Boarded by police in Ostend

[tony_lavelle]

We were boarded by two police (man and woman) on Ostend on Sunday. The were pleasant and wanted to check our passports, radio licences and boat registration documents. They explained the need to complete Schengen crew list forms (to be posted in yellow post boxes in each harbour) and filled in the form for us. They claimed to be suprised that no-one had ever asked for the forms in the 14 years that our skipper had been visiting Belgium in his large motor cruiser. They also seemd suprised that no-one in France or Holland was ever interested in the Schengen forms. Also they had no interest in our fuel, which they said was a matter for Customs.

 

[sailorman]

"Police" ?????

 

[Debennut]

"Police" ?????

Belgian Federal Police. responsible for border control. Similar to PAF in France.

 

[Supine Being]

I guess they'd be staggered to know that the police / customs / whatever didn't ask me for one when they came aboard in Ostend a couple of years ago. Or anywhere else for that matter. Sounds like nonsense, but as long as they're filling them in for you, it's not so bad.

 

[johnalison]

Also they had no interest in our fuel, which they said was a matter for Customs.

So someone tactlessly mentioned the word "fuel" to them! I bet they were popular.

 

[Stork_III]

I guess they'd be staggered to know that the police / customs / whatever didn't ask me for one when they came aboard in Ostend a couple of years ago. Or anywhere else for that matter. Sounds like nonsense, but as long as they're filling them in for you, it's not so bad.

I have been boarded in the marina at Breskens (2011) by the police from a rib and asked for my Schengen form amongst other documents. They seemed surprised that I had one (Belgian version) and had actually posted one copy in the box at Ostend. The two times I have been boarded by customs in the pool at flushing they were not interested in Schengen, only fuel receipts (which they signed and dated), SSR, VAT receipt and any duty free from Belgium.