Safety requirements entering new countries?

[deepthought]

Just wondering



1. when you enter new countries are you required to meet there maritime safety standards? Like flares/life raft etc? or just those of your own flag?



2. who do you have to or not have to let on board? Coast Guard / Police / Military / Customs / Local Marina Manager / etc. ?





Thanks

[NaClyDog]

Is this really a serious question?


Have you ever been outside of your own country?

[boatman61]

When entering another country all Government officials have access to your boat if they choose..
Customs, Health, Maritime Police and the Harbour Master if he chooses..
As for safety equipment, the only people who have ever given me problems on that front are the French.. but if you are within your countries requirements they can only bitch about it..

[chris mac]

Check out noonsite. It gives info on every country and is updated by cruisers https://www.noonsite.com/

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by boatman61

When entering another country all Government officials have access to your boat if they choose..
Customs, Health, Maritime Police and the Harbour Master if he chooses..
As for safety equipment, the only people who have ever given me problems on that front are the French.. but if you are within your countries requirements they can only bitch about it..

What Boatie has written is essentially correct, although we've had no trouble with the French.

However, sometimes it takes local enforcement a while to realize there are constraints on the controls they have over foreign flag vessels* , and sometimes the interactions can become a little loud and unpleasant. Life's usually easier if you can keep it pleasant.

*We encountered the situation where the LEOs thought we should display dinghy registration numbers on our dinghy, because the o/b was over 5 hp. However, the dinghy is the tender to a foreign flagged vessel, and therefore subject to the rules of the State in which it was registered. Then you show them the big boat, with its foreign flag, and the sticker that gives the name of the dinghy and "T/T (tender to) US Yacht Insatiable II".

Ann

[ChrisJHC]

Here is the RYA’s view on the topic:

https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-adv...tal-state.aspx

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

What Boatie has written is essentially correct, although we've had no trouble with the French.

However, sometimes it takes local enforcement a while to realize there are constraints on the controls they have over foreign flag vessels* , and sometimes the interactions can become a little loud and unpleasant. Life's usually easier if you can.
keep it pleasant.

*We encountered the situation where the LEOs thought we should display dinghy registration numbers on our dinghy, because the o/b was over 5 hp. However, the dinghy is the tender to a foreign flagged vessel, and therefore subject to the rules of the State in which it was registered. Then you show them the big boat, with its foreign flag, and the sticker that gives the name of the dinghy and "T/T (tender to) US Yacht Insatiable II".

Ann

It's only happened once when I took a Tiki 26 from Poole across to Cherbourg in 1991.. we had to moor on an island pontoon back then and clear before moving to the marina proper. They had a pop about my doing the trip with only VHF, compass and charts, no radar or other nav gear. Eventually they conceded that was enough, but reluctantly.
All other times they've tugged me is going N and after I've cleared Ushant when they escort me in for a search.. 3 times in all.

[slipaway]

Unless transiting in innocent passage, when you enter another country's territorial sea in a private vessel (i.e. a non-governmental/public vessel) you subject yourself to that country's laws. What safety rules apply and what authorities may do are all dependent on those laws which may vary from country to country. Also keep in mind you still must comply with your flag state's legal requirements. The RYA citation above is a good explanation.

[jmschmidt]

boatmand61 and others are correct. This is one advantage to national flagging or national registration if your country calls it that (US state registered vessels do not have any advantage). You vessel, buy international law, has to comply with the regs of your flagging country when on the high seas or in foreign waters. The US Coast Guard and US Navy, along with many other nations' coast guards and navy, can board any civilian vessel flying any flag on the high seas. For vessels flagged differently from the service contemplating a boarding all that is required is to send a message to the flagging nation (who is likely a member of the International Maritime Organization) and they will get approval to board in less than five minutes.

[goboatingnow]

Just to reactivate an old thread

Simply because you have a registered pleasure vessel DOES NOT mean you do not have to comply with whatever rules apply in that countries national waters. Registration is not diplomatic immunity. National laws which apply to all yachts in a countries territorial waters DO APPLY to all yachts irrespective of flag.