An end to sailing in Southampton Water?

[Twister_Ken]

Today's Lloyds List reports that our "I can't believe it's not Tory" government is about to take some draconian measures to protect ports, port installations and ships from terrorist attack. You can link to the full story from:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.lloydslist.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=LLPortal/LloydsList>http://www.lloydslist.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=LLPortal/LloydsList</A>

It makes me wonder how much longer we'll be allowed to sail freely in areas like Southamption Water, Milford Haven, etc

 

[Cornishman]

An interesting read, but it seems to mainly refer to the shoreside facilities. We already have the police in high speed RIBs down here, but so far they haven't stopped anyone sailing on Saturday afternoons!

 

[Johnjo]

I spend a lot of the summer months in and around the Tamar and have to
say that the limited contact that I have had wirh the Military police
have always found them very curtious and helpful, Indeed there very
presence on the river makes it a lot safer place, They enforce the speed
limits rigorously, there presence also deters theft from boats,
Cannot see it happening that we will ever be stopped from using rivers/ports
such as the Tamar and Sound except in emergency situations I.E a terrorist
threat, If we all follow the rules that are in place regarding keeping
clear of prohibited areas and Naval shipping,
If we flaunt these rules I fear we could be making a rod for our own backs!
IMHO some of the other estuaries/rivers in the west country could do with
stronger enforcement of speed limits, you only got to anchor in the River Fal
and most weekends/evenings you will see speedboats zooming up and down the
river, Apologies Ken for drifting away from the subject.

regards mike

 

[Aja]

We have them on the Clyde already - what with Faslane and Coulport - very civil they are too, once you realise that, yes, they do have a sub-machine gun slung over their shoulder......

Donald

 

[Cornishman]

We have to be a bit careful here in distinguishing between the various sorts of police you might come across. There are no Military Police (Redcaps) on the waters of the Tamar and the Sound, but there is a presence of the MoD Police (Mod Plod!!) and also the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary in their RIBs which operate anywhere between Dartmouth and Scilly as and when they see fit. These are the guys who might enforce any ruling that Blair might impose in the future in ports other than Royal Dockyards, I guess.
I have met several of the MoD Police from time to time - even got involved with training some of them a few years ago, and they are a grand lot. I think we can feel safe in Plymouth.

 

[Guest]

Although sailing was allowed to continue during World War II at Putney and above (it was verboten around the coast), racing/sailing dinghies had to be made inoperable, when left, by removal of rudder and sails under Clause 00, subpara 0 of Defence Regulations. Presumably it was thought that enemy paratroops would jump into racing dinghies and plane across the Thames.

 

[Ohdrat]

mmmm well check this <A target="_blank" HREF=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2661109.stm>incident</A> out... and in a raging gale too... not that I think this was a terrorist incident..

 

[Johnjo]

Thanks Cornishman, I stand corrected, apologies for the error,

regards mike

 

[spannerman]

Before they ban sailing in the Solent I think the government could well go down the same road as the States, they are introducing AIS Automatic Identification System in the next year, nothing new, we had a Friend or Foe system back in the war, and Air Traffic Control has had it for years. Its a box that automatically replies with vessels I.D. , on commercial vessels it shows place of registration, port of origin, and destination. If you don't have one you are denied access to US ports, and will get a prompt visit from the Coastguard if you are heading for a port.

 

[Peppermint]

Not just the Police

I was sat at the Ardentinny Hotel, last Sept. watching the guard launch that cruises off Coulport and I'd say the guy's in green in the supporting RIBS looked scarier. But then Coulport's a pretty scary place anyway.

 

[Peppermint]

Radio 5 live

this AM had a reporter show how easy it was to walk into this sceptered isle. He used a Van on the Ferry, no checks, he used a Cessna, no checks, then he went an spoke to a yottie up the Hamble. Well when did you last meet an immigration officer?

I can't see how they can inspect a summers load of yachts but they could try to legislate their way out of trouble.

 

[Cornishman]

I hope that the Yanks have fitted it to their A 10 tank busters and their helicopter gunships and we have it in our vehicles before we return to the Gulf this time, then.

 

[TheBoatman]

Deckmaster,,I'm impressed even if it does show your age<s>

 

[Guest]

It shows no age; just a knowledge of reliable reports.

 

[jamesjermain]

Squawk!

This is the thing delightfully called the squawk-box, I believe

JJ