Burnham Harbour master impounds boat?

[europe172]

In todays Telegraph there is a story about a 25' Trimaran that the Harbour master has detained, do any of the forum uses know under what authority this has been done?
What are the limits of these powers?

 

[chrishelen]

There was a story in the paper yesterday about this boat getting rescued twice in as many days, in fact the story is on PBOs home page.

 

[europe172]

I was more interested in harbour masters being able to prevent people leaving harbour, by what law do they act?

 

[Allan]

I read somewhere that the harbour master quoted "Harbour law" I assumed he meant a local bylaw.
Allan

 

[graham]

I wouldnt believe everything in the paper ,Their usually more interested in the story than the facts.

 

[europe172]

Thats one of the good this about this forum, someone from Burnham must know the real story, so let's have it

 

[matelot]

for every proper harbour there is a byelaw. you as a mariner are expected to be familiar with them when you enter the harbour - which by the way will often be several miles off the harbour walls.

As an example look at http://www.gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk/ . In this case the Gloucester bye laws state " Where the condition of a vessel is such that it is not or may not be seaworthy, the master of the vessel shall not move the vessel except to clear the main navigation channel or to moor or anchor in safety, otherwise than with the permission and in accordance with the directions of the Harbour Master. " and "Except with the permission of the Harbour Master, the master of a vessel other than a small vessel shall at all times when that vessel is within the harbour ensure that the vessel is capable of being safely moved and navigated and that there are sufficient crew or other competent persons readily available - "

In the case of Burnham I dont know what the laws are. Or even that it is a harbour with bye laws since some are too small.

But one thing is for sure - ignorance of the law is no excuse (however unrealistic that is!) so you'd better check on your local stopping places. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

P.S. In the case of Gloucester, the harbour begins near Chepstow but doesnt include the harbour in the middle of Gloucester since that belongs to BWB - believe it or not!

 

[graham]

The story has been done to death over on Scuttlebut including a reply trying to set the record straight from KDS who is a BOS club member.

His reply is in this thread web page

 

[siwaller]

My understanding is that a Harbour Master can impound any vessel as long as he has good reason, e.g Safety, Legal etc. I was in the Scilly Isles once for a few weeks and we had a really bad storm mid-week, the Master there impounded a French Yacht until they had paid the salvage fees demanded by his rescuers! needless to say he paid up in the end.

 

[matelot]

[ QUOTE ]
My understanding is that a Harbour Master can impound any vessel as long as he has good reason, e.g Safety, Legal etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

To be pedantic - no. The only authority he has is legal. Any other act by him may well be illegal