Grounded My Boat Yesterday

[boatone]

Did you report it on the TMBA website incident reports?

This has been reported thru the TMBA web form and I have asked Glen to provide more precise info regarding the location.
However unsatisfactory it may seem, the EA have no statutory duty regarding depths other than maintaining declared depths in the fairway - which define as " generally the middle third of the river" which includes lock cuts.
They do endeavour to ensure specific hazards are marked but, in general, we navigate the river at our own risk and mist if us do so with the benefit of "local knowledge" of our own cruising areas"

 

[Ramage]

The EA is not, as you can see, a customer focussed operation. it is an organisation who see boaters as a cash cow and see no problem with their proposals to increase the fees by CPI (approx 1.5%) plus a surcharge of 2%.

This at the same time as reducing services.

Complaints to: carol.doffay@environment-agency.gov.uk

mark them for the attention of Paul Leinster, CEO Environment Agency.

or to

michele.perry@environment-agency.gov.uk

and mark for the attention of Lord Smith.

 

[GAJ52]

Yes

Edit : sorry I was replying to the question "have you sent a report to the TMBA", didn't see the other posts after that.

 

[iCs]

Perhaps we should compile a list of known shoals so we can at least cross with low power to minimise damage. The EA told me that they have 40 on their dredging list when they get the funding. Why don't they tell us where the unmarked ones are?

Another thread mentions someone being told by an EA manager that a hazard is "on their list".

I suggest the first step might be an FOI request to the EA for a copy of that list, or "any and all information the Agency holds about hazards to navigation on the non-tidal River Thames at present together with minutes of all meetings which have considered those hazards and their remediation and all correspondence within the Agency on the topic of unmarked hazards".

Having some knowledge of the FOI system, I think they'd struggle to turn that down.

And, then we'd have their list.

 

[ianc1200]

Following on from that, if the EA did know about a shoal, and didn't mark it, would they be liable at all for the cost of any damage?

 

[boatone]

Following on from that, if the EA did know about a shoal, and didn't mark it, would they be liable at all for the cost of any damage?

If its in the fairway I suppose it might be possible but I suspect it would need the courts to decide - and you would need to bring the case and take the risk of losing !