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Unlicensed boaters fined following court hearing

All the registration offences were contrary to non-registration charges under Articles 4 and 18 of The Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010. Boaters using the waterways need to register and display a valid boat licence and failure to do so will lead to prosecution.

Paul Phillips of Victoria Mansions, Wilsden, London, was charged after an Environment Agency officer found the defendant’s vessel Triton moored against a derelict pontoon on Hurst Park below Garricks Aite without a valid licence. Mr Phillips attended court and pleaded guilty and was fined £35, ordered to pay compensation of £485.86, £60 costs and a £15 victim surcharge by Staines Magistrates’ Court.

In the second case, Richard Biddulph of Main Road, Hursley, Winchester, pleaded guilty by post was fined £160, ordered to pay compensation of £2114.10, £60 costs and a £15 victim surcharge for not registering his boat De Hoop after being caught at Thames Ditton Marina.

At Reading Magistrates’ Court, Nicholas Tsirides of Lytton Road, Oxford, OX4 3PA, was found without a valid licence for his boat Banbury whilst downstream of Sonning Bridge in the Reading area. The defendant was found guilty in his absence and fined £200, ordered to pay compensation of £845.64, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

In the final cases at South Western Magistrates Court, Hadrian Smith who lives onboard Nyko and has another boat under the name of TT Nyko both of which are moored on the River Thames at St Albans park, Hampton Court Road, attended court and pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay compensation for both vessels of £454.14 and costs for both at £60.

Alistair Trotman of Eden Street, Kingston upon Thames Surrey KT1 1DN attended court and pleaded guilty to two registration charges for two boats - the Hui and the Old Kingston Coal. Hui was found moored at Canberry Gardens, Kingston upon Thames without a valid licence. The defendant’s other boat Old Kingston Coal was also found without the correct registration after an Environment Agency officer found the vessel moored in trees along Teddington Reach.

Mr Trotman was ordered to pay compensation for both vessels of £1812.69 and costs for both £60, totalling £1872.69.

In relation to a separate navigation offence Alanda Thompson of Canonbury Road, London N1 2HS pleaded guilty by post to one charge of keeping or using a boat that had inadequate sanitary appliances that allowed raw sewage to enter the river. This is contrary to Byelaw 66 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993. The defendant’s vessel Manimal - underwent a sanitation inspection by an Environment Agency officer whilst it was moored upstream of Teddington Lock. Ms Thompson was fined £35, costs £60 and victim surcharge of £15, totalling £110.

Mick Dutson, an Environment Agency Waterways Enforcement Officer, said:

“Boaters have a responsibility to ensure their vessels are registered and we regularly challenge people using boats on the river without licences. In response to customer feedback, we continue to do routine patrols and lockside checks. In addition we carry out targeted enforcement exercises and this is a direct result of that action.

“It is crucial that boaters also provide adequate sanitary appliances for their boat to ensure that no raw sewage is discharged into the River Thames which can have a detrimental affect on human health and wildlife.

“The income we raise from boat registration is very important for the community and the environment. It contributes directly to improving and maintaining waterway structures such as locks and lay-bys, as well as providing facilities like visitor moorings, water points, rubbish and sewage disposal and electric boat charging hook-ups."

You cannot use a boat on the non-tidal River Thames without it first being registered with the Environment Agency. This applies to all types of pleasure craft, including motor cruisers, sailing boats, narrow boats and unpowered vessels, such as canoes or rowing boats.

An annual fee is payable upon registration and covers the period 1 January to 31 December. A licence plate is then issued which must be displayed on the vessel. Visiting boats also need to be registered to cover the period of the visit.

Anyone taking up boating should make themselves aware of the rules, regulations and general code of river behaviour. This information can be found in the our publication ‘A user’s guide to the River Thames’ which can be picked up at locks or downloaded from www.visitthames.co.uk.

Checks are carried out at all lock sites and during regular patrols along the River. The Environment Agency regularly prosecutes those who do not pay their way.