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ARA Libertad docks in Southampton: Open Day on Friday and Saturday

Thursday, July 27th 2017 - 10:13 UTC
Full article 37 comments

Argentina´s navy frigate and tall ship ARA Libertad dropped anchor in Southampton on Wednesday as part of 46th midshipman promotion world tour which left Buenos Aires last March. Ambassador Carlos Sersale di Cerisano received the flagship of the Argentine Navy, while the whole operation was transmitted live from the embassy in London. Read full article

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  • Marti Llazo

    Since there are still enormous outstanding claims against the argie government, one has to wonder whether this little boat might be subject to arrest and embargo.

    Jul 27th, 2017 - 02:10 pm - Link - Report abuse +4
  • The Voice

    Usual precautions - count the spoons......

    Jul 27th, 2017 - 06:08 pm - Link - Report abuse +2
  • Islander1

    Fair do to the ARA flying a large Union Flag as a goodwill sign as I think Naval vessels actually are exempt from the normal rule of flying the flag of the country you are visiting as courtesy.

    Jul 28th, 2017 - 12:10 am - Link - Report abuse +2
  • MarkWhelan

    Marti Llazo This has been previously tested. Ships of state can not be seized as security for debit.
    All the retailers, and port authorities, need to remember is cash in advance for all purchases and port fees.

    Jul 28th, 2017 - 01:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Voice

    Union flag...?
    On a ship it's called the Union Jack...

    Jul 28th, 2017 - 04:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Marti Llazo

    No, voicey.

    In British maritime law and custom, an “ensign” is the identifying flag flown to designate a British ship, either military or civilian. Such flags display the United Kingdom Union Flag in the canton (the upper corner next to the staff), with either a red, white or blue field, dependent on whether the vessel is civilian, naval, or in a special category. These are known as the red, white, and blue ensigns respectively.The Red Ensign is the correct flag to be worn as a courtesy flag by foreign private vessels in United Kingdom waters.



    Still as under-informed as ever.

    Jul 28th, 2017 - 06:00 pm - Link - Report abuse +2
  • Voice

    What would Johnny foreigner know eh...?

    The Union Jack or The Union Flag?

    When the ‘Union Jack’ was first introduced in 1606, it was known simply as ‘the British flag’ or ‘the flag of Britain’, and was ordered to be flown at the main masthead of all ships, warships and merchant ships, of both England and Scotland.

    The first use of the name ‘Union’ appears in 1625. There are various theories as how it became known as the ‘Union Jack’, but most of the evidence points to the name being derived from the use of the word ‘jack’ as a diminutive. This word was in use before 1600 to describe a small flag flown from the small mast mounted on the bowsprit, and by 1627 it appears that a small version of the Union flag was commonly flown in this position. For some years it was called just ‘the Jack’, or ‘Jack flag’, or ‘the King’s Jack’, but by 1674, while formally referred to as ‘His Majesty’s Jack’, it was commonly called the Union Jack, and this was officially acknowledged.
    https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/british-flags/the-union-jack-or-the-union-flag/

    Jul 28th, 2017 - 09:58 pm - Link - Report abuse -2
  • Islander1

    Voiuce - Its a Union Jack - when flown on a Royal Naval Vessel only.

    Jul 28th, 2017 - 09:59 pm - Link - Report abuse +3
  • Marti Llazo

    Voicey “ What would Johnny foreigner know eh...?”

    Clearly, when it comes to which ensign is to be flown as the correct courtesy device, a great deal more than you do.

    A “Jack” is a small flag flown on a staff at the bows of a vessel.

    The use of a Union Flag (“Union Jack” for those in steerage) as a courtesy ensign by foreign vessels in UK ports is incorrect. The Red Ensign is to be used ( “worn”) as a courtesy flag by Commonwealth or other foreign merchant ships visiting UK ports.

    The Red Ensign is not to be used for mopping up adult midges engaged in feeding.

    Jul 28th, 2017 - 10:37 pm - Link - Report abuse +2
  • DemonTree

    What is this, a competition on who can google up the most obscure information about flags?

    Aren't either of you going to explain the oh-so-exiting rules about where on the ship the various flags should be flown and which ones must be flown above others?

    Jul 28th, 2017 - 11:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Marti Llazo

    Exiting rules?

    Jul 29th, 2017 - 12:14 am - Link - Report abuse +1
  • CHelmy

    Its a beautiful looking ship.

    Jul 29th, 2017 - 03:19 am - Link - Report abuse +1
  • The Voice

    She should be flying the red duster on the RH side as a courtesy flag. Hardly counts as a naval vessel...

    Jul 29th, 2017 - 07:03 am - Link - Report abuse +1
  • Clyde15

    TV

    The starboard side !

    Jul 29th, 2017 - 08:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Voice

    I didn't really expect Johnny foreigner Marti to understand that I was really highlighting the difference between calling the British flag the Union Jack or Union Flag...
    Not what is currently displayed on a ship...
    ..but that's foreigners for you..all Google and no experience of why 99% of Brits mistakenly call it the Union Jack...

    Jul 29th, 2017 - 12:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • The Voice

    Clyde, correct, but we are addressing landlubbers! At least they are flying the Union Jack the right way up. Some foreign pedants call it the Union Flag! It's like calling Road Tax Vehicle Excise Duty... Ensign dipping, now that is fun.

    Jul 29th, 2017 - 12:37 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
  • Voice

    Foreign pedants...?
    I thought Islander1 was British...

    http://en.mercopress.com/2017/07/27/ara-libertad-docks-in-southampton-open-day-on-friday-and-saturday/comments#comment471150

    Jul 29th, 2017 - 01:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Enrique Massot

    @CHelmy

    You are right. The frigate is a beautiful vessel. Who cares about flags.

    Jul 29th, 2017 - 04:02 pm - Link - Report abuse -2
  • Islander1

    Voice- I am a Falkland Islander. But she is indeed a beautifull ship (as are all 3 masters) and that I acknowledge. Also the respect and common decency she has shown by showing a British flag when visiting a British port - when as a Naval Vessel she did not have to.

    Jul 29th, 2017 - 09:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Voice

    Islander1
    Where you live is irrelevant...you are either British or you aren't...

    Jul 29th, 2017 - 10:23 pm - Link - Report abuse -2
  • Think

    OUCH...!

    Jul 29th, 2017 - 10:26 pm - Link - Report abuse -2
  • DemonTree

    @Voice
    “Where you live is irrelevant...you are either British or you aren't...”

    That's not what you said yesterday:

    “...and yet the UK can and has in the past altered the constitutional status of the BOTs... British citizenship for instance...
    They could also reverse that citizen status if they so wished...”

    People from eg Dover, are not at risk of losing their British citizenship.

    Jul 29th, 2017 - 10:58 pm - Link - Report abuse +2
  • Voice

    DemonTree...

    You don't see it do you...
    He could have said he was British...like any Englishman, Scot or Northern Irishman would say when an enquiry was made of their Nationality...
    You probably also haven't noticed the deliberate mention of OT's instead of BOT's by islanders either...
    They are either British and be proud of it or they can Effingwell renounce their citizenship..
    They exist at the expense of the British taxpayer and shouldn't forget it...

    Jul 29th, 2017 - 11:11 pm - Link - Report abuse -3
  • DemonTree

    No, I don't see what your problem is. I reckon if you asked people in Britain you'd get plenty saying that they were English, Scottish, or Welsh, despite the fact they would technically be wrong. The BOTs really are different because they are not legally part of Britain, and as you pointed out, if people from them have full British citizenship now it's because the British government so-graciously extended it to them.

    I wonder if it's possible for people from the Falklands to renounce British citizenship in favour of British overseas territories citizenship or whatever it's called? I doubt anyone wants to try and find out.

    Jul 30th, 2017 - 11:52 am - Link - Report abuse +1
  • Marti Llazo

    The argie squatter colonies in British Antarctica exist at the expense of the argie taxpayers, tinkle. Try to remember that.

    Jul 30th, 2017 - 03:12 pm - Link - Report abuse +3
  • The Voice

    I did think briefly about popping down to Soton for a bit of tyre burning on the quay.. But can't be arsed.

    Jul 30th, 2017 - 10:22 pm - Link - Report abuse +2
  • Marti Llazo

    “....for a bit of tyre burning on the quay....”

    A shame you couldn't have made it. The argie crew is no doubt homesick for the stink of burning tyres and plastic rubbish-bins. Perhaps you could arrange to have a couple of greasy hooligans with pistols ride up on a motorbike and just steal their wallets, to replicate the foremost national sport in the Patria.

    Jul 31st, 2017 - 12:38 am - Link - Report abuse +2
  • Zaphod Beeblebrox

    Welcome to this week's episode of “Fun with Flags” with Sheldon Llazo and Amy Farrah Voicey! ;-)

    Aug 01st, 2017 - 05:50 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
  • The Voice

    ML , it would be more entertaining to watch the fun when the Royal Marines catch up with the folk making dispariging comments about them.

    Aug 01st, 2017 - 10:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Voice

    They are all OAP's now...
    ...deadly with a Zimmer frame...

    Aug 01st, 2017 - 10:38 pm - Link - Report abuse -2
  • DemonTree

    A 20 year old in '82 would be 55 now. How old are you?

    @Zaphod
    :)

    Aug 01st, 2017 - 10:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Voice

    Young enough to not worry about old ex-servicemen...

    Aug 01st, 2017 - 11:03 pm - Link - Report abuse -2
  • The Voice

    Its not the old ones I would worry about.. :-)))

    Aug 02nd, 2017 - 07:01 am - Link - Report abuse +1
  • Clyde15

    It is well to remember that the marines are a family...retired or not, you are still a marine.
    Insult one and you insult them all.

    Aug 02nd, 2017 - 09:40 am - Link - Report abuse +3
  • The Voice

    Dodgy if you live across the road from the shore within RIB range of HMNB Clyde!

    Aug 02nd, 2017 - 08:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Voice

    Yeah I totally agree...dodgy for them...

    Aug 02nd, 2017 - 10:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    Well you have just described your physical appearance if you think you could take on a marine. Have you been trained to kill ? You must be 8 feet tall and built like the proverbial brick shithouse. So I should easily recognise you in the Holy Loch area or if I ask any local
    they would be able to identify you from that description.

    I remember about 25 years ago a detachment of US Marines were on a joint exercise with the Royals. After the exercise there was a joint booze up which ended in a “fracas”

    The result was that a lot of R.M's were imprisoned and a lot of US Marines were hospitalized

    Aug 03rd, 2017 - 09:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0

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