Boarded by Coast Guard

[craigthill]

Ok, so here is the story… chapter one.
My wife and I took delivery of our new Nordic Tug in Alameda, CA on Nov 10th and spent the night on board.
The next morning after a oil check and other preliminaries we fired up for the trip to the boat yard for a haul-out. You know just the usual bottom job and a few repairs.
We are just about at the yard and I spot a Coast Guard Rib coming my way… you know the ones with the machine guns fore and aft. His blue flashing lights are on, but, it looks like he will pass behind me so I keep trucking.
Well, after a bit, on comes the siren and I guess he means me… so...
I slow and he comes along side… a very young woman leans out and says they want to board and inspect my vessel.
So, fine… she and a young man come aboard… she says, "Captain, we want to inspect your bilges." What can you say?
While she goes about her business, the guy asks for my Coast*Guard Documentation…. Hummm, didn't Blythe take that OFF the boat and put it in the car??? As I am pondering my way out of this by stating that I have only owned the boat for 12 hours and am just going to the boat yard about 250 yards away, she (remember her) pops up and says "Captain, did you know that you have some red liquid in your bilge?" Well, no…
So, I look in the bilge with her flashlight and what do you know, there is about two feet of diesel swirling around… I just closed the hatch… thought I might check the engine room… yep, there it was again, still swirling around… and then the*coxswain on board the rib says, "Captain,*you are pumping something into our estuary..."
So now I am thinking, jail for stealing the boat, possible 10-30 thousand EPA fine for fouling the estuary and… well, things are not*looking real good… and*pumping and pumping… you know those automatic bilge pumps…. shutting them*down not too easy, but I did and disconnected the pumps.
So now we are sitting in this nice sheen of diesel extending to the horizon.
I throw caution to the wind and just ask,*"how about a tow over to the yard. It is just over there." Silence, then the coxswain radios his commander and they talk and we float and they talk some more. After quite some time they*agree that they will try and tow me…*25,000 pounds vs a small rib… they did not like this one bit in the close fairways of the boat yard, but, they did it.
As, I am waiting (for what), the young man completes his report and comes over to me and says, " Ok, Captain, I*have finished my report. I heard there was some fuel on the water, I did not see any. Have a nice day."
That was my first day on the water....
*

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by SaltyDawg86

Believe what you want. Doesn't bother me. I know you're Mr. "The CG can do no worng!" So that says plenty.

wrong yet again...theres idiots and criminals in the USCG, almost as many as in the Metchant ranks..

thats the difference between you and me..... I dont condem the whole merchant marine for some idiots and crminals....

I am the first to say there might a reason for that wreck, oil spill, grounding, etc....

[SaltyDawg86]

Originally Posted by psneeld

wrong yet again...theres idiots and criminals in the USCG, almost as many as in the Metchant ranks..

thats the difference between you and me and the history of our posts show it.

Hahahaha ok. Whatever you say. By the way, my old man wasn't a Merchant Sailor, so your rant about our attitudes was unfounded.

[Simi 60]

I would have a real issue with black soled boot wearing , militarised rescue services pushing their way into my private life and home.

Glad we don't have that form of insanity here..........yet.

Add: if they are coming over for a friendly chat and to check rego and safety gear that's fine and I would have no issue, but leave your kicker boots and weaponry back on the big boat and do not board without permission.

[psneeld]

While its easy to disagree with that tiny part of the USCG and a FEW rare bad interactions..... the whole makeup of the USCG is a bit more complex.

When you have over a dozen major mission categories assigned to an agency, yeah, it has a few rough edges.

It takes a lot of professionalism to have as good of a reputation as tbey do.

[FlyWright]

I think you's guys should get out boatin' more often! Seems kinda hot in here lately.

Reading this thread is starting to look like a scene from my childhood watching a couple old cronies in the neighborhood yelling insults to each other across the backyard fence.

Let's do our best to keep it out of OTDE.

Cheers!

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by psneeld

While its easy to disagree with that tiny part of the USCG and a FEW rare bad interactions..... the whole makeup of the USCG is a bit more complex.

When you have over a dozen major mission categories assigned to an agency, yeah, it has a few rough edges

Agreed.
Perhaps leave the rescuing for the rescuers and the military bit for the navy
OR
Simply leave the guns and military garb back on the big boat when dealing with Joe Public

[O C Diver]

Originally Posted by craigthill

Ok, so here is the story… chapter one.

As, I am waiting (for what), the young man completes his report and comes over to me and says, " Ok, Captain, I*have finished my report. I heard there was some fuel on the water, I did not see any. Have a nice day."
That was my first day on the water....
*

Great story! Hats off to the USCG for a human reasonable response.

Ted

[kenk]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Agreed.
Simply leave the guns and military garb back on the big boat when dealing with Joe Public

But who is Joe Public and are they safe? Heck today we have kid bringing guns to school and killing people. Who can we trust and who can not be trusted.

[dhays]

Originally Posted by kenk

But who is Joe Public and are they safe? Heck today we have kid bringing guns to school and killing people. Who can we trust and who can not be trusted.

I will tend to trust the 18 yo kid that volunteered for the USCG and has been through standardized training with defined pass requirements and is under the supervision of non-coms with more experience.

Having said that, a younger brother of a HS classmate of mine entered the USCG and did pretty well. He once told my Dad that he loved the job but there were times when he was a bit nervous and felt a large burden of responsibility during some boarding operations. He was only 21 or 22 and was the senior person in charge of boat crew boarding vessels. Apparently at that particular time, location, and type of operation, the procedure was for the guardsmen doing the boarding needed to have weapons in hand.

He was responsible for the safety of all concerned and the actions of these kids. He was cognizant of his own youth and inexperience.

My point is that he was a great kid who took his job seriously, fully aware fo the gravity of his responsibility. I doubt that he was unique.

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by kenk

But who is Joe Public and are they safe? Heck today we have kid bringing guns to school and killing people. Who can we trust and who can not be trusted.

That's a monster of your* own creation, and you* reap what you sew, further discussion of which will ultimately have the thread closed down.


Needless to say that our volunteer coast guard and volunteer marine rescue is unarmed and never had an issue.



*not you personally

[78puget-trawler]

Originally Posted by O C Diver

As a person minding your own business and bothering no one, how do you feel about:

TSA security screenings at the airport.
Random IRS audits
Cell phone data mining
etc.

In the 21st century public safety has infringed on some of our freedoms. Don't like it, stay home or run for public office and change the laws.

Ted

Don't like any of it. The loss of personal freedoms is the biggest danger we face, and its happening little by little.

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by 78puget-trawler

Don't like any of it. The loss of personal freedoms is the biggest danger we face, and its happening little by little.

Boiling frogs

[jimisbell]

Originally Posted by SaltyDawg86

Thomas Jefferson....

I knew Orwell had a source that was reliable. Cant beat T Jefferson for real insight.

[jimisbell]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

"I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery" is a translation of a Latin phrase that Thomas Jefferson used: "Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem." It has also been translated as, "I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude."


https://www.monticello.org/site/jeff...very-quotation

Genralisimo Emiliano Zapata gave us a version of it when he said, "I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees"

[Benthic2]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Agreed.
Perhaps leave the rescuing for the rescuers and the military bit for the navy
OR
Simply leave the guns and military garb back on the big boat when dealing with Joe Public

First of all....the USCG IS the military, and as for leaving the guns and garb when they board a boat, Its a lot easier AND safer for "Joe Public" to trust a trained uniformed USCG officer to not shoot a boater, than it is to trust a potential bad guy not to shoot at the Coasties. I know I'm not a bad guy, but until the officers get on board and talk to me for a few minutes, they don't know what I am. I'm quite confident they'll figure out I'm just a recreational boater enjoying the water very soon. And I'm in Massachusetts......The risks are probably much greater in the Gulf Coast/Florida area for boarding parties

[Baker]

Originally Posted by psneeld

once you have a boarding CG4100 boarding form, they are supposed to not board you for another year without probanle cause.

Because there was a discrepancy, I believe now you may not have that priviledge.

Once you get a clean one, then so.

But in reality, if you are in the right place at the right time.....sure you might get boarded and no USCGAUX sticker or previous 4100 will matter.

I had the paperwork and the sticker from a USCG AUX inspection. They boarded me anyway. Now Wendy knows exactly where both pieces of paper are and anytime they start eyeballing us, she runs down to grab them and is prepared to present them immediately.

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Originally Posted by BandB

I have found in talking to people along the way and CG officers that placing value on a USCG inspection varies widely by officer and by location. I've found it carries virtually zero value in South Florida. Now, boarding in South Florida is an entirely different game. While some is done for routine inspection, the real interests are smuggling of people, drugs and firearms.

As to earlier conversation about refusing boarding, don't even thing about objecting or questioning. The moment you throw up a red flag, you're going to get a thorough inspection. I've heard of a drunk passenger aboard trying to play "highway" attorney on a boat and start talking non-existent laws. The one incident I'm aware of the passenger was arrested and every inch of the boat was inspected plus the boat ticketed for every possible violation, regardless of how minor. The officers deserve respect and they'll demand it. If any don't show worthy of respect deal with that another time through appropriate channels. We have been stopped once in coastal waters or offshore. We were stopped 4 times on the Great Lakes and I do believe it was all bikini induced, lengthy talk three times and one boarding.

Agree Florida is a completely different world than the PNW.

Understand and agree with you with regards to USCG. But the situation is different for LEOs. My meaning here is Sheriffs and State Police. They must prove probable cause to board, as with any home.

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Originally Posted by OldDan1943

Anyone know the form number to get the custom's sticker?
Can it be done on line?

I tried once in the port of Ft Lauderdale, they sent me to "preferred traveler". I thought I was in Cuba. The crowd was huge. I'm thinking it was not the right place so I left.

https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov/main/#%20

[Baker]

Originally Posted by Alaskan Sea-Duction

Agree Florida is a completely different world than the PNW.

Understand and agree with you with regards to USCG. But the situation is different for LEOs. My meaning here is Sheriffs and State Police. They must prove probable cause to board, as with any home.

In Texas, the Game Warden(TPWD) does not need probably cause. And they patrol our waterways heavily....not just for game issues but for safety compliance.