Category: Crime

Important update from Kent Police

Further to our AGM on Tuesday 26th I have been in communication with Kent Police who have provided an important update which I have agreed to circulate as a matter or urgency.


Ribs and Outboards

Kent Police have advised that due to a restriction on the supply of large ribs and outboards across Europe at the current time there is a heightened risk that we may see an increase in the number of thefts of these items from our clubs and moorings taking place over the coming months.  Therefore, members are asked to advise their club members to photograph any ribs and outboards that they have in particular any serial numbers contained on the items and keep these photos in a safe place.  It is also likely that we will see more immigrants being brought to the UK by yacht and motorboats.  If a member has any of their equipment stolen, or sees large numbers of people leaving a vessel can they please be asked to report it to Kent Police using
their online form and email Peter details of the crime reference number so that this can be flagged to the Kent Marine Unit.


Drugs:

In the past few weeks there has been an increase in the number of packages containing drugs being dropped overboard from large container and merchant ships as they passage up the South East Coast and in particular up past the Thames near the Windfarms.  With the recent strong winds some of these are packages have ended up in the Thames Estuary and the edges of the Medway.
These packages contain trackers which enable the UK gangs to recover the packages containing drugs when the weather permits.  Kent Police has asked that if you see any suspicious packages that you contact them immediately ideally with the co-ordinates of the location of the package.  Only if you feel safe to do so and there is no other vessels around secure the package aboard and return it to the shore, advising the police on route where you will be landing the package and they will arrange for you to be meet either by the Police or UK Border Force Officers.  Please be aware that the people wishing to collect such packages are likely to be dangerous so please don't put yourself at risk.


We are making arrangements for specialist officers that deal in both of these areas to attend our next Business Meeting on 25th March 2025 at the Segas Sailing Club.


Kind regards


Peter Norris, Fellow ABYA

Chairman

Medway and Swale Boating Association

Diesel stolen from moored boats

With the rocketing price of diesel this was bound to happen! Several boats at Strood Pelican Cruising Club, near Rochester Bridge, have reported that fuel has been siphoned from their tanks. Please check your tanks and report to the police if you believe a theft has occurred. Also please inform info@msba.org.uk so we can share the information with other boaters.

Reward offered for missing dinghy

A dinghy belonging to William Bourne disappeared from a Medway Cruising Club mooring (STA16) just downstream from PHB 26 some time between 2030 on the evening of Saturday 19 June and 1430 on the afternoon of Sunday 20 June. It may have come adrift on its own but it may have been stolen. It is a GRP white dinghy with a dark rubber rubbing strake. It is marked “Tender to Marlin” and has Medway Ports 2021 sticker on it.  Inside it has William’s mobile phone number stencilled in it and a reward is being offered for the dinghy’s recovery.

UPDATE: the dinghy has been found. It was not stolen.

New signage for PWCs

This is a sample of one of the new signs designed in partnership with the Personal Watercraft Partnership (PWP) and local authorities. The signs will be set up at known launching sites for jet skis (PWCs). Most PWC users are responsible boaters but an irresponsible minority spoil it for everyone else and will be liable to prosecution. Peel Ports will increase the number of patrols using a harbour launch or RIB, including holidays, weekends, and during heatwaves. The patrol personnel will be equipped with body cams.

Speed limits

This chart shows the zones where there are speed limits, yellow for 6 knots and red for 8 knots. The purple zone from Cuxton to Wouldham is where members of the Kent Boat and Ski club have exclusive permission to water ski.

Peel Ports gets tough on dangerous boaters

Peel Ports have issued the following statement: “On the 26th of April 2020 a water craft collided with another vessel causing it to sink and causing serious injury to one of the occupants. Police attended the scene and the defendant was breathalysed and found to have a levels of alcohol in his system exceeding the amount permissible for driving a vehicle on the road, resulting in his arrest. The injured party maintained that the defendant had been performing ‘doughnut’ turns around her vessel but had lost control of his vessel causing it to collide with hers.

“The Port of Sheerness Ltd brought prosecution proceedings against the defendant pursuant to the Port Byelaws alleging that the defendant had failed to navigate his vessel with the requisite level of care and that he had been in charge of his vessel whilst unfit by reason of drink, contrary to byelaws 22 and 33 respectively. The defendant was summoned to appear before magistrates sitting at Medway on the 10th of December 2020. At this hearing the defendant pleaded guilty to both allegations and was ordered to pay fines, compensation and costs totalling £3,950.”

UPDATE: The “water craft” referred to in the Peel Ports Notice was a small motor cruiser, not a PWC (jet ski). The other vessel was a dinghy.

An unusual request

Welders at the Dockyard called these low, stable working platforms “soggy logs”. John Sutton, owner of the Russian submarine, lost his when it was “borrowed.” He says, “it was about 15ft x 6ft with low freeboard so ideal for working from, 4ft thick so very stable.” He asks if anyone has seen it or can offer him something similar. It doesn’t have to be quite as big as the one in the photo. Please let us know at info@msba.org.uk and we’ll pass on the message.

Have you seen this boat? FOUND

Image from MSBA CCTV camera.

This little red boat called Glug Glug was deliberately cast adrift in the early hours of 24 August. It was attached to the fence outside Medway Cruising Club at Gillingham Strand. It probably drifted down the river and may be beached somewhere. If you have any information please contact info@msba.org.uk and we will pass it on to the owner.

UPDATE 26.8.2020: We understand from our friends at Queenborough Harbour that the boat was recovered from Darnet Ness yesterday and is now with Kent Police at Sheerness.

Jet ski crashes into Sheppey beach

Following the recent spate of incidents of irresponsible and illegal behaviour by users of PWCs, Tim Bell has sent us this video of two lads crashing onto a beach at Minster after losing control of their jet ski. The Medway Ports by-laws have strict limits on speed and where personal watercraft can be used on the Medway and Swale. Video by Denis Gordo.