Consultation outcome

Strengthening enforcement of the dangerous use of recreational and personal watercraft

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 6 September 2021
• Last updated: 18 January 2023 — See all updates

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Strengthening enforcement of the dangerous use of recreational and personal watercraft: consultation response summary and next steps

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Detail of outcome

This report summarises the responses to the consultation and the issues that were identified. It also provides the department’s response and the next steps.

Detail of feedback received

491 responses from all areas of the maritime sector were received to this consultation. The department would like to thank all those who took the time to consider its proposals. A summary of responses is included in the final outcome.

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Original consultation

Summary

Proposes altering legislation to bring recreational and personal watercraft within scope of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 to ensure safe practices.

This consultation ran from
6 September 2021 to 11:45pm on 1 November 2021

Consultation description

Proposes changing legislation to place bring recreational and personal watercraft within scope of the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

By this change: ​

• personal watercraft and other recreational watercraft users will be subject to the same safety obligations, where appropriate, that exist for the operators of ships
• enforcement authorities will have an additional power of prosecution to be used in cases of deliberate or negligent misuse

Documents

Consultation: strengthening enforcement of the dangerous use of recreational and personal watercraft

PDF, 854 KB, 72 pages

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Published 6 September 2021
Last updated 18 January 2023 + show all updates

1. 18 January 2023

   Added a summary of public responses, government response and outcome.

2. 6 September 2021

   First published.