USCG boarding at night with no announcement?

[Sababa]

It would help if serious posters read the link to the white pape in post #40. It may not all be pertinent but shows the complexity of international water's boardings even in todays world.

Indeed. For example, the white paper quotes the English Privy Council's statement in the case of the Asya (1948): "a vessel not sailing under the maritime flag of a state enjoys no protection whatever, for the freedom of navigation on the open sea is freedom for such vessels only as sail under the flag of the state." It continues:

 

[Andy G]

Interesting thread.

I read the white paper in post #40 & would agree who can do what, when and where and to whom is pretty complicated.

From what I understand, the paper holds that the maritime rights conferred by the US congress overide freedom of navigation under the United Nations Covention on the Law of the Sea.

This is where it may get a bit tricky in the years to come. There is nothing stopping any nation enacting similar powers through their own parliment as those conferred by the US congress.

To date this hasn't caused any real issues as the US since WW2 was the pre-eminent maritime power in the world. This has changed with China now having the largest navy in the world as well as the world's largest merchant fleet. I think China sees itself as the US's equal on the oceans.

Having just witnessed three Chinese warships earlier this year conduct unannounced live fire drills in the Tasman sea, between Sydney and New Zealnd underlines the changing landscape on the high seas.

 

[psneeld]

The USCG has managed to NOT start (many) international incidents because of their conservative use of that power. The work generally accepted the US's power as the world's policeman, and while certainly not perfect, seem like many nations seemed content with that role.

China and their China Sea activities are already putting a spotlight on their concept of the same powers.

I think what will change will eventually occur for all nations as these treaties have their roots in centuries of maritime law when there was little enforcement on the high seas as the world was a bigger place and the sea more vast.

Technology has shrunk the world in that vessels can be observed and tracked my better. Their activities can be surveilled if needed from load to unload. That may lead to a whole new set of treaties or altering the current ones.

The real change has to come from organizations like the UN where even though they are a nearly useless enforcement organization in my view, they are a necessary "front" to at least rubber stamp concepts that need to be followed by all to keep some level of peace.

If not, then

 

[Delfin]

CG apparently has some new rules in place now that there is a new sheriff in town. We were boarded Wednesday by a joint US and Canadian team in a Canadian inflatable in US waters. No VHF announcement, and I only knew they were there via radar, seeing them coming up from behind. Not a safety check as per usual, but a boat search a la Customs. They said they saw us crossing the border from Canada, hence the boarding.

 

[psneeld]

Probably don't want anyone taking advantage of tariff wars.

 

[SteveK]

Probably don't want anyone taking advantage of tariff wars.

Egg smuggling

 

[Portage_Bay]

CG apparently has some new rules in place now that there is a new sheriff in town. We were boarded Wednesday by a joint US and Canadian team in a Canadian inflatable in US waters. No VHF announcement, and I only knew they were there via radar, seeing them coming up from behind. Not a safety check as per usual, but a boat search a la Customs. They said they saw us crossing the border from Canada, hence the boarding.

I don't think it has anything to do with the new sheriff. I was boarded on the Straits of Juan de Fuca, on the US side, by a multi agency dual nation force They were on an RCMP boat. This was more than 5 yrs ago. USCG wanted to see the sewage system. All the others just poked around, looked into spaces and asked to see the papers for boat and everyone.

Honestly it was unnerving. When they were all done and ready to depart one of them said "If you see anything unusual let us know." Well, my filters failed me. I said "Yes, I've seen something unusual. All of you guys working together to board me!" At first I got a scowl and I thought oops, I've done it now. Then they started to chuckle and departed.