In article ,
Wayne.B wrote:

On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 21:01:27 -0800, Evan Gatehouse
wrote:

Richard Woods (the skipper of the cat we're discussing) is British and
his boat is UK Flagged - and this is international waters. What
felony law would apply?

Good question, and I have no idea. For US citizens it is clear cut:
You are required to obey an order from a law enforcement officer, and
the USCG qualifies as such.


In International Waters, a UK Flagged Vessel, skippered by a UK Resident
would only have to comply with Lawfull Orders of a UK Warship, by
International Convention. However any Warship of any Flag, may ask
the UK Government for Premission to Board, thru its Ambasador to the UK,
and with a good Probubal Cause Showing, these types of requests are
routinely granted to Governments, who are contigiuous to the position
of the vessel. All of the previous, notwithstanding, the REAL Law of
the Sea is, "He who has the Biggest Guns present, decides what the Law
is at that moment in time".

I remenber back a decade or two the US and Canada were having a dispute
over Pacific Red Salmon Fishing. The Canadians decided to charge US
Flagged Fishing Vessels, transiting the Inside Passage between Washington
and Alaska a "Transit Tax", and stated that they would enforce the
collection of said "Tax" with Armed Canadian Coast Guard Vessels.
This would have been contrary to Ratified Treaties between the two
Countries. This so incensed the two Senators from Washington State
that "Scoop Jackson" stated on the Floor of the Senate, that if
the Canadian Government did actuall act in this manner, the US
would respond by convoying it's transiting Fishing Vessels and
escort them with a Destroyers from Bremerton Navy Yard, and if a
Candaian Coast Guard Vessel poiked it's bow over the horizion,
the Destroyer would sink that ship, faster than the blink of an eye.
That threat, ended any talk of "Armed Canadian Coast Guard Vessels", and
the US reimbused the collected "Tax" from fisherman, untill the
Canadians stopped collecting it and repaid the US Government for
ALL funds collected.

"He who has the Biggest Guns present, decides what the Law
is at that moment in time"

Bruce in alaska
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