Flag of Convenience - Rant

[absit_omen]

In this Spanish Marina a non British, non Spanish (but Spanish Resident) has just registered his new boat with the SSR and is flying a Red Ensign. This is common practice here and is obviously to avoid the lengthy, bureaucratic and expensive procedure of Spanish Registration.

Good on him. I hate expensive bureaucracy as well. However, I cant help feeling that this demonstates a complete indifference on the part of the Registry to the sanctity of our national seafarers flag under which thousands of merchant seamen have perished in two great wars. What is the point of a Registry if validity is not confimed accurately? This would only involve a few more lines on the application form to establish that the applicant is, indeed, a British Subject, and is entitled to the privilige of British Registration.

 

[landaftaf]

the red duster used to be a symbol of a mighty british merchant navy, however since the demise of our m.n. and the introduction of the 'tonnage tax' it has indeed become a flag of convenience in the worst possible manner.
after 35 yrs in the m.n. I have witnessed the slow death and corruption of our mighty industry, it is now beyond recovery.

 

[Superstrath]

In the early 80's I sailed on a ship registered in Grand Cayman - a FOC State which coincidentally gives you the right to fly the Red Duster. Likewise I spent some time with an Israeli-owned outfit that registered it's ships in London - purely as a convenience so that we could get into South Africa and other countries hostile to the Israeli state.
The Red Ensign has long since lost it's importance, or indeed respect from others.

 

[landaftaf]

a recent survey conducted around the uk revealed about 65% of the population didnt know what the red ensign was !

lol - a maritime island ........

 

[Guest]

OK, but he's not allowed to register it under SSR, so has acted illegally ie. he has lied on the application form.

That is, unless he's an EU citizen resident in Britain, but I take it from your post that he is not.

 

[landaftaf]

you can always report him to the nearest royal navy vessel for corrective action - but I exoect its tied up in guzz or pompey ....... not enough motion lotion

 

[Birdseye]

" sanctity of our national seafarers flag "

I really cant believe someone wrote this! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif