Continuous cruisers comply—or you are off!

IN THE presence  of the country's waterways Press at Hatton today (Friday), Canal & River Trust Chief Executive, Richard Parry, announced the Trust's new policy toward those continuous cruisers who do not follow the guidelines.

Refused a continuous cruiser licence

Should they not comply with the guidelines they agree to when taking out their licence, they will be refused a further continuous cruiser licence, meaning that they will either have to obtain a full licence and a paid mooring or leave the waterways altogether.

With the technology and enforcement teams the Trust is now able to monitor movement much more easily, allowing it to check the movement of those with a continuous cruiser licence.

Openly flouting the guidance

The first prong will be towards those it knows are openly flouting the guidance, not even attempting to cruise, but staying around one area permanently such as many on the Kennet & Avon Canal, and will be introduced from 1st May. After this date, if limited boat movement is still a concern to the Trust, then reminders will be sent.

Then on the expiry of their licence, those that have consistently failed to move in accordance with the Trust's guidance will be refused a new licence unless they take a home mooring.

Given further opportunity

For the first few months while boaters are becoming familiar with this policy, the Trust proposes to issue short duration licences—of say three months duration—to give those boaters concerned a further opportunity to establish an acceptable range of movement.

Richard told the assembled Press representatives:

"The right for boaters to continuously cruise is enshrined in law, and I welcome this way of boating. Many such boaters make a fantastic contribution to the waterways, and it's important that everyone who chooses this option understands and respects the rules. Our new approach does not change any rules, but it does seek to provide greater encouragement to everyone to comply with our Guidance, and spells out the consequences if they consistently don't.

"Our message to boaters without a home mooring is that, if you are worried about your range of movement, or want to know more about what else you need to do to comply with our Guidance, please speak to your local enforcement officer (or contact your local Trust office). In many cases, making some small adjustments to a cruising pattern is enough to meet our Guidance, while in other cases taking up a home mooring may be more appropriate. Ultimately we are trying to help boaters understand our requirements and avoid running into trouble, for the benefit of all boaters."

Advised of the process

This month the Trust will write to anyone with a boat registered as not having a home mooring to advise them of the process and will begin renewing licences on this basis from 1st May 2015.

During the past 12 months the Trust has been operating in this way with boaters who are new to continuous cruising. The approach is now being expanded to all boaters who continuously cruise so that it is treating all such boaters fairly and consistently.

The associations

This policy is of course of great interest to the various boating associations, with the following making their comments known.

Mike Rodd, Chairman of the National Association of Boat Owners:

"NABO has many continuous cruisers among its members and recognises the significant contribution they make to the well-being of our waterways. For those who are living on their boats as a lifestyle choice, these requirements (to continuously cruise) will not present any problem—NABO's own survey of continuous cruisers shows just this.

Of course some folk who live on their boats may be affected: those who are genuine boaters will welcome the clarity, but a small number will find it difficult to conform. Here we welcome CaRT's new Welfare Officer, Sean Williams, and applaud his work, especially in getting CaRT's existing enforcement officers briefed on the resources available to help those who are in difficulty."

The Association of Continuous Cruisers:

"ACC are pleased to see that CaRT are improving communications to make boaters aware at an early stage of any possible infringement."

The Residential Boat Owners' Association:

"RBOA is broadly supportive of CaRT, as it is putting considerable effort into resolving what many see as a problem with boats which do not have a home mooring and which fail to move sufficiently to satisfy CaRT's guidelines."

Paul Le Blique, Chairman Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs:

"AWCC welcomes and supports this initiative. To encourage a pattern of cruising in line with the Continuous Cruising Licence, followed by firm enforcement action against those who fail to comply is entirely reasonable and appropriate. AWCC has always supported bona fide Continuous Cruising."

Les Etheridge, Chairman of the Inland Waterways Association:

"IWA strongly supports genuine continuous cruisers and hopes that the new enforcement process will quickly address in a fair way the significant issues which have developed in recent years."