RNLI Boats Denied Entry to UK Ports

[Alex]

https://metro.co.uk/2026/09/08/rnli-boats-denied-entry-two-ports-met-protesting-crowds-portsmouth-29562896/

[JBR]

https://metro.co.uk/2026/09/08/rnli-boats-denied-entry-two-ports-met-protesting-crowds-portsmouth-29562896/

This sounds very interesting, but unfortunately I cannot read the article without agreeing to accepting their adverts.
If it is true, it is at last an example of common sense on the part of the RNLI.
Now we need the Border Farce to do exactly the same as the RNLI.

[muddy]

Nearly 800 illegal men in 24  hours
What is the RNLI up too ?
They must be doing this with the full knowledge and consent of the government .

[Alex]

https://metro.co.uk/2026/09/08/rnli-boats-denied-entry-two-ports-met-protesting-crowds-portsmouth-29562896/

The RNLI boats that picked up 140 migrants in the English Channel were denied entry to two larger ports and forced to go ashore during large protests, it has been revealed.

Crews on the boats were also threatened with legal action if they approached either Southampton Port or Portsmouth Harbour, Hampshire.

Crews were forced to bring the migrants to Eastney, Hampshire, where around 500 protestors met police, firefighters, Border Force and other officials opposing the operation to bring the migrants ashore.

Eastney is in Portsmouth but is several miles further east along the coastline from Portsmouth Harbour.

A broadcast on an open marine VHF radio detailed that Southampton Vessel Traffic Service and King's Harbour Master Portsmouth denied the RNLI permission to enter both of their ports and their approaches.

The broadcast also informed RNLI coxswains from Bembridge and Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight that failure to comply with this would lead to direct criminal prosecution against them.

A spokesperson for Associated British Ports (ABP) confirmed the crew was told not to come to Southampton.

They said: 'ABP did receive an enquiry about landing recovered migrants at the Port of Southampton.

'We had to decline the enquiry as the Port did not have suitable reception facilities available. If there had been a safety of life at sea issue where Southampton was the closest port or if we had received a formal Direction from the authorities, then we would have played a role.