Royal Navy in standoff with Spanish ship in Gibraltar

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...Gibraltar.html

Spanish ship in 'heated' standoff with Royal Navy in Gibraltar

A Spanish survey ship has defied repeated orders from British forces to leave Gibraltar waters

Spain risked provoking a serious diplomatic incident on Tuesday after sending a survey ship into Gibraltar's territorial waters and defying orders to leave by the Royal Navy.

The Foreign Office said it had summoned the Spanish ambassador in London after the Ramon Margalef, a164ft oceanographic survey ship, defied repeated orders from British Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Sabre to leave the area.

The ship entered British Gibraltar Territorial Waters around 5pm on Monday and was still there on Tuesday afternoon.

"We are in the unpleasant situation of a stand-off," a source from Gibraltar's authorities told the Daily Telegraph. "This is an incursion of the worst kind and the most serious incident since August."

According to radio exchanges overheard by a local ship enthusiast onshore, the captain of the Spanish vessel insisted he was carrying out survey work with the permission of the Spanish government.

"We are carrying out oceanographic works which are in the interest of the European Community. We will continue with our work," the defiant Spanish captain said in response to orders to leave by the Royal Navy.

The vessel repeatedly ignored orders from the Royal Navy captain.

"You are violating the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) governing the right to innocent passage," the British captain said over the radio repeatedly. " You are to cease your current actions and leave British Gibraltar Territorial Waters immediately."

"I understand that it has got quite heated. The Royal Navy patrol boat is far smaller than the Spanish vessel but it is ramming the probes as the Spanish try and carry out their survey," said one senior source.

David Lidington, the Minister for Europe, said: “Despite repeated diplomatic protests to Spain in relation to incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters in recent months, a Spanish State research vessel, the RV Ramon Margalef, undertook significant surveying activity in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters on 18 and 19 November for over 20 hours.

“When challenged by radio, the vessel responded that it was conducting survey work with the permission of the Spanish authorities and in the interests of the European Community. This comes only two weeks after dangerous manoeuvres by a Spanish Guardia Civil vessel in the vicinity of Royal Navy vessels in British waters put lives at risk and resulted in a minor collision.

Thanks to xxMATTGxx for pointing this out to me.

Isn't it funny how they're using the 'its for the European Community' trick? and those of us who warned about the dangers of the EU and issues such as this were written off as 'living in the past' by distrusting our 'friends and allies' :rolleyes: - some friends and allies the Spanish are just like the French who supplied Argentina with missiles and arms before the Falklands war.

But yeah, why are we not taking action? The Foreign and Commonwealth Office should be summoning the Spanish ambassador immediately and tell him to pass the message on to Madrid that if that boat is not out of British waters within an hour then the boat will either be forcibly boarded and seized or worse.

Spain is doing what every troubled and bankrupt nation always does - when a government is in trouble, it'll attempt to unite the populace against a foreign power in an effort to divert attention from itself. Think of the Argentine junta back in the 1980s and it's the same thing. Same old, same old.

Thoughts? what should be done?

[xxMATTGxx]

Here's a recording someone managed to get between the two ships:

[Explorator]

We should just give Gibraltar back already, it's only la few km bit. It will also stop future arguments between the UK and Spain.

[-:Undertaker:-]

We should just give Gibraltar back already, it's only la few km bit. It will also stop future arguments between the UK and Spain.

Why don't France give us Britanny back then?

[GoldenMerc]

Spain are fighting above their weight, considering they are dirt poor they do know how to waste money and mess about

[Inseriousity.]

lol that's brilliant, just the thought of some nerd twiddling around trying to get the right frequency. such a movie cliche!

[GommeInc]

I suppose it's nice to see Spain has the resources and funds to send ships on pointless "let's annoy the Brits" missions. There's a reason they're in financial troubles, and to do what Argentina is always doing and that's to divert attention is pretty stupid. I'm amazed Spain and Argentina aren't the best of friends, they ought to get on seeing as they're so alike.

[Ardemax]

Spain are fighting above their weight, considering they are dirt poor they do know how to waste money and mess about

To be fair, we have an incredibly weak navy (like 19 warships perhaps?)

[-:Undertaker:-]

To be fair, we have an incredibly weak navy (like 19 warships perhaps?)

Britain is still one of only three Navies in the world that has the power to project globally (a blue water navy). The other two are America and France. How long this will last though is another question.

[xxMATTGxx]

To be fair, we have an incredibly weak navy (like 19 warships perhaps?)

Britain is still one of only three Navies in the world that has the power to project globally (a blue water navy). The other two are America and France. How long this will last though is another question.

While we may have less number of ships we did have back in the day. It's down to the weapons and the systems on those ships if it ever comes to it. Plus the addition of the air support.