is it legal ?

[Guest]

They give at least some indication as to which country a boat is from. Apart from anything else, when cruising abroad that can be a very useful practical feature for the yachtie. For example, you can spot other boats that may have come a long way in order to exchange advice and experience. Sometimes it's useful to be able to pick out a fellow countryman. etc. etc.

For customs and immigration authorities they are obviously a useful indication of a yacht that may be cruising between different countries.

And of course it is also a tradition for yachts to fly certain ensigns. Some people value that, some don't, in the same way that some people find old gaff riggers attractive because if the association with tradition, some don't.

 

[ponapay]

Re: Shameful

That would be fine if your boat was registered in the European Register, my guess is that it is not and it should therefore fly the ensign of the country of its registry.

Failure to so do renders you liable to a heavy fine.

We can all be proud of being European but we should be even more proud of our own countries.

ponapay

 

[ponapay]

Re: Go ahead and fly it

I understand that the rule is that you MUST fly your national ensign on entryt and departure from any port - whether foreign or your home country.

There is, in UK, a possibility that a fine of upt o£500 may be raised for any contravention of the ensign rule.

Looking at numbers of boast flying incorrect or no ensigns I reckon Mr Blair could do well out of the yottie fraternity and have no need to charge light dues.

ponapay

 

[Guest]

No, I don\'t think so

It's only when entering or leaving FOREIGN ports, unless your boat is over 50 tons.

The relevant provision is S.5(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. It says:-

"5.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, a British ship, other than a fishing vessel, shall hoist the red ensign or other proper national colours—

(a) on a signal being made to the ship by one of Her Majesty's ships (including any ship under the command of a commissioned naval officer); and

(b) on entering or leaving any foreign port; and

(c) in the case of ships of 50 or more tons gross tonnage, on entering or leaving any British port."

 

[Guest]

Why would you be liable to a fine? NM

Nm

 

[Guest]

Re: No, I don\'t think so

i wonder what "other proper national colours" are. wales is described as a nation in many government publications. does this mean that i can fly the dragon. presumably so. but not the union jack since the uk is not a nation but a kingdom comprising three nations and part of that lot across the irish sea.

what vitally important issues we discuss on this forum

 

[Guest]

Re: Go ahead and fly it

BONG ... the Challenge by HM ships was rescinded many moons ago .... it used to be common for vessels to dip ensign to HM ships on the high seas also ... based on historical mastery of the oceans ... then it genertaed into dipping ensign to most countries naval vessels ... but has now literally fallen into disuse.

I can remember years ago dipping an ensign on a vessel to a HM ship and wtaching the AB scurrying along the deck to dip his !!!! having expected no such action on our part !!

 

[quaelgeist2]

Shameful Attitude

sic!

 

[Footpad]

Re: Defaced Blue Ensign

Well British imperialism is still with us; how come an EU flag with the union flag imposed is a defaced blue ensign, surely it is as described - a defaced EU flag and I bet Brussels doesn't give a damn. Or have we Brits a world copywrite on blue backgrounds for flags?

 

[Guest]

Re: Defaced Blue Ensign

No, no problem with blue background for flags. It's the use of the Union Flag as part of an unauthorised design that is the problem. What's more the unauthorised design looks like a blue ensign with some EU starts added, so it's an unauthorised blue ensign.

Try putting up the flag of pretty much any country in the world with an unauthorised modification, and they'll come down on you like a ton of bricks. Nothing unusual about Britain in that respect.

For example, with regard to the defaced blue ensign with EU stars that was confiscated from a British yacht in Portugal last year, it was actually the Portugueses authorities who first complained about the unauthorised use of the Union Flag!