HM Coastguard calls for jet skiers to respect other water users

[Concerto]

We all hate how some of the PWCs are used around moorings and anchorages, but HM Coastguard are not happy either.

HM Coastguard calls for jet skiers to respect other water users

Is it time for them to be licensed, qualified drivers and have insurance?

 

[Carib]

YES to this idea! Although.. we wouldn't want more paperwork to extend to yachts so always have to be careful what you wish for.. One problem is that offenders are impossible to identify. Even when behaving themselves (rarely) the noise is bloody irritating. In Barbados they constantly buzzed our boat at anchor, seeing it as some kind of target. A friend knew someone who was hit by a jetski at speed in the Caribbean while at anchor, causing £1000s worth of damage (and, incidentally, killing the jetskier). Jetskiing seems to attract utter morons, in my experience.

 

[Sealong]

Last week I was coming into Brighton Marina (yacht under motor). There was a dredger moored and working at the entrance, a powerboat and also a RIB both leaving the entrance. That in itself was bad enough, but to add fuel to the fire there was also a gaggle of jet skis buzzing around the harbour arm. It took a massive effort of concentration and patience to avoid a collision with any of those craft and vessels. However, in all fairness, it turned out that the RIB belonged to the marina office and was sent out to tell the jet skiers to go an play elsewhere.

I have had similar demonstrations of equally stupid behaviour from jet skiers when I have been surfing and windsurfing (I even rescued one once). So I quite agree with the above sentiments.

 

[Catalina36]

"Is it time for them to be licensed, qualified drivers and have insurance? "

And then straight away you create the precedent for all other leisure boat users to be treated the same.

 

[Concerto]

If you read the article, you would realise PWC are not classified as a vessel under maritime legislation. This should assist in creating legislation to control PWCs.

 

[25931]

"Is it time for them to be licensed, qualified drivers and have insurance? "

And then straight away you create the precedent for all other leisure boat users to be treated the same.

And why not ? That is the situation here in Portugal and many other countries. It s neither a great inconvenience nor a great expense.

 

[matt1]

Don't some countries require a licence above x knots? Theory being you probably wont kill anyone in a collision at sailing speed?

It's not just jet skis. The Hbr Master (or someone) needs to get a grip on the Hamble. Since covid there has been an explosion of all manner of personal watercraft, mostly operated by ill equipped folk with no comprehension of what being on the water entails. Some of the inflatable craft are the kind you see sold on beaches and there are loads of them. There will be an accident soon. Even simple signposting on the main channel piles telling people to stay out the main channel would help.

I felt sorry for the large mobo drive the other day when confronted with a fleet of paddle board and inflatable kayaks unable to get out his way at Swanwick

 

[Juan Twothree]

Jetskiing seems to attract utter morons, in my experience.

To be fair, over the last 20 years or so I have met two who seemed quite reasonable.

The rest were all thick and/or aggressive.

 

[humbug716]

They have become a big problem in Plymouth. I have heard that the local dealers have sold out this year. Unlike Portsmouth QHM Plymouth will not introduce a licensing system. The current Port of Plymouth Act is insufficient to allow efficient policing by Modplod and Devon & Cornwall police are not interested. It will take a fatality to focus minds I fear but then it will become the usual finger pointing blame game.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

The Coastguard will deserve a Queen's Award for Advertising if their campaign has any effect at all.

 

[GTom]

 

[Babylon]

I even rescued one once...

Was that wise?

It's not just jet skis. The Hbr Master (or someone) needs to get a grip on the Hamble...

I'm all for people being able to enjoy being on the water but, from what I observed over several days on the Hamble last week, there was certainly a lot of uneducated activity happening in/on a wide range of toys (in Spring tides), big ribs tooling up and down with colossal sound-systems, and the odd speedster.

Once normal service resumes this coming weekend, the hazards will likely increase considerably... and Darwin's Theory will become more effective than the HM.

 

[Stemar]

Is it the torpedo net or the 12 inch (or whatever) guns you're advocating?

 

[GTom]

Is it the torpedo net or the 12 inch (or whatever) guns you're advocating?

Just the net The 12" doesn't move fast enough for a jet ski.

 

[greeny]

Licensing all boat skippers wouldn't be such a bad thing in this day and age. I'm afraid times have moved on now and there are a lot more idiots out on the water.
If they know enough to pass the test then no problem, if they don't know enough and fail then they should not be out there.
I used to be an advocate of the British no test requirement but I can now see the need for it.
As long as it is kept simple and inexpensive then there should not be an issue. ICC would serve the purpose would it not? They don't all have to be Yachtmasters. They just need to demonstrate a level of competence before being allowed to put there own and others lives at risk.
Why should boats be any different to cars or airplanes or many other forms of transport.
I know that the holding of a license doesn't ensure they will always behave responsibly but it does ensure they have the basic knowledge and ability to do so.

 

[Stemar]

Just the net The 12" doesn't move fast enough for a jet ski.

True, but the 20mm Bofors could, and would reduce repeat offending...

Licensing all boat skippers wouldn't be such a bad thing in this day and age. I'm afraid times have moved on now and there are a lot more idiots out on the water.

If I thought it would make a difference, I'd be inclined to agree. Unfortunately, one only has to look at the idiots out on the road to realise that it'll make no difference whatsoever. For jetskis, just substitute moronic bikers and lycra louts.

 

[Tomahawk]

And why not ? That is the situation here in Portugal and many other countries. It s neither a great inconvenience nor a great expense.

It is a conflict with UK Common Law .. That we may do as we please as long as there is no regulation to prohibit wha we are doing..
Portugal suffers from Napoleonic Law that says nothing is allowed unless there is a regulation and license to do it.

 

[Tomahawk]

Licensing all boat skippers wouldn't be such a bad thing in this day and age. I'm afraid times have moved on now and there are a lot more idiots out on the water.
If they know enough to pass the test then no problem, if they don't know enough and fail then they should not be out there.
I used to be an advocate of the British no test requirement but I can now see the need for it.
As long as it is kept simple and inexpensive then there should not be an issue. ICC would serve the purpose would it not? They don't all have to be Yachtmasters. They just need to demonstrate a level of competence before being allowed to put there own and others lives at risk.
Why should boats be any different to cars or airplanes or many other forms of transport.
I know that the holding of a license doesn't ensure they will always behave responsibly but it does ensure they have the basic knowledge and ability to do so.

The nature of bureaucrats is to make simple things difficult and expensive.. Taxation through regulation until we give up and buy everything from abroad.

 

[JumbleDuck]

And why not ? That is the situation here in Portugal and many other countries. It s neither a great inconvenience nor a great expense.

Have you seen what the UK civil service can do with regulations?

 

[JumbleDuck]

Why should boats be any different to cars or airplanes or many other forms of transport.

So ... driver licensing, vessel registration, compulsory annual surveys ...