Seven men sail into Essex marina unannounced

Interesting, there is no doubt that the East Coast rivers are a very likely destination for people and other smugglers, the chance of getting caught is pretty low, and this is the second reported incident in recent weeks, there could be many others unsuspected.

Also interesting was the presence of a Puffin on a Port hand mark I never realised they could be found in this region?
 
Their is security staff with a gate at the car park entrance? No one on duty then? I've only ever seen security in the evenings when visiting the restaurant though.
 
According to the lunch time news report, the boat arrived into the marina at 9.30am this morning. The newsreader indicated that they would be showing a longer report on the 6pm Anglia News this evening.
 
weird choice of marina if they're up to no good. Complicated winding channel, part tide access only (no room for error timing the crossing), tight manoeuvering in the marina - must have been people with local knowledge...
 
Marmalade said:
weird choice of marina if they're up to no good. Complicated winding channel, part tide access only (no room for error timing the crossing), tight manoeuvering in the marina - must have been people with local knowledge...
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Well, all that is true. But look at the other side: You don't pass any obvious lookout points (Like Felixstowe or Harwich), depending on which direction you came from even Felixstowe VTS might not take note of you if you don't cross the dredged channel up to the Orwell, the marina itself is well out in the sticks, and although there is a security gate, I've never seen it manned (I'm a new resident at the marina in question, and I recognize the ramp in the photos as my usual means of access to the boat!). Even if there was security, it wouldn't be hard to walk off site without going near it; it's all pretty open country round the marina.The Harbourmaster (I think) doesn't work at night-time - I may be wrong on that, but I'm pretty sure I recall asking when they went off duty and got an answer corresponding to office hours.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Well, all that is true. But look at the other side: You don't pass any obvious lookout points (Like Felixstowe or Harwich), .
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Also if a yacht came into the marina, as many do, how would a lookout recognize criminality, unless they were flying skull and cross bones, and even children with good citizen do that sometimes
 
"There is no doubt that they've been to the marina before, they've looked at the layout, they've worked out where the best place is to moor that boat, to come ashore and to pick up the people and to be away very very quickly. "

Sounds like someone dropping off crew and avoiding fees.
 
JumbleDuck said:
"There is no doubt that they've been to the marina before, they've looked at the layout, they've worked out where the best place is to moor that boat, to come ashore and to pick up the people and to be away very very quickly. "

Sounds like someone dropping off crew and avoiding fees.
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Why not just radio in and ask to drop off ? , I doubt if there would be a charge .

On more than one occasion we've stopped off at Burnham Marina for a comfort break on our way back up river , never been asked to pay ...
 
JumbleDuck said:
"There is no doubt that they've been to the marina before, they've looked at the layout, they've worked out where the best place is to moor that boat, to come ashore and to pick up the people and to be away very very quickly.
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There were 7 men each walking alone up to the car park. Since when did 7 of you all walk off a boat, each by himself to a car park?
 
Leighb said:
Interesting, there is no doubt that the East Coast rivers are a very likely destination for people and other smugglers, the chance of getting caught is pretty low, and this is the second reported incident in recent weeks, there could be many others unsuspected.

Also interesting was the presence of a Puffin on a Port hand mark I never realised they could be found in this region?
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I had never heard of Puffins in the is area and neither has my next door neighbour who is a great naturalist, has anybody else seen them?

My neighbour says that sometimes birds get out of their area, are we going to have Puffins o the lower east coast
 
AntarcticPilot said:
to the Orwell, the marina itself is well out in the sticks, and although there is a security gate, I've never seen it manned (I'm a new resident at the marina in question, .
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The security guard is present from about 1900 without fail, and the gate is closed from about midnight, very pleasant guy who would certainly challenge anyone acting suspiciously. But long gone by 0930 when they landed.
 
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