Enforcement at Maidenhead Riverside

mlines

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Finchampstead, Wokingham, Berks
www.sportsboat.org.uk
Saw the EA carrying out licence enforcement at Maidenhead this afternoon.

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It's good to see history repeating itself at this location, at least the owners will get the benefit of the post-September discount. However, there are some glaring errors here: the patrol boat life rings should be showing the white quarters fore and aft, the transom waterline needs scrubbing and the patrol officer is wearing pale grey socks (!), shocking disregard for professional standards. I shall raise this with B1 immediately.
 
while you are at it ....

The vessel does not appear to be wearing the red ensign on a jack staff !
... visual lack of any fendering as well................
 
It's good to see history repeating itself at this location, at least the owners will get the benefit of the post-September discount. However, there are some glaring errors here: the patrol boat life rings should be showing the white quarters fore and aft, the transom waterline needs scrubbing and the patrol officer is wearing pale grey socks (!), shocking disregard for professional standards. I shall raise this with B1 immediately.
I’m more interested in why it’s taken them so long - I’m sure that boats been there from way back when !

The grey socks did not go unnoticed. not the none regulation shirt leaking beneath the jumper. Some time ago I shared Sunbury lock with a patrol boat carrying a “lady” officer wearing brown trousers ......
 
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Re: while you are at it ....

Wearing a Red is not obligatory, that's (partly) why I do something other....
At least his flag is not dragging in the water as some other boats do.
 
Re: while you are at it ....

Wearing a Red is not obligatory, that's (partly) why I do something other....
At least his flag is not dragging in the water as some other boats do.

They should wear a blue, anyway - they are a Government body - FWIW.
Either the Government Service Blue, or the DEFRA one - I think the EA may even have one of their own.
 
Re: while you are at it ....

The vessel does not appear to be wearing the red ensign on a jack staff !
... visual lack of any fendering as well................

It has D rubbers all round and it's alongside a narrowboat after all! EA flies the river inspector ensign and only the red duster below Teddington.
 
I’m more interested in why it’s taken them so long - I’m sure that boats been there from way back when !

The grey socks did not go unnoticed. not the none regulation shirt leaking beneath the jumper. Some time ago I shared Sunbury lock with a patrol boat carrying a “lady” officer wearing brown trousers ......

I know that Buttercup has been moored there for many years, was booked unregistered in the 2012 pre-Olympic sweep of the reach and may have been done each year since. The 'lady' officer was wearing very old washed-out black trousers that looked brown, sometimes she wore a tea cosy too, I remember her well!
 
Re: while you are at it ....

Wearing a Red is not obligatory, that's (partly) why I do something other....
At least his flag is not dragging in the water as some other boats do.

The most senior position for a flag on a vessel is reserved for the Ensign - this is as close to the stern of the vessel as possible. The Ensign shows the country of registry of the vessel and indicates its nationality. A UK flagged vessel must wear her ensign as required by the Merchant Shipping Act, which includes when entering or leaving a foreign port and on demand. It is recommended that the ensign is worn at all times in daylight, especially when near to or in sight of land or another vessel. A UK registered vessel should wear the national maritime flag, the Red Ensign, unless entitled to wear a special Ensign. Wearing anything other than an authorised Ensign is a violation of British and International Law.
 
Re: while you are at it ....

The most senior position for a flag on a vessel is reserved for the Ensign - this is as close to the stern of the vessel as possible. The Ensign shows the country of registry of the vessel and indicates its nationality. A UK flagged vessel must wear her ensign as required by the Merchant Shipping Act, which includes when entering or leaving a foreign port and on demand. It is recommended that the ensign is worn at all times in daylight, especially when near to or in sight of land or another vessel. A UK registered vessel should wear the national maritime flag, the Red Ensign, unless entitled to wear a special Ensign. Wearing anything other than an authorised Ensign is a violation of British and International Law.

That said, I don't think anyone really cares anymore, except a few old pedants like me.
 
I know that Buttercup has been moored there for many years, was booked unregistered in the 2012 pre-Olympic sweep of the reach and may have been done each year since. The 'lady' officer was wearing very old washed-out black trousers that looked brown, sometimes she wore a tea cosy too, I remember her well!
A brief stroll alongside the river at Cookham earlier this week identified 4 boats with no apparent registration plates on display. 2 were nameless and devoid of any other identity marks. The other two appear not to have been registered last year or this.
 
Re: while you are at it ....

Wearing anything other than an authorised Ensign is a violation of British and International Law.

Only if you mean "wearing an unauthorised ensign, or other distinctive national colours". Otherwise, if you aren't required to fly an ensign you can stick up what you damn well please.
 
Re: while you are at it ....

Only if you mean "wearing an unauthorised ensign, or other distinctive national colours". Otherwise, if you aren't required to fly an ensign you can stick up what you damn well please.

I refer you to your signature comment.
 
Re: while you are at it ....

EA at Allington did recently have a collection of small craft moored at the lock, awaiting disposal.
Presumably as a result of unregistered craft being confiscated.
Mind you looking at the vessels, can well understand why the owners had abandoned them.
 
Re: while you are at it ....

EA at Allington did recently have a collection of small craft moored at the lock, awaiting disposal.
Presumably as a result of unregistered craft being confiscated.
Mind you looking at the vessels, can well understand why the owners had abandoned them.
That's impressive if the case. I've never seen anything but boats that turn green and get the odd bit of paper sellotaped to them. The burnt out lifeboat wreck at Hampton Court is still there. Only 7 months to go and they could embellish it with a tasteful floral display in time for the flower show.
 
Re: while you are at it ....

EA at Allington did recently have a collection of small craft moored at the lock, awaiting disposal.
Presumably as a result of unregistered craft being confiscated.
Mind you looking at the vessels, can well understand why the owners had abandoned them.

The EA could remove all the abandoned and unregistered craft, especially those without a name displayed, under the IWO 2010, section 16 but has no process to deal with the number of boats it would collect.
 
Re: while you are at it ....

The EA could remove all the abandoned and unregistered craft, especially those without a name displayed, under the IWO 2010, section 16 but has no process to deal with the number of boats it would collect.

As in the 'hole in my bucket' song,
then fix it, dear EA, fix it.

OR
get EA to have a chat with C&RT whom some would like to take over the Thames. They have a whole armoury of dodgy practices and making up the 'law' to get what they want as well as Solicitors who appear to do much the same. Mention "s.8".


For years I've been very supporting of EA and more so of their staff on the front line, but now have my doubts about EA management.
 
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