Each U.S. Customs POE has its own unique hours of operation. If a POE does not answer its telephone, call another for advice on what to do or to see if they will accept your reporting-in call and assign a release number.

The New York shoreline and the western Ohio shoreline have toll-free numbers with the telephone numbers clearly shown on "reporting-in" signage at all shoreline marinas.

Do not loose this list, as the telephone numbers printed in bold type are non-published. And they cannot be found by calling directory assistance.

Lake Champlain:

• Vermont shore: (Highgate Springs 802-868-2778)
• New York shore: (Ogdensburg 800-827-2851)

St. Lawrence River:

• New York shore: (Ogdensburg 800-827-2851)

Lake Ontario:

• Mouth of St. Lawrence River to the east edge of Oswego (Ogdensburg 800-827-2851)
• Oswego through Lower Niagara River (Buffalo 800-927-5015)

Lake Erie & Niagara River:

• New York shore (Buffalo 800-927-5015)
• Pennsylvania shore (Erie 814-833-1355)
• Ohio shore through Fairport Harbor (Ashtabula 440-998-3073)
• West of Fairport to east of Lorain (Cleveland 216-267-3600)
• Lorain to the Michigan border (Toledo 888-523-BOAT)
• Michigan shore (Detroit 313-226-3140)

Detroit River:

• Michigan shore (Detroit 313-226-3140)

Lake St. Clair:

• Michigan shore (Detroit 313-226-3140)

St. Clair River:

• Lower channels of St. Clair River (Detroit 313-226-3140)
• Algonac (810-794-3321)
• Marine City (810-795-5454)
• Port Huron (810-985-9541)

Lake Huron:

• Michigan shore from Port Huron through Port Sanilac (Port Huron 810-985-9541)
• North of Port Sanilac through Harrisville (Freeland 517-695-2871)
• Michigan shore above the 45th parallel to Straits of Mackinac Bridge

(Sault Ste Marie 906-632-7221), except the following:

• Rogers City (517-734-3160)
• Drummond Island (906-493-5232)

Lake Superior:

• Michigan shore (Sault Ste Marie 906-632-7221)
• Wisconsin shore and Minnesota shore to, but not including, Grand Marais (Duluth 218-720-5203)
• Grand Marais to the U.S./Canadian border --- including Isle Royal, MI (Grand Portage, MN 218-475-2244)

Lake Michigan

Boaters entering Lake Michigan (direct from a Canadian port) would be wise to report into U.S. Customs or an OARS Videophone before they venture to far into Lake Michigan. A few sailboats or long-range yachts may be able to cruise direct to a U.S. port in Indiana, Illinois or Wisconsin. However, these U.S. Customs POEs seldom handle recreational boats returning to the U.S. They may take a little more time to inspect your papers and boat than you expected.

• Lower Peninsula of State of Michigan: Straits of Mackinac Bridge to the 45th parallel (Sault Ste Marie 906-632-7221)
• 45th parallel through Holland (Grand Rapids 616-456-2515)
• South of Holland to the Indiana border (Battle Creek 616-965-3349)
• Indiana through Chicago, IL (Chicago 773-894-2900 or 312-983-1100)
• Waukegan, IL (847-336-2136)
• Racine, WI (414-633-0286)
• Milwaukee (414-571-2860)
• Green Bay (920-496-0606)
• State of Michigan Upper Peninsula (Sault Ste Marie 906-632-7221)