Boarded by UK Border Force

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dom

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I was boarded on Saturday by the UK Border Force about 10m east of Start Point. Two officers from a rib came on board and the rib then stood off at about 50m, with the mother ship hanging back about 150m.

Interestingly these guys had picked up a subtle irregularity following a small bit of gear damage sustained the previous day - though it probably wouldn't be right to go into detail on open forum.

Well, two more charming and well mannered chaps you'll never meet: they quickly searched the boat to ensure all was well, took some details, went through the boat's paperwork, showed a great interest in the characteristics of a well sailed yacht in order to compare with their risk assessments, beckoned the rib over and off they went. With all that's going on in Europe at the moment it's great to see these guys stepping up to the challenge.

One small piece of advice: it might make sense to keep your boat papers in order and also to carry some sort of decent ID for both yourself and your crew, especially if foreign.
 
dom said:
I was boarded on Saturday by the UK Border Force about 10m east of Start Point. Two officers from a rib came on board and the rib then stood off at about 50m, with the mother ship hanging back about 150m.

Interestingly these guys had picked up a subtle irregularity following a small bit of gear damage sustained the previous day - though it probably wouldn't be right to go into detail on open forum.

Well, two more charming and well mannered chaps you'll never meet: they quickly searched the boat to ensure all was well, took some details, went through the boat's paperwork, showed a great interest in the characteristics of a well sailed yacht in order to compare with their risk assessments, beckoned the rib over and off they went. With all that's going on in Europe at the moment it's great to see these guys stepping up to the challenge.

One small piece of advice: it might make sense to keep your boat papers in order and also to carry some sort of decent ID for both yourself and your crew, especially if foreign.
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Boat papers?! What are they?!

Assuming you never go abroad I wasn't aware that there was anything required on the boat?

However pragmatism might suggest keeping something on there for when we impede the aircraft carrier leaving the Forth next year and get in trouble!

Not being funny but what do your papers include?
 
What papers?
One of the great things about boating in the UK is that it's unregulated.
"Papers Please" is for Johnny Foreigner.
 
roblpm said:
Boat papers?! What are they?!

Assuming you never go abroad I wasn't aware that there was anything required on the boat?
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So far as I'm aware only one bit of paper (or perhaps even the digital equivalent), is mandatory.
SOLAS regulation 29: An illustrated table describing the life-saving signals shall be readily available to the officer of the watch of every ship to which this chapter applies. The signals shall be used by ships or persons in distress when communicating with lifesaving stations, maritime rescue units and aircraft engaged in search and rescue operations.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the boarders didn't know that. Just in case, there's a copy here: https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/public/c4/solasv/mca docs/lifesaving sigs.pdf
 
we were boarded last year approaching Brighton late at night in February, so they had a good reason to wonder why we were there!

They were indeed polite, even asked if they could come aboard, and thanked us as they left - I thanked them for looking after the country's interests.

Even though papers are not compulsory it would have been a much quicker conversation if I could have proved that I had a legal right to be on that boat, at that time, rather than having to explain I was delivering the yacht for an owner I had never met!
 
I remember first time I sailed to Shetland, 4 years ago. Being Johnny Foreigner, I brought passports, ships papers and whatnot. Toddled off to the harbourmaster in Lerwick with all my papers. Tried to show them to the nice woman (aka "The prettiest girl in Shetland") behind the counter, and was told off with a "Passports? Oh, no. We don't do that sort of thing up here".
 
There is of course no compulsion in the UK to carry any ID, any boat papers, or indeed anything other than the bare SOLAS safety stuff, which incidentally I doubt many people have to hand! For clarity, the two officers in question never suggested otherwise.

But times change and in practice when these two guys come aboard it seems reasonable for them to identify (if they so choose) the crew, the vessel's past whereabouts, its ownership and so on. As it happens I had no ID (wallet left in car so missus paid for everything!), but they glanced through the boat's purchase docs, etc and happily went on their way.

I can only speak for myself, but at the end of the day these guys are protecting our asses, so it seems sensible to let them do their job quickly and efficiently, and then let them get on their way.
 
dom said:
I can only speak for myself, but at the end of the day these guys are protecting our asses, so it seems sensible to let them do their job quickly and efficiently, and then let them get on their way.
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Indeed and very much agreed. Which is why I always sail with my ship's papers, insurance documents and basically everything even the most zealous border or customs agents can ask for. It brings that pleased smile to the sternest of men, and even more importantly...it makes them go quickly away again. Preferably without finding the wine cellar behind the false partion in the starboard berth.
 
dom said:
I can only speak for myself, but at the end of the day these guys are protecting our asses, so it seems sensible to let them do their job quickly and efficiently, and then let them get on their way.
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Couldn't agree more, providing they're towards the politer end of the spectrum.
But equally, if they can't summon a photo, address, and lots other info about you on some sort of Border Force electronic device, then they are, to say the least, underresourced.
 
I never carry any information or 'papers' when in the UK. I would have my wallet with a drivers license in it but I don't keep anything on the boat and its history. My boat doesn't take long to search though!
 
UK guys, just count your blessings!

I regularly have to show registration document, insurance and passports.

Have been boarded at sea over the years by French, Spanish officials. In harbour by Moroccan (several times) French and Spanish in the Canaries.

Last Thursday was interrogated by Morrocan Naval vessel. They wanted boat name and IMO number (on part1) plus mms I, call sign, persons on board and destination.

Also had that passing Algeria and entering Bermuda and Malta.

Always been polite on both sides of the transmissions!
 
If they ask for my ships papers they might get Saturday's Daily Mail. (I like the telly pages) Other than that all I have is my VHF certificate and the stuff printed from the OFCOM website with MMSI etc. I thought in the UK we are innocent until fitted up? What is this talk of SOLAS stuff and is it compulsory?
 
I agree the UK guys have it very easy.

We must have a skippers ticket allowing us to sail in defined parameters (distance from shore and by day only or day and night)

Boat must be inspected each year with defined equipment depening on how far from shore we wish to go.

We must file a flight plan if we are going from one port to another within south africa.

We also must clear customs and immigration to go from one RSA port to another.

If we wish to go out of the country our boats must be registered as your part 1 ( we do not have a part 3 like you).

We also have to request permission to leave or enter the port from port control every time we go sailing.
 
Spyro said:
If they ask for my ships papers they might get Saturday's Daily Mail. (I like the telly pages) Other than that all I have is my VHF certificate and the stuff printed from the OFCOM website with MMSI etc. I thought in the UK we are innocent until fitted up? What is this talk of SOLAS stuff and is it compulsory?
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Well you are almost certainly OK up there on the Clyde. But down on the South coast one should recognise that times have changed and there have been cases this year of illegal immigrants using private boats to get into the country. Assuming that we want these IIs to be caught, there will be more Border Patrol vessels actively checking private boats in the Channel. Obviously it helps everyone if all yachts in the Channel carried enough paperwork to quickly identify who you are. And probably your yacht status as well. No compulsion yet, but that may become more likely post Brexit.
As a law-abiding (mostly) citizen, this gives me no concern. Of course if you have something to hide , then you are more likely to object.......
 
Spyro said:
What is this talk of SOLAS stuff and is it compulsory?
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A somewhat pointless list of official distress signals. Yes, it's compulsory, but I can't see that it's in anybody's interests whether you have one, so the odds of getting dinged for it seem very slim indeed. It's printed in books like Reed's and on the back of some charts, so chances are you already comply without realising it.

Pete
 
Resolution said:
Well you are almost certainly OK up there on the Clyde. But down on the South coast one should recognise that times have changed and there have been cases this year of illegal immigrants using private boats to get into the country. Assuming that we want these IIs to be caught, there will be more Border Patrol vessels actively checking private boats in the Channel. Obviously it helps everyone if all yachts in the Channel carried enough paperwork to quickly identify who you are. And probably your yacht status as well. No compulsion yet, but that may become more likely post Brexit.
As a law-abiding (mostly) citizen, this gives me no concern. Of course if you have something to hide , then you are more likely to object.......
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I'm not sure times have changed a lot - 25 years ago I was boarded a few miles off the Eddystone with exactlyt the same set up of Rib, mother boat etc. All looking very intimidating with guns etc. but friendly and polite as they searched the boat and even checked our log book (we wrote one then) to see whether our stories of the trip matched the evidence.

The only slight off note was when they kept asking whether we had been to Morocco - it was only a 24 foot boat and we were proud enough to have got from the Solent to La Rochelle in the holiday
 
Its much like being pulled over by the police in your car. No requirement to carry a driving licence in the UK. They will ask if you have it because it makes their life easier. If you don't they will ask who you are, your address etc. If that ties up to the registered keeper and they aren't actively looking for a way to make your day go pear shaped you'll likely be on your way. If anything looks a'miss they may ask for other ID... bank/credit card is usually enough.

While you may not be required to carry anything documents, if they want to, they can inconvenience you enough that you may decide its a good idea!
 
dom said:
There is of course no compulsion in the UK to carry any ID, any boat papers, or indeed anything other than the bare SOLAS safety stuff, which incidentally I doubt many people have to hand! For clarity, the two officers in question never suggested otherwise.

But times change and in practice when these two guys come aboard it seems reasonable for them to identify (if they so choose) the crew, the vessel's past whereabouts, its ownership and so on. As it happens I had no ID (wallet left in car so missus paid for everything!), but they glanced through the boat's purchase docs, etc and happily went on their way.

I can only speak for myself, but at the end of the day these guys are protecting our asses, so it seems sensible to let them do their job quickly and efficiently, and then let them get on their way.
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I'm with you, what's the problem? We carry copies of our ships docs regardless and I have always, always, carried my passport with me. We were boarded a couple of years ago off Brighton and having it all to hand made the whole process very swift. The two individuals were polite and not at all intimidating. Even to the extent of agreeing to having their photos taken for the ships blog. It was blowing a hoolie and we had diverted to Brighton, when we asked them why we had been boarded they said it was we were the only ones daft enough to be out there.
 
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