A jet skier who forced the Red Funnel ferry to take evasive action after steering across its path has become the first to be cautioned by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) under a new water safety law. The offence was committed by a man in his 20s from Southampton at the entrance to Cowes Harbour on 4th August 2023 after he circled directly across the ferry’s path, within metres of its bow. His actions prompted the ferry’s master to make significant changes to steerage and power to reduce the risk of a collision. The incident was spotted by officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary with the case being taken by the MCA which issued a caution to the man on 1st July 2024 after he admitted the offence. Lesley Hopker, MCA Departmental Inspector, says:
“The jet skier was very remorseful and appreciated that his actions had forced a ferry with many people on board to, essentially, slam on the brakes. “At a busy harbour, on the last day of Cowes Week, this could have had serious consequences. It’s a timely reminder that even small watercraft are now covered by maritime law and action will be taken against those breaking the rules.”
The actions of the jet skier were in breach of Rule 9 of the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea (IRPCS), contrary to Section 4 of The Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996. Since 31st March last year, the law has also applied to jet skiers (under the Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 2023), which enables those who endanger others by using powered watercraft of any size in a dangerous manner to be prosecuted. Island Echo reported on this change in law last year.
So iow police sit watching the ferries roll in do they?
Hants and Isle of Wight police have a marine support unit. It is their job to police what happens on the water.
I doubt it. But Red Funnel would have been obliged to report the incident.
Get down to Colwell Bay, you will see Sea-Doo’s driving through the “Safe to Swim” marked off area that Freshwater Parish Council have corded off with massive bright yellow buoy’s on a nearly daily event!
They then drive through the children and other swimmers to get close enough to the beach to get off. The only issue with that is they don’t use the clearly marked allocated “4 knots launching and landing channel “. And they wonder why we get p***** of with them! They are becoming like the “lycra cycling brigade”, their giving themselves a really bad name.
WTF a caution? He knew exactly what he was doing with a ferry full of people too! What an absolute moron.
Exactly. I bet he’s learned a hard lesson. That absolutely nothing happens if you break the law and endanger life, even your own. Pathetic little man and a matching pathetic little outcome.
What is wrong with the island.
We have I D I O T S on our Roads and I D I O T S
on the Sea.
This I D I O T needs locking up!
We also have IDIOTS that post stupid comments without reading the article. ‘The offence was committed by a man in his 20s from Southampton’.
I guess he wasn’t expecting to see Red funnel service actually running
Jet Ski verses car ferry !
I wonder who will win that fight
A caution, so no detergent then, he might do it again next week.
crush the jet ski, £2000 fine, and clean the barnacles off the bottom of the ferry. If they are not going to receive a suitable sentence, don’t stop the ferry next time. Where is that soap box?
Perhaps the soap box contains the detergent?
detergent? soap box? What’s going on here?
Hopefully the entitled prat will go under the next ferry.
The MCA referred me to “the harbour authority” for a complaint about danger jet ski conduct in Sandown. I asked for contact details. After weeks of nothing, they replied saying that there wasn’t one for Sandown (!) and to contact the IOW Council. Since the Council are reportedly incapable of even renewing dog enforcement actions for our beaches, I have no hope. Someone will die or be seriously injured there one day. Yes there’s yellow buoys but they are often ignored.
It is utterly pointless making rules and wasting taxpayers money putting buoys out if you cannot enforce the rules
Jet ski? Sea chavs would be more accurate.
Usually, gobby builders with their stupid monster trucks
Sorry don’t believe this story…for this to have happened it would mean a red funnel ferry was actually working, was on schedule and not subject to cancellation or delay, can’t have happened. Red funnel isn’t that good at getting a boat to work, be on time or sail at the published schedule…so cant have been a red funnel ferry…lol