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Old 04-06-2025, 18:29   #1
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Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement vessels in the US.

Just after we entered our marina we saw a large black RIB full of people in black uniforms with no obvious indication as to who or what they were. They were cruising slowly down then back up the channel leading to the marinas in our area. That channel is not very wide.

I think you're supposed to slow right down and hail to ask for permission if you can't keep the minimum distance, which would be impossible in the channel.

This is new to us. Has anyone encountered it on the Chesapeake bay and how did it go? We obviously want to follow the rules.
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Old 04-06-2025, 20:26   #2
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

If you monitor ch. 16 they usually will announce the distance to be keeping away if it's important. Routine patrols idk.
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Old 04-06-2025, 20:43   #3
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

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Originally Posted by leecea View Post
Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement vessels in the US.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-3...-165/subpart-G
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Old 04-06-2025, 21:35   #4
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

Sometimes you have no choice in the matter : I had a US sub surface under 200m from me off Seychelles! That big one with the pod on deck for divers.
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Old 05-06-2025, 00:14   #5
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

So it seems that this only applies to US Navy warships and vessels over 100 feet LOA. Your “large black RIB”, DEA, DHS, ICE, or any local water cops aren’t covered by any specific nav rules.

That said, with the current climate in Washington, all these public servants are feeling cocky now, so better give them a wide berth. As a lawyer friend asked me: Could you prove on the street that you’re a US Citizen, because if you can’t, you’re in danger of deportation.
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Old 05-06-2025, 01:38   #6
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

Navy/military ships only. Over-funded local police with unnecessary military gear have no such restrictions on distance.
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Old 05-06-2025, 02:45   #7
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

The Navy escort boats always announce the distance you must give to ships and subs coming and going from the Chesapeake Bay on channel 16. (usually 500 yards or to cross 1500 yards)

If you don't answer or don't follow their directions, they will come speeding up to you really fast and hail you on channel 16.

The Escort boats are always nearby.

We had a sub come in yesterday with 2 escort boats.

They were also testing remote control jet skis here a couple days back and were having boats keep clear. They announced this on channel 16 also.

The fast, smaller Navy Seal boats don't announce and seem not to care about other boats being near as the pass by.

Many of the escort boats are like those in the photo or similar boats without the stern mounted gun.

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/u-...ortBy=relevant
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Old 05-06-2025, 09:24   #8
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

Actually, we did, several times. The obvious thing to do is stay the hell out of their way. No fuss,no muss.
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Old 05-06-2025, 09:58   #9
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

There are plenty of special forces located on the Chesapeake and not widely advertised. Probably what you observed. Just hold your normal course.
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Old 05-06-2025, 12:22   #10
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

Thanks everyone.

They did look like the black RIBs we encountered in San Diego Bay (which I think were SEALs) but the navigable channel is very wide there, so no problem.

Anyway, if it happens again, we'll come down to minimum speed to maintain steerage and keep as far away as the narrow channel allows.
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Old 08-06-2025, 14:27   #11
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

Usually it's not a problem if you stay 500 yards away no matter what your speed.

I was right near 500 yards away and just outside the channel when I took this photo of an outbound Sub.

You can also see in the water where the escort boat just went by between me and the Sub.
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Old 09-06-2025, 04:20   #12
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

The issues arises when the boats demand that you stand off farther, and don't want to hear that you draw 5.5', and the entire channel is only 200 yards wide, and you are currently in 6' of water . . . . . .
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Old 09-06-2025, 04:28   #13
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

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The issues arises when the boats demand that you stand off farther, and don't want to hear that you draw 5.5', and the entire channel is only 200 yards wide, and you are currently in 6' of water . . . . . .
Well in that case, you have to make them aware of how much you draw.

The Coast Guard once sounded their siren at me to stop for boarding, but I refused due to rough water (I was single handing) and shallow water nearby.

After about 5 minutes of this, they finally came on the loud speaker and said they were letting me go due to the shallow water ahead.

I was pointing to where they could board, but they would have had to wait a bit for me to get to that spot.

It was 5 pm on a Friday so maybe it was the end of their shift.

They were coming back into Cape Charles after having inspected some of the anchored tankers nearby.

Usually the Navy Escort Boats will pull along side so they or you can explain why you are not doing as requested.
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Old 09-06-2025, 06:38   #14
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

Warships will announce on 16 advising to keep clear. Other government boats I would treat just like any other vessel in as far as the colregs go. That 35’ RIB with the machine gun is just a regular boat, but with a machine gun.

Submarines are intentionally hard to spot on the surface. We had one sneak up on us when leaving the Chesapeake one day. The escort vessel did come check us out before determining we were simply recreational sailors trying to get out of its way. The way we even saw the sub was that it turned on its AIS and it suddenly appeared on the chart plotter.

It’s quite common to see military vessels in the southern Chesapeake. And military planes in the central Chesapeake.
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Old 09-06-2025, 06:42   #15
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Re: Question about keeping a minimum distance from military/law enforcement

Sometimes you just have to show them who's boss.

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...6&d=1749476319

From another angle.

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...6&d=1749476319

There were multiple announcements on VHF on this morning off Groton, CT. The patrol boat was not being very specific when they hailed us, so we weren't responding. They came for a visit. They must have AIS, but they only hailed as a white sailboat.
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