geoffie, the US CG can and does board US flagged vessels on the high seas. if
they find such a vessel operated by nationals who are not able to speak English
they will insist on seeing passports and documentation papers. this is not
unreasonable. anyone operates a US flagged vessel is required to meet the
requirements of operating a US flagged vessel.

Geoffrey W. Schultz"
Date: 9/30/2004 11:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id:

It's hardly hogwash. What was stated was their nationality, not their
citizenship! And I'd guess that was determined by their language as I
doubt that anyone checked their passports.

I can believe that this was scarcastic, but everyone doesn't know your
sense of humor. I can just imagine a non-US citizen reading this
article and repeating that US citizens suggesting sending the Coast
Guard to board US flagged vessels with foreigner speaking people aboard.
I've been amazed at what foreign cruisers have told me that they've read
on US Internet sites. Perhaps there's just as much rhetoric on non-
US/non-English web sites, but since the majority of American's can't
read them (myself included), we don't know.

What I wonder is what protection a US documented vessel would provide a
non-US citizen.

-- Geoff

"Jeff Morris" wrote in
:

Total hogwash! Have you left your brain ashore?

The article never mentioned "non-English speaking," it mentioned
"Slovenian nationals," which I take to imply non-US-citizens. While
documentation does not require knowledge of English, it absolutely
requires US citizenship. The poster described a situation where, if
true, people are fraudulently claiming to be US citizens to gain some
protection of traveling under a US flag.

I never suggested boarding boats based on the linguistic abilities of
the crew; on the contrary, I was suggesting checking out boats that
were flying a US flag, nominally claiming to be US citizens.

Frankly my comments were a bit sarcastic, because I doubt the practice
mentioned is widespread. However, if it is common, it should be
stopped because it does not bode well for those of who legitimately
travel under the US flag.







"Geoffrey W. Schultz" wrote in message
7...
In the article which prompted your response it was stated that US
flagged vessels are being operated by non-English speaking
individuals. From your statement it appears that you want to US
coastguard to board these vessels based upon their language and
potentially sieze them. Most people would call this "racial
profiling."

There's nothing in the US consitution or US Coastguard documentation
regulations which requires anyone to speak English. I know plenty of
Croation people who are US citizens who do not speak English.
Sending a Coastguard cutter to harass non-English speaking
individuals, who may be well within the law, seems to be a poor idea.
As someone who cruises 7+ month per year out of the country I can
assure you that the US has a poor enough world image as it is.

-- Geoff

"Jeff Morris" wrote in
:

I'm not sure what your problem is - why shouldn't the USCG be able
to board a US flagged ship? Why would this offend others around
the world?


"Geoffrey W. Schultz" wrote in message
7...
"Jeff Morris" wrote in
:

However, being a US flagged vessel means that it can be boarded
and searched anywhere in the world by US authorities. Maybe we
should send a cutter to the Adriatic to help close the budget
deficit.

Another fine example of American thinking on how to make friends
around the world! Then again we're doing a great job with our
current policies.

-- Geoff