Harbour Masters - Any Limits to their Authority??

[alant]

The Harbour Master in St Peter Port, Guernsey, has banned all charter boats from picking up clients there.
Why? " because I can" - excuse is that its being done to protect 'local charter boats' of which apparently there are none.
Latest was a Lymington based powerboat (with a Guernsey based owner).
Does anyone know if this is legal & does this cover pick-ups everywhere on Guernsey?

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[BrendanS]

If they introduce it as a bye-law, then it's perfectly legal and above board. Nearly all harbour laws are local bye-laws

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[Peppermint]

Re:Brace yourselves

You are going to see an increase in HM powers like you can't imagine.

Today if they say "safety" or environment they can do pretty much what they want.

From now on they can add "security" to the list of power words and then anything goes.

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[dieselhead]

ask michael Brown of the yacht charter association!

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[Birdseye]

Re: Harbour Masters - Any Limits to their Authorit

In the UK their authority is governed by their bye laws and a few statutes. The Law, being the idiot that it is, expects you to be familiar with the bye laws of every harbour you enter, and so to know the limits of the power of a harbour master. For example, our local bye laws give the Harbour master the right to board your vessel, to detain it, to move or remove your mooring etc.. But nothing about charter boats.

Guernsey is different. They have their own Government and laws. So there the HM's authority will be subject to Guernsey law plus any overriding bits passed in London.

If you doubt his authority, ask him nicely to give you chapter and verse of the statutes he bases bit on. If he refuses, go to his boss.

I dont think they have a jail on Guernsey any longer

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.

 

[Evadne]

Re: Harbour Masters - Any Limits to their Authorit

You couldn't do that in Britain or France but as they aren't part of the EU, I guess they are allowed to restrict trade as much as they like over there. The only recourse would be all the charter companies boycotting the place, which is unlikely, and may be just what he wants anyway.

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