Falmouth SOLAS patrol arrived

[halcyon]

Falmouth now has a nice blue and yellow patrol boat, will be covering Falmouth and the Scillies, checking that boats are complying !.

According to the TV local news there are three more some else.

Appears we know now how they plan to monitor them.

Brian

 

[TheBoatman]

Brian
Do you know where I can d/load the A4 sheet which is to be carried on all vessels?

Peter

 

[BrendanS]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mcga.gov.uk/publications/leaflets/Signals.pdf>http://www.mcga.gov.uk/publications/leaflets/Signals.pdf</A>

or from the RYA website

"This table is printed in the C8 RYA Boat Safety Handbook , available from the RYA Online Shop or RYA Orders Line on tel: 0845 345 0372, the winter 2002 issue of RYA Magazine, or contact RYA Cruising by email or tel: 0845 345 0370 for your free copy."

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Does anyone know what legal right they would have to board your vessel?

What if you refused this right?

I am sailing on passage, do I have to stop my vessel?

<font color=blue> Julian </font color=blue>

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ukstaffords.com>http://www.ukstaffords.com</A>

 

[BrendanS]

As far as I know, they can legally board any vessel they like. Unlikely to happen however, as they have consistently stated that Solas V regulations are not going to result in spot checks of leisure vessels. Lots of scaremongering going on at present by the 'we are losing our rights' brigade. The only time that they will bring these regulations into force for leisure boats is after an incident.

Common sense dictates that they are not going to prosecute some one who runs aground on a sandbank and gets safely off later, but if you T bone and sink another boat you are fair game to be investigated.

 

[Stingo]

There was a post on here a few years ago where an ex-policeman was searched by customs. From what I recall, the customs blokes went a bit overboard by taking off panels etc. They left his boat in a right mess. The policeman then demanded to be let aboard the customs vessel to do a search, which they refused to do. He then reminded them of some law that does enable him to board their vessel and search it. So he returned the favour and went around removing panels and left the customs boat in a right mess.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.stingo.co.uk>http://www.stingo.co.uk</A> - now showing at a computer near you

 

[hlb]

Can some one tell me. Where the hell theres room to post up. Two A4 sheets of paper. Most of which is just a fancy picture.

<font color=blue> Haydn

 

[Guest]

Having read the material, there did not appear to be any necessity to 'post up' the relevant notice. Therefore this correspondent stowed it inside a locker in a plastic folder. In any case the whole thing seemed remarkably impractical for a sailing or power yacht, even one making a 'serious' passage. There are a lot more important things to be aware of at sea.
The rescue industry and the expansion of bureaucrats is depressing.

 

[hlb]

Well. I can just see us reading that lot in a heaving sea. Cant even read it without glasses, even then it's difficult.

<font color=blue> Haydn

 

[halcyon]

In that case what is our nice shiny blue/yellow patrol boat with a MCA flag painted on the side do ?.

Are the coast gaurds going to start floatilla holidays.

On the news broadcast checking boats for safety was stated, but then it was 0600 and I was still shocked by the boat.

After all we have a record in England of implementing regs to 110% of the law.

Will the MCA be explaining to what use these boats are to be put, after all we bought them !

Brian

 

[BrendanS]

You decide. I'm going out boating.. If you think you're going to be boarded everytime you set sail, then that's you prerogative

 

[kgi]

And i thought on previous mca posts they said that they would not become proactive?

 

[jimi]

There's also one arrived at Hythe in Southampton water. Also curious as to intended use of these vessels.

 

[HMCG]

pictures of the boats can be found at this post <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=pbo&Number=306783&page=4&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=14&vc=1#Post306783>http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=pbo&Number=306783&page=4&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=14&vc=1#Post306783</A>

I am glad that I am not as paranoid as you lot. How do any of you manage to drive to work in the morning after all the police are out to stop every motorist as well aren't they?

The boats will not be used to do spot checks. If you act dangerously or in a way which causes serious concern then they may have a word. As I explain in the other post these boats are just replacing ones we already have...in fact we will now have fewer boats. One of the tasks of the boats is to transport surveyors to COMMERCIAL vessels which are outside port limits. This will hopefully prevent those hsips ina bad state of repair which avoid inspection by not entering port. They are not out there to victimise the law abiding, sensible pleasure user.

Safer lives, safer ships, cleaner seas.

 

[Jacket]

Confused

If ships are avoiding being inspected by not enetering ports, how do they make a living? They have to load/unload somewhere, don't they?

And if they were near UK waters, but not coming to the UK, they're presumably going to another European country. Don't all north European have similar inspections?

 

[HMCG]

Re: Confused

Most vessels avoiding inspection are generally not making money as they are unusable. Another reason would be because they have been involved in an accident and are anchoring off until repairs have been completed.

Safer lives, safer ships, cleaner seas.

 

[Jacket]

Re: Confused

The acidents I can understand. Why are the others still at sea if they're not making money- are the owners hoping to sail them to somewhere where the ship is cheaper to have broken up? Or have they just been abandoned at anchor by the crews?

 

[HMCG]

Re: Confused

There have been a number of times where the owners/agents are unable to get work for vessels as their reputation preceeded them. Others are where there are problems witht he crew who become unhappy but are unable to guarantee their berth fees so harbours will not allow them in or where a harbour will not allow vessels in possibly due to a banning order from either the UK or another state. There are a number of reasons for vessels not to enter or avoid entering uk ports.

Safer lives, safer ships, cleaner seas.