Reckless jet skiers to face prison and unlimited fines after law change
The UK is introducing new legislation to crack down on the dangerous misuse of watercraft such as jet skis, with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) being granted more powers to prosecute perpetrators of accidents.
One presumes this will apply to all recreational craft no matter what the size and type ?
I think the significance is that a jetski rider escaped prosecution by claiming that a PWC was not a “vessel” or “ship” because it did not “navigate” and was therefore not subject to the collision regulations. This loophole is now closed.
A step in the right direction but pretty useless without monitoring?
Peel port take notes ??
A copy of a post made on the Marine Industry News site:
The misuse of jet skis in the Lower Thames (Sea Reach), River Medway and Swale has been an ongoing and increasingly dangerous problem for many years.
During the Covid-19 pandemic many people new to water borne activities purchased personal watercraft (jet skis) and when we were all released after the first lockdown (April-May 2020) to go afloat the water became at times a night-mare place to be.
I would add that not all operators acted thus.
Police were called to the Leigh-on-Sea waterfront due to adverse activities on one particular day. My wife and I were ‘cut up’, circled and suffered close passes too – which was written about at the time.
The Times newspaper even picked up on it – subsequently the MCA stated they would act, and so they have. Brilliant.
(I wonder if Kelly Tolhurst was party to this when in ‘shipping’ Dept)
But, beware: the same regulation will surely cover all craft.
Best advice as an ex merchant seafarer: Keep a log.
Take pictures, etc…
Happy boating.