Category: Crime

Boats that go bump

Several boats have been damaged this year on their moorings in Gillingham Reach and Short Reach. Max Taylor, Deputy Harbourmaster, suggests that owners report any damage to their vessels direct to Medway VTS (email navigation@medwayports.com or phone 01795 663025) and Kent Police, including the state and extent of damage (photographic evidence welcome), approximate time and any additional evidence such as unusual paint/scuff marks. One recent incident in Gillingham Reach left red paint on the damaged yacht. With luck Medway VTS may have a CCTV recording of the incident which will assist an investigation.

Missing blue dinghy

A dinghy has disappeared from the Hoo Ness YC tender compound adjacent to Wilsonian SC sometime since mid July. It is quite distinctive, being 6 ft long, 3 ft wide and blue – inside and out.  The two oars are not a pair, one has a partially broken paddle and both have patches of blue paint. The ring for the painter in the bow has pulled out, so the painter passes through the hole where the ring was and is secured to the thwart with a bowline. There is a wooden ply patch about 1 ft square in the stern seat. If you have any information please contact webmaster@msba.org.uk.

Have you seen this stolen Sea-Doo from Sandwich?

image (4) image image (1) image (2) image (3)PC Stuart Duncan of Kent Police asks if any of us have seen this boat which was stolen from Sandwich on 7 August . It’s a Seadoo Challenger 1800, white and blue exterior, silver and purple interior, and has a small chip to stb quarter of bow.  Model Sport 5775 HIN US-CEC31164A303. It was stolen from the locked compound of Sandwich Bay Sailing Club. Offenders broke into the compound in broad daylight and stole the boat which was on a Seadoo trailer.

 

Kent Police vessel for sale: going, going, gone!

Princess Alexandra IIIAfter a review by Kent Police the 54ft Tamar class lifeboat, Princess Alexandra III, which previously belonged to the RNLI and can travel up to 27 knots, has been sold at auction for £100,000. http://www.brightwellslive.com/ids/lot_detail_test.asp?l=1&lotid=222742&pageno=1
Kent Police purchased the boat eight years ago for £150,000 and spent £200,000 refitting her to the force’s specifications. Now the marine unit will be relocated back to Maidstone sharing other duties such as search and rescue. They will have to launch their RIB from a trailer.
Read more at Kent Online

Crime Update

Outboards again seemed to be targeted from all over the county from Canterbury on the 20th to the River Rother at Newenden and of course most people will be aware that a MYC boat was again targeted on 17/06, where a Honda 4hp was taken. Extensive damage was caused to the boat.

A red 12ft kayak was taken from Canterbury Sea Cadets on 26th June. A Parana Ranger 16ft canoe was taken from Yalding earlier in the month and two further canoes one red and one yellow were taken from Tonbridge at a similar time.

On a positive note this weekend Sat 6th July is the Medway River Festival. There will be displays on the river in Chatham Reach between Thunderbolt Pier and Chatham Ness. This will mean closures of the river to vessels during some of the displays and should only last a short time. Princess Alexandra III will be assisting Medway Ports Harbourmaster Launches in enforcing these closures.

If you are intending to go by boat and see the displays make sure you get there in plenty of time and find a good spot. Be careful as there may be a large number of vessels of various sizes taking part including small rowing boats. If you are going to the Recreation Ground on foot, come and see us on the Kent Police Marine Unit stand.

PC David Lavender
Kent Police Marine Unit