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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



Quote Originally Posted by Telegraph
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.

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