End of the red ensign???

[Captain Kong]

Red dust-up: Fury over EU threat to Merchant Navy's Red Ensign
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:04 PM on 29th January 2011
The Merchant Navy's historic Red Ensign could soon become a thing of the past following an EU diktat.
Britain was yesterday given just two months to agree to a directive from Brussels requiring equal pay on all vessels flying the 17th century 'Red Duster'.
All this was stirred up by Bob Crow the Rail and Marine Union Boss in Brussels.
The EU has threatened to Fine the UK millions of euros every day the Red Ensign flies.
Have they forgotten the 40,000 seafarers who died under tht flag saving europe from a Dictatorship , now they are the Dictators.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1CVqADAN4

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Capt
Funny just received an Email from Gordon with this info,and was going to post,but first wanted to ask if it was OK, with the Writer,didnt know it was published in the newspapers there!
Thanks anyway!
Its a crime i say! What are they trying to do!
To take away the Red Ensign is just something unimaginable!
What next!?
Cheers

NB Please post the whole article with our blessings. Everyone should be aware! From the desk of Gordon.

Subject: Merchant Navy's Red Ensign could vanish for ever.

Dear All,

Our politicians, especially those in the ports of Great Britain must do something positive about this. Please forward this e-mail to all you know,

"The Merchant Navy's historic Red Ensign is under threat from an unholy alliance of European Union bureaucrats and militant union boss Bob Crow, ministers warned last night.

The move could mean the "Red Duster" vanishing from the seas for ever.

Britain was yesterday given just two months to comply with a Brussels directive demanding equal pay on all vessels flying the Red Ensign,which dates back to the 1620s.

It would mean scrapping the practice - used around the world - of paying crews in line with wage rates in their home countries. Ship owners feel wage bills spiralling, encouraging the registration of vessels under foreign flags.

Triggered by a complaint from Bob Crow's Rail, Maritime and Transport Union, the EU diktat is seen a potential blow to the £10billion British merchant shipping industry and a threat to 150,000 UK jobs.

Tory Shipping Minister Mike Penning said: "I am determined to do everything I can to stand up for British shipping and the Red Ensign."

He was served with a "Reasoned Opinion" from Brussels, ignoring the message could lead to a fine of millions of euros for every day of failure to comply.

It could mean crews from countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines would have to be paid at EU rates.

The Chamber of Shipping said members would "take their business elsewhere".

Mr Crow branded the existing system "modern day slavery". The European Commission said that in the absence of satisfactory response, it may refer the UK to the Court of Justice."

Macer Hall.

My own view is that at this rate not only will our Red Ensign go but the UK as well will become part of the United States of Europe. We send £43,000,000 a day to the EU and have received nothing positive from it. I feel it is essential that the only way out of this nonsense is to get out of the EU as fast as possible.

Captain John Bakewell

[Keith at Tregenna]

Thought they tried that before:

Quite recently but it had been squashed.

ADDED: SOME INFO ON THE LAST ATTEMPT:

http://ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/pr...tch/pdf/18.pdf

Will ask around National etc for full details and update.

It's the old red duster for me,
I've no use for the brass-hat navy;
You can keep your salutes
And your spit polished boots,
It's the old red duster for me.

http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=2648

Intrestingly found the following article when looking up the subject:

Thought it may of interest:

RE: SS. Avila Star.

http://www.britain-at-war-magazine.c...cond-world-war


K.

[Pete Leonard (Bruno)]

If Bob Crow was the instigator he wants stringing up. It's him and his kind who would like to see the end of all things British.

Pete

[Captain Kong]

Bob Crow should be made to answer some questions,
What happened to all the Property owned by the NUS, world wide.
What happened to all the money in the NUS bank accounts,
What happened to all the assets of the NUS
What happened to the pension Fund in the NUS.
ALL PAID FOR BY THE MEMBERS.
They are also trying to take over SPRINGBOK FARM and Retirement Home owned by the NUS and given to the Merchant Navy for its part in the Convoys in WW2 by the South African Government.
Many of the homes are filled with Railwaymen instead of Seafarers.

[Keith at Tregenna]

FIRST REPLY:

This has been on the boil for awhile - will try to see what is happening !

Will advise as soon as I have further response / reply.

SHOULD BE THE MAJOR CONCERN NOW.

K.

[Roger Dyer]

Although an ex-pat who has happily resided in Australia since 1966, I have retained my British nationality and still identify strongly with my fellow countrymen. Over recent years I have become increasingly incensed by the never-ending nonsense that seems to emanate from Brussels. Whilst I do understand that my location may disqualify me from any right to comment, I still say that I'm with Captain John Bakewell on this one ( see Post #2). Don't these fools realise they are interfering with one of Britain's long held traditions and that, by doing so, they insult the British people in general.
If, as I hope and expect, the British Government resists this diktat and the threatened fine is imposed then, surely, the time has come for Britain to severe it's ties with the EU - we could hardly do worse. It seems to me that decisions from Brussels far too often leave Britain at a disadvantage - Albion has drawn the short straw once again, when will it end? ....Roger

[happy daze john in oz]

This is a bit of an odd one to say he least. Prnicess Line, Cunard, P&O all owned by Canival fly the Red Duster but none are egistered in London as far as I know. All Princess are registered in Hamilton Bermuda, still a British protectorate.

[Doc Vernon]

UNDER THE OLD RED DUSTER

The Battle of the Atlantic


We’ve heard of the famous Mighty Hood that was sunk by a Bismarck shell
We know how many men were lost and the Skippers name as well
We’ve seen the Battleship Barham rolling on her side
before the huge explosion in which so many died

The Repulse and Prince of Wales on rout to the Singapore post
Both lost to the Jap torpedo planes off the Malaya coast
There’s a film about the Kelly sunk in the battle of Crete
And of the famous River Plate where we inflicted defeat

Yet who knows the names of the merchant ships sunk almost every day
Who knew that as these ships went down seamen were put off pay
Shipping Companies oft did this to cut down on the cost
They lost one of their freighters, but how many lives were lost

What of the men on the Arctic run ferrying Russian supplies
The ocean full of U-boats and Bombers filling the skies
Sailing a gas filled Tanker some only in their teens
Wondering if they’ll freeze to death or be blown to smithereens

Wallowing along in a rusting tramp to save the Russian Nation
Struggling to make eight knots whilst trying to keep station
Should a seaman stay topside or should he seek his bunk
Knowing if you fall astern your certain to be sunk

Many a merchant ship now lies under the Barents Sea
Lost in a desperate struggle to set the Russians free
The ocean bed is littered with merchant seaman’s bones
Now to lay forever at peace with Davie Jones

As a Nation we are rightly proud of our Navy in World War Two
Likewise of the R.A.F and what we owe to the few
To the men who fought at Arhnem and Monty’s Desert Rats
To those who fought the Japanese to all we raise our hats
From the Home Guard to the S.O.E in it from the start
All of our Armed Services were keen to play their part
Each had lost so many when they counted the final muster
But the greatest loss was those who sailed under the Old Red Duster



Cheers

[Colin Hawken]

John in OZ,the three Cunard"Queens"are registered in Southampton(England)as was the QE2.