VEDShappy

Every day's a school day!!!

Red Eric

The matter of whether the headline "Royal Navy warship will patrol from Gibraltar for the first time" is accurate might hinge more on the definition of "patrol from Gibraltar" than on the definition of "warship".

Seems it's the first time a vessel will be based there pemanently (as opposed, I presume, to temporarily stationed).

Fredbargate

There have been vessels based here on multiyear deployments for many years. Going back well before the example below.

The Gibraltar Squadron
The unit was established on 28 August 1985 following the withdrawal of the RAF Marine Craft Unit No. 1102.[3] The two motor launches attached to the previous unit, HMAFV Sunderland and Stirling, remained however and were subsequently renamed HM ships Hart and Cormorant respectively.[3] Both vessels remained with the squadron until May 1991 when they were replaced by the new P2000 patrol boats HM Ships Ranger and Trumpeter. These in turn remained with the squadron until 2003.[3]
.

Fredbargate

Gibraltar to Bilbao flights are to start from July 2nd.

The twice a week route, operated by Volotea airline, will run on Tuesdays and Fridays.

It will be the only route that connects the Rock to a Spanish city.

https://www.volotea.com/en/

VEDShappy

1. The Definition of Warships
Article 29 of the Convention on the Law of the Sea contains the
following definition:
For the purposes of this Convention, "warship" means
a ship belonging to the armed forces of a State bearing the external marks distinguishing such ships of its nationality, under the command of an officer duly commissioned by the government of the State and whose name appears in the appropriate service list or its equivalent,
and manned by a crew which is under regular armed forces discipline.
7 This definition is drawn from article 8, paragraph 2, of the 1958 Convention on the High Seas." Like its predecessor, article 29 does not require that a ship be armed to be regarded as a warship. The
most significant change is that a ship no longer need belong to the "naval" forces of a State, under the command of an officer whose name appears in the "Navy list" and manned by a crew who are
under regular "naval" discipline. The more general reference to "armed forces" is designed to accomodate the integration of the
different branches of the armed forces in various countries, the operation of seagoing craft by some armies and air forces, and the existence of a coast guard as a separate unit of the armed forces of
some States.
This definition is of importance only when the Convention distinguishes between rules applicable to warships and rules applicable to other ships. Warships are a special subclass of government
ships operated for noncommercial purposes, which are themselves a subclass of ships."
Whether or not the definition in article 29 is a functional one, one may infer therefrom that a warship is regarded as a political and military instrumentality of the State.
To the extent the Convention contains special legal rules affecting warships as distinguished from other ships, we would expect these rules to deal with:
- the political or military activities of one State directed at another;
- the law enforcement activities of one State directed at the nationals of another; and
- the immunity of the political and military instrumentalities of a State from the jurisdiction of any other
State

agree_to_disagree

Looks to me like Gibraltar has compromised its sovereignty and association with the UK. Border with Spain has disappeared, now in Schengen or about to join, EU official checks now in Gibraltar on UK goods/passport holders arriving from UK etc etc etc....

Knows which side it bread is buttered on and decided to cuddle up to the EU.

Only a matter of time before it reunites with Spain...

EU.flag

Absolute nonsense.

Just because UK decided to jump off clif, doesnt mean Gib is going to do same.
Gib is British and always will be. Gibraltarians have clearly said they want to keep links with EU and that doesnt mean compromising sovereignty.
What's next, Gib being accused of treason by leave mob?

agree_to_disagree

Gibraltar has compromised on its sovereignty. Nonsense... I don't think so...

Some aspects its sovereignty have been 'adapted' to facilitate Schengen. Correct or not?

With regard to it remaining a British Overseas Territory, I think that you will find that the effect of having almost 50 million Spaniards in close proximity coupled with an open border will change the demographics in Gibraltar, over time.Effectively, Gibraltar, like NI have been sold out by London, as part of the Brexit deal…

London, has form, in this respect. It sold out The Commonwealth, when it joined the EEC.

Red Eric

Might as well join the Eurozone as well as Schengen by way of preparation.

Fred James

Te Ship vs Boat. I remember an easy definition. If you can sleep on it, it’s a ship. If you can’t, it’s a boat. The exception is a Submarine which is a boat.

Fredbargate

Hi Fred
Photo shows my wife stood in front of a ship.

Fredbargate

There have been thousands of incursions into BGTW by Spanish vessels/warships complying with the above definition.

Do we take this as a declaration of war?

scrubbedexpat077

Outside our British bubble, everybody else sees Gibraltar as it is: a colony.

Fredbargate

A British Overseas Territory with More self governance than Scotland, Wales or N.I.
It's own government,laws / courts and it's own money etc.

scrubbedexpat077

Outside our British bubble, everybody else sees Scotland, Wales and NI as they are: colonies.