EA Press Releases

Press release from Communications East Environment Agency - Issued May 2021

Boater fined for not registering boat

A Boater has been fined almost £1,000 for leaving his boat unregistered on the River Glen in Lincolnshire. He was convicted in his absence by Lincoln Magistrates Court on 4 March 2021.

As a result he was fined £440, with costs of £250, compensation £198.76 and victim surcharge £44. His court appearance was delayed due to the pandemic.

The income from registration charges contributes to the services, facilities and structures the Environment Agency provides to make boating possible on its waterways. This includes maintenance of locks, moorings, slipways and many other navigation structures.

Vessels that are not registered may not have Boat Safety Scheme Certification and therefore could be a hazard to other boaters and visitors on our Waterways. These vessels could also pose a pollution risk to the local environment and wildlife.

Nathan Arnold, a Waterways Team Leader for the Environment Agency, said: “Everyone boating or paddling along waterways can feel proud they are contributing to protecting and improving rivers through their registration charge fee.

Cont’d from previous page:

“As this result shows, failing to register a vessel on the Environment Agency waterways can lead to a criminal record and a fine of up to £1000. We are a month into the new boating season (April 1) so urge vessel owners to make sure they have correctly registered their vessels so they don’t find themselves with a fine.”

People should remember to register any vessel that is kept on an Environment Agency waterway, or they will face enforcement action. Anyone who comes across a vessel on Environment Agency waterways that they suspect is unregistered, is encouraged to report it by calling 03708 506 506. Your details will remain anonymous.

Further Press release from Communications East Environment Agency - Issued May 2021

Environment Agency launches new Anglian Pass for boaters Boaters now have the option to purchase an ‘Anglian Pass’ which allows them to navigate unrestricted across neighbouring navigations. The Environment Agency, the Conservators of the River Cam, and the Middle Level Commissioners worked together to develop the new pass which covers the River Nene, the Great Ouse system, the Middle Level Navigation and the River Cam.

The new annual pass went live on April 1st to mark the start of the boating season. It allows boaters to move easily between different waterways without having to pay multiple registration fees.

Nathan Arnold, Waterways Team Leader for the Environment Agency, said: “We want to be recognised as a champion for our waterways, delivering a service that protects the environment and is valued by customers. “The aim with the pass is to provide a simple, fair and cost effective system for boating customers across all three navigations. We are really pleased that many customers have already chosen to take up this option and are ready for the new boating season”

Tom Larnach, River Manager, Cam Conservancy, said:

“The Cam Conservancy is excited to be part of the future of boating within the Anglian Region.

“This pass will open up our rivers to boaters from across the country, enabling quick, easy and affordable access to hundreds of miles of beautiful East Anglian waterways.”

David Thomas, Chief Executive of the Middle Level Commissioners, said:

“When the Middle Level Commissioners started its journey towards seeking new powers to levy charges on pleasure craft for using their waters, it was the stated intention to work with neighbouring authorities to provide an option to make moving between navigations as painless as possible. This pass is therefore seen as a real milestone in delivering on this promise.”

More information about the new pass as well as river advice and Navigation Notices, can be found at https://www.visitanglianwaterways.org.

Please note:

Vessels are required to have a valid ‘annual’ vessel registration, with their relevant navigation authority, before applying for the ‘Anglian Pass’. Boaters will still have the ability to purchase short-term/visitor registrations for accessing Environment Agency and Middle Level waters.

The cost of the Anglian pass depends on the size of the vessel. You can read more about this here: https://www.visitanglianwaterways.org/anglianpass The Environment Agency has written to boating and navigation groups regularly throughout the Coronavirus pandemic to provide updates on lockdown restrictions and changes on their waterways. See more here: https:// www.gov.uk/government/publications/environment-agency-waterwayscoronavirus-covid-19-update To adhere to social distancing there are some changes to the way Environment Agency staff typically provide services and some things may take longer or take up more space than normal; for example, at locks and doing routine maintenance. Local information on signs or from staff will provide more detailed advice on new ways of navigating rivers and canals safely. Please follow the latest advice and social distancing to keep yourself and others safe; the safety and wellbeing of the public, boaters, staff and volunteers is our primary concern.