Think when drinking on board

Posted on February 13^th 2009

It has recently come to the attention of the Department for Transport (DfT), that all boats under 7m long and that are not capable of travelling over 7 knots, are exempt from the drink boating laws

Railways and Transport Safety brought this law into place in 2004 for all professional mariners. The two offences that where deemed to be relevant are, “that of being unable to carry out duties because of an impairment due to alcohol and drugs” and “that of being over the prescribed limits for alcohol (80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood)”.

After this was launched in 2004 a consultation arose on whether leisure mariners should be included in the act. Then in 2007 it came into force that all boats over 7m long and capable of travelling over 7 knots would be included in the law. But the smaller crafts would still be excluded from this.

Come the New Year of 2009 and Government has now decided to discuss this issue. Should all craft no matter of size and speed capability been included in this law?

News brought to you by Insuremyboat.co.uk, one of the UK’s leading Boat insurance specialists.

Other news stories

• Boat in a bag
• Trawler skipper pleads guilty to being under the influence
• Abandoned Barge found by fisherman
• Amy Winehouse rescues distressed sailor
• Russian ship loses its cargo
• Plastic mass five times bigger than Britain in the sea
• Would you like your boat on the back of a 50p coin
• Compensation payout for pub landlord
• Lifeboats SOS call to return to duty
• 2009 London boat show
• Titanic’s Sister to become tourist attraction
• Arson Attack on Boats and Caravans
• New years honours for Britons gold medallists