As someone who uses rivers quite a lot these days I seem to be seeing more
and more what I would class as irresponsible attitudes and behaviour.
Take the first item lifejackets: it seems that more and more people are
venturing out onto tidal rivers without a lifejacket, this to me is stupid.
It is all too easy to miss your footing when moving around outside the boat
and in you go. In the water without a life jacket in the Pool of London I
wouldnt give much for your chances on a busy day. I have had a couple of
near misses when its been rough only the rails on the outside of the barge
have stopped me going in.
They should be made compulsory on all tidal rivers.
On to the second VHF: I applaud the PLA for bringing this in,it should have
been above 10m, its about time.
If the captain of the Marchioness had been able to hear his VHF (I believe
it wasnt loud enough to get over the volume of the music) he would have
known that the dredger was departing and could have kept out of the way. The
same goes for any other boat on the tideway, all reporting vessels have to
notify when they leave so if you listen, you know what big stuff is about
and can keep a look out and stay out of their way.
Licences: Its about time a licence became compulsory with a practical and
theoretical test. Some of the boat handling I have seen on the Thames in the
last couple of weeks has been appalling, people completely unaware of their
surroundings, in a world of their own, not realising that they are making it
very difficult for the boat behind. Before anyone says anything this has
usually been when I have been stopped waiting for boats to come out of the
lock so I have been an observer and not involved.
And finally CEVNI: when is this country going to stop trying to reinvent the
wheel and adopt the European standard for lights and signs on waterways,
they are just so much better than the ones in use over here. I am not saying
that all canals should have a new proliferation of signs merely that where
they are used they should be the European ones.
J
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