French inspect life jackets...

Not sure of the relevance of your list of safety equipment in a thread about what powers a foreign state has over you! There is no such list for a UK registered private boat. That is the core issue, because in France (and most other countries) there is.

Your last paragraph is however, important because it reflects reality.
 
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The boat on the next berth to me in St Vaast was found to have a photocopy of the SSR certificate on board instead of the original. The skipper was escorted to an ATM machine to withdraw the necessary funds. From memory the fine was about 150 Euros.

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Thanks for trying but 'about 150' isn't helping with Google searches. I might need more than that. Even a couple of words of the name of the offence? Or just quote to a link?
 
So it seems to me from the theoretical Tranona / Guapa exchange plus Robin, that most of the time you dont get bothered by foreign authorities, but if they wish to do so they can inspect and fine you for misdemeanours against their regulations. You might eventually (after a legal fight) be able to get the money back. Or you might not depending on a foreign court's views of the law (as opposed to the RYA's views.)

So the golden rules remains the same - carry all the docs you might need to produce, comply with their regs as far as possible, dont cause problems, be nice and polite to the officials when they visit, and if your wife is decorative enough get her to handle the officials whilst wearing a bikini.
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Its amazing how we sometimes get these nit picking legalistic arguments on the forum.
 
Similar anomolies in Greece. I had to throw away the lifejackets (old Bouyancy aids) and harnesses. Gas inflation lifejackets not allowed. Still have the signal mirror though, the completely separate battery for the VHF and charts covering the whole of Greek waters, most still unopened after 8 years.

However have added fire extinguishers and a fire blanket in the galley, gas alarm and harness eyes in the cockpit and fuel shut off valve - none of which are required for Greek charter registry. Do however have an 8 man Ocean liferaft, even though I have been unable to find any case of a liferaft ever being needed on a Greek charter boat!
 
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So it seems to me from the theoretical Tranona / Guapa exchange plus Robin, that most of the time you dont get bothered by foreign authorities, but if they wish to do so they can inspect and fine you for misdemeanours against their regulations.

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Sorry, I think we're a bit of a mixed ablity group, I fear I'm well behind the rest of the class and need to catch up!

I appreciate I'm poorly informed compared to everyone else but can someone point to a list of the on the spot fines - offences and amounts - so I know what we're all talking about?
 
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Its amazing how we sometimes get these nit picking legalistic arguments on the forum.

[/ QUOTE ]Probably because other have a wider experience of officials that you have.
 
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Thanks for trying but 'about 150' isn't helping with Google searches. I might need more than that. Even a couple of words of the name of the offence? Or just quote to a link?

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Defaut de titre de navigation (carte de circulation) Dt 60-799 du 2.8.1960 - Art. 2

(problem with the registration document)

Contravention de 5 ieme classe (max 1500 euros, max 3000 euros for a repeat offence)

NB lack of proper exterior markings is a criminal offence - 3750 euros fine. So make sure your boat name and port of registry is visible!!!
 
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Sorry, I think we're a bit of a mixed ablity group, I fear I'm well behind the rest of the class and need to catch up!

I appreciate I'm poorly informed compared to everyone else but can someone point to a list of the on the spot fines - offences and amounts - so I know what we're all talking about?

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The important thing surely is not what they might call an offence or what the penalty for it is, but to avoid getting into a situation where they get to take out their little black book of what to fine you for!

As a properly registered British vessel you need to carry the ship's papers and we keep ours together in one folder. Original documents are essential not photocopies. We carry:-

Part 1 Registration
Passports
Then separately:-
Proof of VAT paid status
Insurance certificate (ours from Pantaenius has translations into several languages)
VHF Licence
VHF Operator licences
ICC (not needed but I have to keep it somewhere)
Liferaft certificate (as above)


The last items are kept separate but 'together in the same canvas briefcase as the Reg papers etc because I choose not to offer them anything above what they ask for up front, ie Reg papers and passports. We have never been asked for anything other than Registration papers and passports although once when we were stopped at sea they asked to see the Ship's Logbook which was open on the chart table anyway. They asked what an entry from SWMBO that said 'crash bang wallop and this is supposed to be fun?' meant which they thought amusing.. Having everything together in one briefcase avoids last minute panics to find things as we leave home because I wouldn't leave these documents on board, they go only for foreign trips.

Other than that all you need is a welcoming smile and patience.
 
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I havn´t noticed the sextant rule in the current regs, should look closer perhaps?
A

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It was in the original rules for French vessels categorised to sail outside of 200mls from a safe harbour.
 
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So the golden rules remains the same - carry all the docs you might need to produce, comply with their regs as far as possible, dont cause problems, be nice and polite to the officials when they visit, and if your wife is decorative enough get her to handle the officials whilst wearing a bikini.


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Yep, especially the bikini bit!

BTW we have also been boarded by UK Customs, underway and well out to sea, from their big ship, this was just last year about 10mls off Poole. Six of them arrived in all black drysuits and boots from a very noisy black RIB launched down a stern 'chute' from the mother ship which kept pace astern of us. Quite intimidating and probably deliberately so, but then again they were perfectly polite. They too asked for Reg papers and passports and asked questions to which the answers were on these papers which they were looking at, so a subtle check I guess that we were who we claimed to be.
 
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The important thing surely is not what they might call an offence or what the penalty for it is

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I want to find out about this stuff and I was finding it impossible to do any research without knowing some terms to search on. The fact that fixed penalties are involved really helps because they will be listed somewhere - by definition they are pre-defined.
 
It would be really useful to see documented examples of cases that fall into the category in your first paragraph. Otherwise they have to remain in the urban myth category.

That is not to say that such things do not happen, as the recent issues regarding flares shows. However, I have been keeping a close eye on these issues for more years than I care to remember through the mags and other reporting sources and have seen little to substantiate such incidents. The overwhelming story is yours and all the other people who report no problems if you have the basic documentation.

Not sure any of this is legalistic nit picking. The basic rules have been in existence for years and are very simple - people just try and make them complicated by imagining things (usually negative) that might happen - but don't!
 
I don't think a British registered boat crew would be exempt from local laws requiring you to use safety gear. We received a formal warning from police in Tasmania for not wearing lifejackets when transferring 5m from an anchored boat to the shore in the dinghy. Our boat is registered in NSW where it is compulsory to wear lifejackets only when crossing a river bar. I wouldn't like to test a local copper's patience by arguing that, as a British registered boat, you were not required to have any lifejackets. I doubt a local magistrate would fail to apply local laws so you would have to appeal to the state supreme court before the right to comity might be recognised.
 
Where is this "Right to comity".

Quoting RYA article :

The Coastal State will generally refrain from interfering with the internal affairs of foreign flagged vessels as a matter of 'comity' - courteous recognition accorded by one nation to the laws and institutions of another. So unless you attract the attention of the authorities, for example, because your boat is deemed not to be seaworthy, you will generally be allowed to go about your business as a visitor without hindrance.

Unquote.

So to me reading that - play the game and OK ... upset a local and you start to have trouble. And there doesn't seem to be much you can do about it as Comity is not a right - it's a facility extended to you.
 
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So to me reading that - play the game and OK ... upset a local and you start to have trouble. And there doesn't seem to be much you can do about it as Comity is not a right - it's a facility extended to you.

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Which - amazingly - had been my point all along.
A UK ensign does not grant you immunity from foreign safety legislation.

Only warships are exempt.
 
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