THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY is continuing its crackdown on unregistered boats on the Thames.
With a total of of more than £63,000 in fines in the last 12 months, Janet Friend reports.
125 vessels without licence
Two years ago the agency discovered 125 vessels without registration during spot checks at Penton Hook Marina. A quarter of the boats in the marina were unregistered which it told was an unacceptably high level of registration evasion.
Many boat owners have since been prosecuted, with the agency telling that last Wednesday, the 20th, three more had been hit with fines of around £2,000 each.
Boat owners attempting to stay 'under the radar' had been traced and then taken to court and fined.
Colin Chiverton, EA environment manager, warned:
"Our enforcement officers have no love, secret or otherwise, for unregistered boats on the Thames.
"They're out all year long patrolling the river, checking valid registrations and taking action against those who cheat their fellow boaters."
Further offenders to court
Mr Chiverton added that the agency would bring further offenders to court, as boat registration fees allowed it to manage and maintain more than 600 miles of inland waterways in England.
It is told that boats from Canal & River Trust waterways are taking to the Thames as it is unlikely to run out of water as are the trust's waterways!