‘Sunk, wrecked, abandoned – they’ve got to go,’ says Environment Agency as Thames boat crackdown continues
“Sunk, wrecked, abandoned – they’ve got to go.”
That is the message from the Environment Agency’s deputy director of navigation as 53 boats have already been removed in an ongoing crackdown on the non-tidal Thames.
The agency is on course to remove more than 100 sunk and abandoned vessels from the river in its biggest push in a decade to tidy up the watercourse.
The work is being led by a newly created task force whose mission is to deal with some of the long-standing challenges facing the Thames. These include old and discarded boats, as well as vessels that are unregistered or left at unauthorised moorings.
As this issue was being prepared for press, 53 abandoned boats, mostly left on riverbanks on the lower part of the river, had already been removed. The latest operation will focus on the remaining sunk and abandoned boats across the non-tidal Thames.
Environment Agency navigation operations deputy director Bill Jephson said: “Irresponsible boat owners have caused a blight on the Thames for far too long. We know the impact these boats can have on river users and local residents. It’s time to start with a clean slate.”
It is the owner’s responsibility to remove sunken wrecks. Where owners can be identified, the agency will look to recover costs.
Boats on the river must be registered and comply with the agency’s requirements, including insurance and a valid boat safety certificate. More information is available at www.gov.uk/register-a-boat.
Mr Jephson continued: “Our approach to non-registration offences on the Thames has also changed. While we continue to prosecute offenders through our escalation process, we have also begun to remove boats where the owner has previously been prosecuted and continues not to comply.
“We are currently recruiting more patrol officers to clamp down further. It’s time to put pride back into the river.”
The task force was established in July last year. It removed 35 boats from the Lower Thames over a few days of intensive action in September, followed by a further 18 in January.
As the task force operation continues, the agency will work with the police and local authorities to ensure removals continue smoothly and on schedule. Contractors will support with disposal after the operation.
