Please could you explain how this would work in practice.
Here is the scenario: an inflatable boat not made for use in open sea, overloaded with people and a British vessel pushes it back.
Talk us through that.
How does it physically push back such a boat.
And what happens if the small boat just stays there and doesn't move....does the British vessel stay there forever, how long?
I've done this already, but happy to do so again.
Illegal Immigrant boat, is heading for UK territorial waters, it is approached by intercept vessels and asked if it is in distress and needs assistance. If Yes, a mayday relay call is issued and the "passengers rescued and taken back to France, noting that the rescue has occurred in French waters. No special powers are needed here and French authorities are obliged to assist. ANY vessel can do this.
If the illegals say, no. They are formally notified that they are not permitted to enter UK territorial waters and requested to turn around. They are offered additional fuel if necessary and again asked if they are in distress. If appropriate the intercept vessel keeps them in sight, for several miles and continues to track them on radar.
If they are ignored, or refuse to turn around, then using the techniques border force practiced, two jet skis. flank the bow and gently turn the boat around. Since the illegal boat is a flat bottomed boat, typically 10m or more in length with a 10-15hp outboard it will take almost no force to turn the bow and not cause any risk.
FAQs:
1) how do we track them - Radar
2) how do we intercept them before they reach UK waters - Illegals are travelling at around 5-6kts powered by 10-15hp outboards in flat bottom non-planing boats, intercept boats equipped with 6-900hp capable of speeds up to 70kts - intercept time approx. 20 minutes or less. Illegals time taken from departure to close to UK border, 2 hours.
3) What if they turn violent. They can be arrested. What if they jump in the water, they are rescued and taken to France.
4) How do we cope with 20 boats a day. We do not need to prevent them all, just reduce the chances of success and increase the cost to the smugglers. A fleet of 10 interceptors, 100 people and 20 Jetskis will do the job.
100 people @ £100k per year employment cost avg. £10M
10 Intercepts @ 600k each depreciated over 10 years + running costs and finance £2.5M per year
20 Jetskis @ 30k each depreciated over 10 years + running costs and finance £1.5M per year
Professional services (legal and insurance) fees £6.5M per year