TowBoatUS Answers Question About Towing in Mexico

A  40′ Sailboat with two crew on board became disabled 130 nautical miles south of San Diego on their way home from Mexico.  Vessel Assist Shelter Island, with a two man crew, ran down to the little cove  behind Punta Colnett that gave the disabled 40′ sailboat some reprieve from the rough weather.  Once in tow Vessel Assist Shelter Island with Captain Reggie Curry and crew aboard towed the disabled sailboat in moderate to rough water back to San Diego.  After a typical wait at the Customs Dock the disabled Sailboat was towed to Pearson Fuel Dock for repairs.   Within Minutes of securing the marathon 30 hour tow,  Captain Tony Olson jumped aboard Vessel Assist Shelter Island and with the Engines still warm from the previous run headed to the Rock Pile, about 25 miles south of Point Loma, again in Mexican waters.  The 25 mile tow is much more normal than the monster tow completed just hours before.  Captain Tony Olson hooked up to the disabled Skipjack and headed back to the Shelter Island Launch Ramp via the Customs dock.  This helps answer the question. “Am I covered in Mexico with my towing membership?”  With Vessel Assist/ Boat US you will receive the same great service by a VESSEL ASSIST tow vessel as you have in past years.  Other companies may rely on a Mexican Towing company to assist you while in Mexican waters,  then hand you off to them once in American waters.  Vessel Assist/ Boat US has a strict policy that only properly insured vessels with properly licensed captains tow our members.  Some have said American tow boats do not have the right to tow vessels out of Mexico.  This is un- true.  March 10th 1936 the United States and Mexico Signed a treaty giving vessels of each nationality the right to enter territorial waters to render assistance to vessels of their respected Nationalities. 

Here is the exact wording of the treaty

The High Contracting Parties agree that vessels and rescue apparatus, public or private, of either country, may aid or assist vessels of their own nationality, including the passengers and crews thereof, which may be disabled or in distress on the shores or within the territorial waters of the other country within a radius of seven hundred and twenty nautical miles of the intersection of the International Boundary Line and the coast of the Pacific Ocean, or within a radius of two hundred nautical miles of the intersection of the International Boundary Line and the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

 

SO, for the record Vessel Assist San Diego WILL continue to assist vessels in Mexican waters.  We are insured to travel 150 Nautical Miles south of San Diego without an additional binder.  We have gone and will go as far south as Turtle Bay (350 nautical miles south) to tow a vessel back to San Diego. 

 

Other Articles state it cost $300.00 per hour to be towed as a non member by a towboat.  Vessel Assist Charges $200.00/hour for non members, tows in excess of $1500.00, we will give you a Captains card membership after service.

 

In closing, Buy a Vessel Assist/Boat US membership Unlimited Captains Card or Gold Card, this is the only way to guarantee that an American Vessel Assist Tow Boat will assist you if you are in Mexican waters.

Just click on the Join Now Icon on the right of the page to get started.