Is the Coastguard wrong?

[Seven Spades]

The U.K. costguard keeps broadcasting a public service announcement saying that you cannot enter a UK port or harbour if you are coming from a red list country or you can be fined £10,000. However I believe that is only true if you have been in a red list country within 10 days of entry. As far as I can see nearest red list country is the Cape Verdi’s, could anyone apart from an open 60 pilot get to the U.K. in under 10 days from there by sea?

 

[Sandy]

The U.K. costguard keeps broadcasting a public service announcement saying that you cannot enter a UK port or harbour if you are coming from a red list country or you can be fined £10,000. However I believe that is only true if you have been in a red list country within 10 days of entry. As far as I can see nearest red list country is the Cape Verdi’s, could anyone apart from an open 60 pilot get to the U.K. in under 10 days from there by sea?

Best take it up with the CG, the Home Office and your MP.

 

[jordanbasset]

I suspect it is catchall automated message to allow for all circumstances and any future changes in red list country designations. Also to allow for people flying from a red list country, to France for example, and then sailing across to the UK.

 

[awol]

The U.K. costguard keeps broadcasting a public service announcement saying that you cannot enter a UK port or harbour if you are coming from a red list country or you can be fined £10,000. However I believe that is only true if you have been in a red list country within 10 days of entry. As far as I can see nearest red list country is the Cape Verdi’s, could anyone apart from an open 60 pilot get to the U.K. in under 10 days from there by sea?

The version broadcast from Belfast and Stornoway only refers to England but requires all entrants to complete a passenger locator form. English sailors returning home should be aware!

 

[dunedin]

I am no expert, but Coastguard seem to be accurately reflecting current Border Force guidance which I had seen written as …..

Red list countries and territories (sailing to the UK is banned)
If you have sailed from a country or territory on the red list, you cannot enter an English port/harbour/marina. You will be committing an offence and could be fined £10,000.
British or Irish Nationals, or those with residence rights in the UK can enter England, but only through a designated airport, and must quarantine in a Government managed facility for 10 days.

And I don’t think they seem to be treating time on voyage as counting as isolation time (again I may be wrong).
We may think this is madness, but unless Border Force change their guidance, Coastguard and harbour masters will need to apply their rules.

 

[LittleSister]

I am no expert, but Coastguard seem to be accurately reflecting current Border Force guidance which I had seen written as …..


We may think this is madness, but unless Border Force change their guidance, Coastguard and harbour masters will need to apply their rules.

Surely Coastguard and harbourmasters will need to apply the law? Border Force does not have law-making powers, as far as I am aware (much as they, and Ministers might wish).

Nor, I assume, does anyone have authority to issue a fine for contravention of a Government Agency policy that is not backed by law.

Exactly what the law is I don't know, but law is usually complicated and defies simple, accurate summary. The message being broadcast is probably largely innocently oversimplified to fit with the brevity required (and possibly also deliberately 'spun' to fit with the Agency's and/or Minister's preferences).

 

[thinwater]

... And I don’t think they seem to be treating time on voyage as counting as isolation time (again I may be wrong).
We may think this is madness, but unless Border Force change their guidance, Coastguard and harbour masters will need to apply their rules.

Generally time in voyage does NOT count towards quarentine, because if the bug was being passed around the ship, some crew members could have been infected on the last day. On a large ship this would certainly be the case.

 

[Seven Spades]

The thing is all the rules say about red list countries are based upon being in a red list country in the last 10 days. You can go to a red list country then to an amber list country and as long as you have not been in a red list country within the previous 10 days then it is legal. The way the coast guard is putting out this message, it requires you to enter French waters first so that you can say you are coming from France and have not been in a red list country within the last 10 days.

 

[dunedin]

The thing is all the rules say about red list countries are based upon being in a red list country in the last 10 days. You can go to a red list country then to an amber list country and as long as you have not been in a red list country within the previous 10 days then it is legal. The way the coast guard is putting out this message, it requires you to enter French waters first so that you can say you are coming from France and have not been in a red list country within the last 10 days.

So therefore the Coastguard warning boats about the Border Force rules is just being helpful - warning of the red country rules, and allowing voyagers to divert and come via another country first.

 

[Graham376]

So therefore the Coastguard warning boats about the Border Force rules is just being helpful - warning of the red country rules, and allowing voyagers to divert and come via another country first.

But will that other country let them in?