Significant knock-on effects

THE case of the fire on a boat stored in a marina workshop whilst the owners were allowed to continue living on board, might well have significant knock-on effects, writes Mike Todd.

I have heard of many permanent liveaboards who have similarly avoided complex relocation arrangements by staying on board whilst works are carried out including blacking but also sometimes more substantial.

Adversely effected

If the consequence of this judgment (which as it was a District Judge does not immediately set a precedent but will have significant impact) is that this option will no longer be permitted then quite a few people will be adversely affected.

As we are not permanently liveaboard we are able to return home whilst work is done, but others have given up, or never had, any alternative and the boat is their only home.

Better marina

I am also sorry that this has happened to the particular marina as our (limited) experience of boatyards in this area was they are by far the better with some, not very far away, much less attentive to good safe practice. But it shows that, however committed you are to health and safety, accidents can and do happen.

Fortunately the outcome for both the marina and the boaters aboard was not much more tragic.