Getting tough with rule breakers

MORE and more boaters are forsaking marina moorings and taking out continuous cruiser licences with Canal & River Trust having issued 792 such licences this year, but many boaters have little intention of acceding to the 14 days 'movement' rule, seeing it as a cheaper way of living in one area.

Will not be renewed

For a year the Trust has had a programme to actively advise new licence holders of the requirements of their licence, and have now begun to send out letters to those new continuous cruisers coming to the end of the first year who have failed to meet the requirements over the past year, despite regular reminders of their obligations as boaters without a home mooring, informing them that they will lose their licences.

The result is that 63 are now in the enforcement process with a further 83 contacted to say the Trust is concerned. Of these 23 have failed to comply to the rules and they have been told their continuous cruiser licences will not be renewed.

Saving money

This is being brought about as more and more boaters are leaving expensive marina moorings and taking out continuous cruiser licences, seeing it as a way of saving money but still living on the water. Whilst there are those that willingly follow the rules and enjoy moving around the system, there are those that have little intention of doing so.

The Trust has advised these new continuous cruiser licence holders of the requirements of their licences, and in particularly their agreement to move every 14 days. But many have seen this licence as a way of mooring in a certain area without having to pay for either a linear or marina mooring, that are widely available.

Moorings

The great problem of course in issuing so many continuous cruiser licences is that it puts a great strain on the available visitor mooring spaces, as it of course means that every boat that forsakes a marina to continuously cruise needs a towpath mooring, but at present the Trust is attempting to support better and fairer use of towpath visitor moorings.

The work to develop the national framework for visitor moorings is progressing with input from the Trust's Navigation Advisory Group. A draft for internal discussion is being prepared, for consultation in the New Year.