Two boat owners have been hit with fines and hefty costs after prosecutions by the Environment Agency for failing to register their vessels on the non-tidal River Thames. The cases highlight a recent crackdown on those avoiding the annual fees required to keep boats on England’s major waterway.
Registration Revenue Funds River Upkeep
All boats kept or operated on the Thames must be registered annually, with the fees collected going towards maintenance of 600 miles of navigable rivers, locks and weirs across the country – primarily on the Thames itself as England’s largest river.
Maria Herlihy, Environment Agency waterways manager, stressed the importance of compliance:
“Prosecution is always a last resort. We gave the defendants ample opportunity to pay their boat registration fees, but their refusal left us with no choice but to take them to court. Anyone who uses the River Thames for boating should expect to contribute towards the upkeep of the river.”
Warnings Unheeded Before Court Action
The two unregistered boats were initially spotted by Environment Agency officers patrolling the Thames. After affixing warning notices that went unheeded, court proceedings began against:
- Carl Wych of Bray Boats, Maidenhead – Fined £200 plus £1,386.21 in fees/costs for unregistered boat “Orion”
- Peter Jones of Southall – Fined £100 plus £2,221.30 in fees/costs for unregistered “Bairns Pride” and overstaying at moorings
The fines represent a fraction of the overall financial penalty, with the bulk comprised of registration fees owed backdated to January 2023 along with legal costs.
| Boat | Owner | Fine | Fees/Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orion | Carl Wych | £200 | £1,186.21 |
| Bairns Pride | Peter Jones | £100 | £2,121.30 |
“We have officers patrolling daily, checking boat registrations,” Herlihy warned. “If you have an unregistered boat, you risk a fine. It’s easy to register and avoids unnecessary court costs.”
Annual Fees Apply to All Thames Boats
Beyond funding upkeep, the compulsory registration also helps ensure boats meet safety standards and have proper insurance. It applies to all watercraft on the non-tidal Thames from paddleboards to narrowboats.
Registration opens January 1st yearly, with fines possible for any unregistered boats found on the river past that date. Some boating community members grumble about the costs, but most recognize the fees as reasonable support for preserving the Thames.
With the EA showing its resolve to pursue violators, the coming year may see more unlucky boaters learning the hard way that skirting the system risks making a bureaucratic headache into an expensive legal debacle.
For more on Thames boating guidelines and fees, call 03708 506 506 or visit www.gov.uk/register-a-boat.
Sources: THX News & Environment Agency.
