"Evan Gatehouse" wrote in message
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Actually the two letters only mention seizure while in US waters. The US
would be violating a lot of international laws if it started unilaterlly
seizing boats in international waters.

You would logically think so but the US has had a treaty with the Bahamas
allowing the USCG enforcement powers in Bahamian waters since 1996. The
original intent was drug interdiction but the agreement is no longer
restricted to just that. Just after the directive was issued the US signed
agreements with the Bahamas and Haiti expanding USCG enforcement powers in
the waters of both nations. Given the high reguard that the US currently
has for international relations and the rather liberal (dare I use that
word) interpretations that DOD and Justice Department lawyers are giving to
international law, seizing foreign flagged vessels was not much of a
stretch.

Actually the USCG has been boarding foreign flagged boats in the Caribbean
for some time. Back in 2000 I was crewing on a French boat being delivered
from Tortola to Grand Cayman when we were boarded about 3AM. We were about
30 miles south of Isla Beata, DR. We figured it was not right but were not
willing to argue with the cannon on the foredeck.

You could probably get the boat returned after apealing but it would still
put a big crimp in the cruise.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com