In response to our calls for greater visibility of the port authority, Peel Ports are now patrolling the river in a big red RIB emblazoned with flags and a blue flashing light. The crew wear matching shirts so there should be no mistaking their authority when they catch you speeding or infringing the 150m/250m exclusion zone by the LNG terminal.
As harbour manager at Queenborough I spent years trying to get peel Ports to take action against speeding Jet Ski’s endangering other leisure craft, all to no avail.
Now the use of the LNG facility has increased they buy a boat to protect their commercial customers.
I hope they use the same boat to patrol and take action against all those who flout the river bylaws and not just man the boat when an LNG vessel is in port.
I was at the ATL in September 2022 qnd many jet skis tearing up and down the river, at one a police patrol boat appeared and had a chat with two jet skiers, and then left, then came back the jet skis, it’s the wake they create that’s the problem all are entilted to use the river but I guess responsibly, but as peel ports have a conservancy charge and a mooring fee, why no shiney new rib with uniforms patrolling the swale I wonder, as that’s where the jet skis are starting from and ending up at queen borough, but you have see it from the jet ski point of view as well the fun is to go fast well the area from Kings north power station right to the second fort up the Medway is wide and very open and would be fine for jet skis charging about and marked of, motor boats go there at 20 knts so jet skis can, they just need to understand not to charge around yachts sailing at 5 knts because that’s being not a good person and inconsiderate as is motor cruisers doing 20 knts at 30 mts away, so nobody is squeaky clean, just needs compromise,