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Mavic goes swimming or lands on cargo ship

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The SD card was unreadable. I had to format it. I do have the cell phone copy of the full flight though. You can see on my return trip I went towards the one bit of land where I could have made an emergency landing because I was thinking I might need to. I decided against it cause I thought I would probably make it and didn't want to have to drive and go get the drone. Maybe I'll upload the full video. Might want to talk to my lawyer about that first though :p

I would talk to your lawyer the guards are right because your drone technically landed in another country when it set down on the deck of that ship! I’m glad you didn’t run into any other issues but that whole situation was touchy as I said in another reply that ship and it’s contents are under the laws of what ever country it’s registered in! Maritime law is strange, my ex wife used to work for a Casino Cruise ship in Jacksonville Fl, it could not allow any gambling until it was out a certain distance! all the machines and tables had Jacksonville/Duval country license stickers but there were signs all over the ship that clearly warned people that if the break a law while on that ship they would not return to the USA the ship was under Panamanian jurisdiction and you would be taken to Panama to be prosecuted! But again I’m glad everything turned out ok.
 
I would talk to your lawyer the guards are right because your drone technically landed in another country when it set down on the deck of that ship! I’m glad you didn’t run into any other issues but that whole situation was touchy as I said in another reply that ship and it’s contents are under the laws of what ever country it’s registered in! Maritime law is strange, my ex wife used to work for a Casino Cruise ship in Jacksonville Fl, it could not allow any gambling until it was out a certain distance! all the machines and tables had Jacksonville/Duval country license stickers but there were signs all over the ship that clearly warned people that if the break a law while on that ship they would not return to the USA the ship was under Panamanian jurisdiction and you would be taken to Panama to be prosecuted! But again I’m glad everything turned out ok.
Sounds similar to how embassy properties work ~a country within a country.
 
I would talk to your lawyer the guards are right because your drone technically landed in another country when it set down on the deck of that ship! I’m glad you didn’t run into any other issues but that whole situation was touchy as I said in another reply that ship and it’s contents are under the laws of what ever country it’s registered in! Maritime law is strange, my ex wife used to work for a Casino Cruise ship in Jacksonville Fl, it could not allow any gambling until it was out a certain distance! all the machines and tables had Jacksonville/Duval country license stickers but there were signs all over the ship that clearly warned people that if the break a law while on that ship they would not return to the USA the ship was under Panamanian jurisdiction and you would be taken to Panama to be prosecuted! But again I’m glad everything turned out ok.
I would have thought that would only apply when in international waters.

When in territorial water, local law has jurisdiction.
 
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I would have thought that would only apply when in international waters.

When in territorial water, local law has jurisdiction.

I’m not exactly sure it wasn’t docked yet, I know the coast guard can dock a ship if they think there’s a problem, when I used to live in Astoria Oregon I knew a old fisherman that said something about the people on board not needing a passport as long as they stay on board because they technically were not in the USA the entire ship is under the law of whatever country’s flag they are flying! Don’t take anything I say to be 100% because again maritime law is complex and make my head spin! Lol, it’s like the drone laws are becoming, it’s better to play it safe than to have a nightmare scenario come out of something innocent.
 
Sounds similar to how embassy properties work ~a country within a country.

That’s how I interpret what I remember of the laws! Sure the coastguard can board because they are in our waters or in a certain area of international water around the USA. But they are still under the rule of there home country until they get off the ship on land.
 
I’m not exactly sure it wasn’t docked yet, I know the coast guard can dock a ship if they think there’s a problem, when I used to live in Astoria Oregon I knew a old fisherman that said something about the people on board not needing a passport as long as they stay on board because they technically were not in the USA the entire ship is under the law of whatever country’s flag they are flying! Don’t take anything I say to be 100% because again maritime law is complex and make my head spin! Lol, it’s like the drone laws are becoming, it’s better to play it safe than to have a nightmare scenario come out of something innocent.
My understanding is 0-12 nautical miles is the countries territorial waters where local law applies.
12-24 miles is the contiguous zone where limited rules apply. The country can legally board vessels to enforce customs etc.
24 miles out is international waters and the law of whatever flag the ship is flying applies.
You also have the exclusive economic zone but that is more to do with rights to natural resources etc.

If a vessel was sailing from a country where gambling or drinking was illegal it would have to be in international waters before they could open the bar or casino.
 
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My understanding is 0-12 nautical miles is the countries territorial waters where local law applies.
12-24 miles is the contiguous zone where limited rules apply. The country can legally board vessels to enforce customs etc.
24 miles out is international waters and the law of whatever flag the ship is flying applies.
You also have the exclusive economic zone but that is more to do with rights to natural resources etc.

If a vessel was sailing from a country where gambling or drinking was illegal it would have to be in international waters before they could open the bar or casino.

Like I said I’m going by what I remember I won’t assume something and get jammed up ignorance is no excuses for the law.
 
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I suggest you just chalk it up as a loss. If you go out there unannounced looking for it you are subject to be arrested, in this day and time ships are watched very heavily because of the threat of terrorism, on the other hand if someone finds it on board and DHS gets involved you might get busted for trying to sabatoge the ship. Its best to just write it off and hope that's the worst that happens, I wish you luck! Another black eye for drone pilots!!
 
I just went and had a look and the ship is still at anchor. I'm guessing it will dock some time in the next few days.

Man I’ve been on this thread like flies on ****. It was exiting from the start although i would of NEVER taken the risk even Thought I own 2 birds. It was like binge watching episodes of walking dead. Glad you found your bird!!!
 
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Dude, you are hell of a lottery wiener! :)))
 
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I suggest you just chalk it up as a loss. If you go out there unannounced looking for it you are subject to be arrested, in this day and time ships are watched very heavily because of the threat of terrorism, on the other hand if someone finds it on board and DHS gets involved you might get busted for trying to sabatoge the ship. Its best to just write it off and hope that's the worst that happens, I wish you luck! Another black eye for drone pilots!!

Read the thread. He got it back and there was no incident. The sky is falling!
 
Congrats!! I would still try to find a way to reward the Captain/crew of the ship. Has to be a way.
 
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So I was flying out over Commencement Bay this morning with my modified Mavic. I had two external batteries mounted among other modifications. I had recently replaced the ESC board and was noticing that the batteries seemed to be draining slightly faster over the last day or two. I suspect this was due to some sloppy soldering on my part when replacing the board.

In previous flights I had gone 40k feet out and back with 20% battery remaining. On this flight I hit 55% battery at 35k feet (there was no wind at all on this flight) where I turned around. I knew I would be cutting it close with a 10% battery margin for the return trip but I came up about 5k feet short.

I hit forced landing at 10% as I was approaching an anchored cargo vessel. I reluctantly attempted to land on the ship but I don't think I made it. What do you guys think? Does it look like the it landed on the ship or is in Davey Jones' Locker? I sent the shipping company an email to see if they could contact the crew to check for me but I am not hopeful. The ship will be in the area most of the week in case it is on the deck.

Hi yes looking at the recording I would say it made it, you don't see it tumbling down the side of the hull so I would say yes.
 
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