ICC - do you have one? will you get one? do you bother?

[nortada]

So out of the preceding thread it appears that only one other plus myself has had to produce it in holland, france & Belgium.
But then i always seem to attract attention from customs & police , having been arrested once ( forgot all papers & my crew told a machine gun toting policeman to "F" off)--- will not do that again!!
& been threatened with fines on 2 occasions for not having the boats name on the stern. All in Ostend
On one trip to france i logged 14 -yes 14 visits from their customs officers in 11 weeks they wanted to see every bit of paper i had & did check dates on vhf cert as well as ICC date . dates on flares etc etc

Just as bad in uk
On one return trip from Ostend uk customs stripped my boat. ( Wondered why i was doing 4-6 trips a year to Ostend for 3 years) Took a day to put it all back( & to top it all they confiscated the King Edward cigars)

All i need now is a red diesel check & i will be well p..d off

Why just you?

 

[Tranona]

Why just you?

Thinking about it, in the last 50 years I have driven literally hundereds of thousands of miles all round the world and have only been asked for my driving licence once apart from when hiring a car. That once was by an overzealous Z car cop in Dorchester for exceeding the speed limit coming in from Bridport. 39mph clocked which mysteriously grew to 49 when I got the summons. £50 fine (1978) and 3 points.

Never been asked for my ICC except when chartering a boat - so like a driving licence, worth its weight in gold.

 

[vyv_cox]

The occasion on which I was asked for my ICC in Holland was in the middle of winter near to Dordrecht. The boat was without mast for the purpose of taking and returning it to Leiden for a new engine to be fitted. We stayed overnight in a small inlet close to the railway bridge and on the following morning departed, motoring through the inoperative lifting part of the bridge, which we had transited in both directions many times before. Unfortunately, in winter time this part of the bridge becomes normal right side of the waterway so far as traffic is concerned and we were on the left as we were turning left in a very short distance. A police boat witnessed this crime, following and boarding us, where an officer inspected all our papers, specifically asking to see our driving licence. Everything was in order but I was subsequently fined €60 for the offence.

 

[V1701]

I needed the ICC to arrange insurance (with a Greek company) on my boat in Greece. Couldn't even get third party only cover without a survey on a ferro hull with a UK company...