Current Environment Affairs
Joining the party The RYA’s role at the autumn political conferences The RYA once again joined forces with the British Marine Federation (BMF), British Canoe Union (BCU) and Inland Waterways Association (IWA), under the umbrella of the Boating Alliance, at this year’s Labour and Conservative Party conferences. Attending Party conferences is an important element of our public affairs work; it increases our visibility among politicians and enables us to meet new MPs who have an interest in our sector. Often, we have only a few minutes to engage an MP, so it’s vitally important that we are ready with a brief and succinct pitch. This year we were armed with our newly published RYA Manifesto, which was very well received by MPs. With the launch of the new waterways charity – the Canal & River Trust – that will take over British Waterways’ responsibilities just six months away, we were pleased to talk to Richard Benyon MP, Waterways Minister, who also has responsibility for marine conservation, and Gavin Shuker MP, the Shadow Waterways Minister.
The EBA aims to ensure boat users are informed about EU legislation
Richard Benyon MP
We also took part in a fringe meeting run at both conferences on the ‘Balanced Regulation of Sport’, organised by the Motor Sports Association, at which a number of leading MPs were present. We promoted the RYA’s principle that ‘regulation of an activity does not of itself necessarily enhance safety nor prevent inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour’, a view shared among other sports.
What’s bothering Europe? We were also able to talk to: Damian Green MP, Minister for Immigration, about the e-Borders programme; Maria Eagle MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, and Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Shadow Shipping Minister, about the Coastguard reorganisation; Brandon Lewis MP, Great Yarmouth, about the Broads; as well as Sheryll Murray MP, South East Cornwall, about concerns over moorings in that area. We also chatted with Anne McIntosh MP, who chairs the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, and Dr Therese Coffey MP, who sits on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. 40 Winter 2011 rya.org.uk
The European Boating Association (EBA) aims to ensure boat users are informed and consulted about EU legislation and to make their views known to relevant European institutions. The European Commission (EC) has commissioned a study to examine the impact of extending security measures contained in the International Maritime Organisation’s security guidelines for non-SOLAS shipping to recreational craft. Currently, the security chapter of SOLAS applies only to cargo vessels weighing more than 500 gross tons and passenger ships on international voyages. The EC is becoming increasingly
concerned by the threat posed by terrorist attacks involving the use of recreational craft, such as the USS Cole, Limberg and the attacks in Mumbai, which resulted in death and injury, and, in future, may even close ports. The EBA noted that one of the primary aims of the study was to examine the registration process for recreational craft and the maintenance of a centralised computer database. EBA members unanimously agree that the emerging proposal for a European registry system itself would be disproportionate and ineffective in improving security within Europe, and that there is little or no evidence that such a system is needed. The EBA will resist such a proposal and will seek to influence the study.
Abandonment of boats For some time now, the disposal of abandoned recreational craft has been of great concern to a number of EBA members, particularly the Nordic countries.