Legal Question

[Raymus]

Does the United States Coast Guard have access to a global/international boat registry including small craft?

[Tupaia]

Almost without exception marine registries are in the public domain and anyone can lookup a vessel.

[Tin Tin]

"21 February 2020 details were first published of an historic and unprecedented information-sharing agreement among the world’s three biggest open shipping registries – Panama, Marshall Islands and Liberia. The Registry Information Sharing Compact (RISC) creates a process for flag states to notify each other if they de-register, or deny registration to, a merchant ship on suspicion that it is in breach of sanctions. Now joined by four smaller registries, with more predicted to follow, the new Memorandum of Understanding is a communications channel allowing flag registries to tip each other off if their Know-Your-Customer due diligence work suggests a violation of UN Security Council Resolutions. This is the first agreement of its kind, and a significant step toward the goal of effective implementation of sanctions.1,2."
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com...s-enforcement/

[Raymus]

Does the United States have any legal authority over foreign sailboats in international waters as long as they have committed no crime.

[Tupaia]

Originally Posted by Raymus

Does the United States have any legal authority over foreign sailboats in international waters as long as they have committed no crime.

YES.....

[Kettlewell]

There are all sorts of international agreements that allow the US Coast Guard to patrol various areas, stop boats, etc. For example, I have seen USCG vessels patrolling within the Bahamas many times.

[SailingHarmonie]

Originally Posted by Tupaia

YES.....

Well, actually NO. or at least only in very limited circumstances.

https://maintenanceandcure.com/marit...would%20apply.

[Tupaia]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

Well, actually NO. or at least only in very limited circumstances.

https://maintenanceandcure.com/marit...would%20apply.

Sorry my bad I missed the "international" waters bit. So you are correct there are only very limited circumstances where a vessel can be challenged in "international" waters.


I am not sure about the circumstances under which an official vessel (navy, coast guard, fisheries) of a country could challenge a vessel of the same flag in international waters.



There are agreements, I believe Panama has one with the US that allows the US Coast Guard / Customs to patrol their "national" waters. The Bahamas may well have a similar arrangement.

[Kettlewell]

I am not sure about the circumstances under which an official vessel (navy, coast guard, fisheries) of a country could challenge a vessel of the same flag in international waters.

The USCG can stop US Vessels anywhere. We were once boarded halfway between Bermuda and the USA. I thought it was interesting that the Coast Guard was out there at all.