RNLI boat denied entry to ports and threatened with legal action after picking up 140 migrants in English Channel
RNLI crews were denied entry to two larger ports before bringing migrants to Eastney
An RNLI boat that picked up 140 migrants in the English Channel was denied entry to Southampton Port and Portsmouth Harbour, it has been revealed.
It was also threatened legal action against lifeboat volunteers if they approached either port, The News understands.
A broadcast on an open marine VHF radio detailed that Southampton Vessel Traffic Service and King’s Harbour Master Portsmouth denied the RNLI permission to enter into both of their ports and their approaches. It comes after the migrants were being transported by lifeboat crews to the mainland yesterday, with the boats eventually docking in Eastney instead.
The broadcast also informed the RNLI coxswains from Bembridge and Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight that failure to comply with this would lead to direct criminal prosecution against them.
A spokesperson for Associated British Ports confirmed the crew was told not to come to Southampton. They said: “ABP did receive an enquiry about landing recovered migrants at the Port of Southampton.
“We had to decline the enquiry as the Port did not have suitable reception facilities available. If there had been a safety of life at sea issue where Southampton was the closest port or if we had received a formal Direction from the authorities then we would have played a role.
“Neither was the case in this situation.”
The News has approached the King’s Harbour Master Portsmouth for a comment.
The RNLI aided more than 36,000 people across its lifeboat and lifeguard services in recent annual figures, with crews launching over 9,000 times per year to assist those in distress at sea.
RNLI lifeboat crews have always launched to the rescue of those at sea without judgement or preference.