tonybarebones
Well-Known Member
Where Are You Going?
Should we be worried about the decision by the UK Government to plough on with their plan to force sailors to fill in a form online every time they enter or leave the country?
The RYA thinks so. Certainly the e-Borders programme seems very ill thought-out.
This scheme comes into force in 2014 and will oblige everyone to submit online all the details of who is board, when and where they are going a minimum of 24 hours beforehand.
The detail hasn't been spelled and key questions are unanswered. How is it going to work in practice and what happens if you have to change your plans or head towards somewhere else but can't get internet access?
Since it covers all voyages beyond territorial waters, will it affect everyone making a passage across Lyme Bay or the Bristol Channel? Will you have to apply online before doing the Fastnet Race?
The RYA has repeatedly pointed out flaws to the scheme, arguing that e-Borders is not flexible enough for yachts. It is, they say, 'an inappropriate, disproportionate, ineffective and inefficient mechanism for securing the sea border'.
More from Elaine Bunting in her blog:
www.yachtingworld.com
Should we be worried about the decision by the UK Government to plough on with their plan to force sailors to fill in a form online every time they enter or leave the country?
The RYA thinks so. Certainly the e-Borders programme seems very ill thought-out.
This scheme comes into force in 2014 and will oblige everyone to submit online all the details of who is board, when and where they are going a minimum of 24 hours beforehand.
The detail hasn't been spelled and key questions are unanswered. How is it going to work in practice and what happens if you have to change your plans or head towards somewhere else but can't get internet access?
Since it covers all voyages beyond territorial waters, will it affect everyone making a passage across Lyme Bay or the Bristol Channel? Will you have to apply online before doing the Fastnet Race?
The RYA has repeatedly pointed out flaws to the scheme, arguing that e-Borders is not flexible enough for yachts. It is, they say, 'an inappropriate, disproportionate, ineffective and inefficient mechanism for securing the sea border'.
More from Elaine Bunting in her blog:
www.yachtingworld.com