:
Currency: 1 Bahamian Dollar (BSD) of 100 Cents.
Exchange Rates:
(as of November 2020)
USD 1.00 = BSD 1.00
BSD 1.00 = USD 1.00
Exchange rates under licence from
XE.com
Main Industries: Tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment, logistics, salt,
aragonite and pharmaceuticals.
Agricultural Products: Citrus, vegetables, poultry and seafood.
Imports: Machinery, transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels, food and live
animals.
Exports: Rock lobster, aragonite, crude salt and polystyrene products.
Commodities: Products: Imports 19,150 bbl/d. LNG: Imports 48,020 cu.m..
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Exclusive Economic Zone: Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 n.m.
Coastline Extent: 3,542 km.
Climate: Tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream.
Natural Resources: Salt, aragonite, timber and arable land.
Natural Hazards: Hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage.
Terrain: Long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills.
Average Temperatures:
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 25° C | 18° C |
| June | 28° C | 22° C |
| September | 30° C | 24° C |
DOCUMENTS:
Cruise Ships:
The following documents are required by Customs on arrival:
1 BSD10 Postage stamp
1 Form C2 – Inward Report of Vessels
1 Form C4 – Passenger List
1 Form C5 – Declaration of Consumable Stores
1 Form C6 – Declaration of Dutiable Goods in Possession of the Crew
1 Last Port Clearance
1 Maritime Declaration of Health
Cargo Vessels:
Under Customs regulations, cargo vessels must provide a Report on Inwards of Vessel
(Form C2) in order to enter The Bahamas. This is required by all vessels entering
The Bahamas from a foreign port.
The following documents are required:
1 Cargo Manifest
1 Crew List (name and nationality required)
1 Form C2 – Report on Inwards of Vessel
1 Form C3 – Parcels List
1 Form C5 – Declaration of Consumable Stores
1 Form C6 – Declaration of Dutiable Goods in Possession of the Crew
1 Last Port Clearance
1 Maritime Declaration of Health
1 Passenger List (name and nationality required)
1 Proof of Citizenship/Identification (Passport) for the captain and other crew and
passengers)
Arrival formalities must be completed within 24 hours after arrival into Bahamian
waters. No crew or passengers may disembark until this process is completed.
POLLUTION:
Pollution incidents should be reported to the Port Controller, Nassau Port Authority.
T: +1 242 326 5677 or +1 242 323 3191 after hours. F: +1 242 322 5545.
MEDICAL:
Medical treatment is of a good standard but can be expensive. Emergency medical facilities
are limited on all the Family Islands and serious cases are transferred to Nassau,
Freeport or Miami by air ambulance. Make sure you have adequate health insurance and
accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
There is a risk of Zika virus transmission in the Bahamas. Dengue fever is endemic
to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. Cases of Chikungunya
virus have been confirmed in the Bahamas. You should take steps to avoid being bitten
by mosquitoes.
In the 2013 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated
that around 7,600 adults aged 15 or over in The Bahamas were living with HIV; the
rate was of infection was estimated at around 3.2% of the adult population. This compares
to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.3%. You should exercise normal
precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. In an emergency dial 911 and ask for an
ambulance.
HOLIDAYS:
1 January (New Year's Day); Good Friday; Easter Monday; Whit Monday; Labour Day; 10
July (Independence Day); 6 August (Emancipation Day); 12 October (Discovery Day/National
Heroes Day); 24 December (Christmas Eve); 25 December (Christmas Day); 26 December
(Boxing Day).
WEATHER/TIDES:
The hurricane season in The Bahamas normally runs from 1 June to 30 November.
BANKS:
The Bahamas police have notified the public that counterfeit higher denomination notes
are in circulation. You should check for a ship watermark and metallic strip on genuine
notes and not purchase any currency except at established exchange centres.
CUSTOMS:
The Bahamas Customs Department, Headquarters, PO Box N155, Thompson Boulevard, Nassau,
New Providence, The Bahamas. Tel: +1 (242) 325 6551. Fax: +1 (242) 325 7409.
[email protected]
SHORE LEAVE:
The water sports industry in The Bahamas is poorly regulated. Every year people are
killed or seriously injured by the improper use of jet skis or other watercraft, or
by the careless or reckless operation of such equipment by others. In view of a number
of accidents, it is recommended not to rent jet-skis or other water sports equipment
unless you are an experienced user.
If you choose to rent any type of water sports equipment, you should first consider
the dangers involved and satisfy yourself that adequate safety precautions are in
place. Once satisfied about this, rent only from reputable operators and insist on
sufficient training before use. Also ensure that the operator is licensed and has
adequate insurance cover.
REPATRIATION:
All visitors leaving The Bahamas are subject to a cash departure tax of USD15.00 (or
BSD15.00), which may or may not be included in the price of the ticket.
