Bribery and corruption at sea

[John Arton]

According to the attached the Suez canal tops the world where port officials demand bribes from vessels transiting. I was surprised to see Lagos is quite a way down the list, last time I was there, admittly a good number of years ago, they not only emptied the bond and slop chest but also emptied the galley day use fridge of its contents.
Rgds
J.A.
https://splash247.com/suez-canal-sti...ipping-bribes/

[Jim Slattery]

Always found the Suez to be the worst back in the day.
Booze and Fags predominantly but there was also the problem of the Gilly Gilly Men stealing anything that wasn't lashed down.
We even had a 4 Jaw Chuck stolen from the Engine Room Lathe!

[Doc Vernon]

Yes although i always enjoyed the trips on the Intermediate Runs with the UCL Ships, such as the old Dunottar , and Warwick Castles and seeing that lovely Canal a few times, thetre certainly was a lot going on there that opened the Eyes of one so Young at that time. But all for the good of learning! LOL

[happy daze john in oz]

No such thing as bribery and corruption on UCL, no need for it.
Go to Las Palmas, all you need is a silver coffee pot or maybe a silver salver and buy all the smokes you need.
This was considered to be bartering a legal business.

Then to the canal, simple, just see George, he would trade anything.

If however you want corruption then see the second steward on any UCL ship, steal the pennies off a dead mans eyes.
All for the end of voyage bonus.

[Tony Taylor]

According to the attached the Suez canal tops the world where port officials demand bribes from vessels transiting. I was surprised to see Lagos is quite a way down the list, last time I was there, admittly a good number of years ago, they not only emptied the bond and slop chest but also emptied the galley day use fridge of its contents.
Rgds
J.A.
https://splash247.com/suez-canal-sti...ipping-bribes/

In about 78 Shell stopped paying off or joining staff in Nigeria, it was becoming so bad, I paid off in Abidjan just in time to get home for my wedding.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Corruption is now world wide, Govt's, Civil servants you name it there is corruption. The Aus Govt as been fighting to stop a corruption commission bill being introduced into parliament, to check on the way they handle finances, obviously many of the Govt are corrupt as one can get. The only way is to do what NSW did and set one up, quiet a few are now languishing in jail because of it.
Des

[John Arton]

Algeria and Morocco were some of the worst places for the officials demanding "presents" when I was still sailing.
With the growth of paperwork required to gain port entry these days you could have 10 or more so called port officials (customs, port health,port authority,pilots,berth masters, security etc, etc) all dressed in their finery, all jabbering at the same time, demanding their particular list or form, in duplicate, and then requesting their present, a carton of Marlboro. If you refused they would find something wrong with your paperwork, wrong font, colour, heading, and then just help themselves after holding up the start of cargo operations while they "discussed" your misdemeanor in the paperwork.
Cabin or office stunk like a broken sewer by the time you eventually managed to get rid of them.
Rgds
J.A.

[happy daze john in oz]

Well as I recall the Police on the gate ta Southampton were always ready to accept a gift as you went through.

Corruption is all over the place.

[Adrian Featherstonhaugh]

Well as I recall the Police on the gate ta Southampton were always ready to accept a gift as you went through.

Corruption is all over the place.

I was an Eng Cadet back in 1973 and my recollection of the Dock Police was that those at Victoria Dock, London, were pretty much incorruptible whereas those in Liverpool Docks were bent as a 2 bob watch. I remember having to put a one pound note in with the baggage passes to get past the Dock Police in Liverpool or else they'd have all the bags emptied out on the pavement! Tr5y that trick in the London Docks and the coppers would have you off down the station house as quick as you like.

[Leighton Denver]

Portugal, 2007, corruption.While sailing down coast of Portugal with wife, we were heading for Gib, when engine broke down. Maritime police came out offered to tow us in. Wife asked how much they said 100 euros. We agreed. After full engine rebuild ready to go. Police came aboard and Said we had to pay 100 euros for inspection to see if repairs had been carried out correctly? No pay no sail. When it came time to leave Maritime police turned up demanding 300 euros for the tow into port. No pay no sail.We had to pay both amounts. The “inspector of engines” had left the radiator cap just placed on top of radiator and luckily it was discovered before too much damage was done. Suez and all the other places you named and I visited when at sea are still about, they have just changed there name to European Union. Leighton Denver