News & Media
11th April 2023
MERCHANT SHIPPING (WATERCRAFT) ORDER 2023
The Port of Tyne welcomes new legislation aimed at deterring owners, users and operators of watercraft from dangerous and negligent use. This legislation came into force on 31st March 2023.
The Port of Tyne welcomes new legislation aimed at deterring owners, users and operators of watercraft from dangerous and negligent use. This legislation came into force on 31st March 2023.
Within the Order, “watercraft” means any type of craft that is capable of moving under its own mechanical power, used, navigated or situated wholly or partly in or on water, and capable of being used to carry one or more persons.
Unsafe use could result in the owner, user or operator being liable on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment of up to two years or an unlimited fine, or both.
The Port of Tyne Harbour Master Alan Feast reports that, “Harbour Masters in the UK have been lobbying Government for almost 15 years for legislation that clearly defines a watercraft and imposes requirements for safe use, with significant fines (and even imprisonment), as the penalty for failure to do so.
All watercraft, as defined above, will now have to comply. This includes jet skis, fliteboards, e-foils and anything else that is motorised, on the water, and capable of carrying one or more persons.
The majority of watercraft owners, operating within the Port of Tyner enjoy the water space, without incident, acting in a safe and responsible manner. However, with the ever increasing numbers of users, navigational incidents and anti-social behaviour are on the increase. We therefore welcome this legislation to help us improve navigational safety.