Meanwhile, an unlicensed boat on the Trent & Mersey Canal has just cost its owner thousands of pounds in additional expenses after we acted to remove it from the water. The fire-damaged boat was logged as unidentified in April 2013 before action got underway to remove the boat from the canal.
At the end of October, as the boat lift got underway, the owner of the vessel came forward. Following a long conversation with our staff, the owner agreed to pay almost £5,500 to cover the cost of the contractors, as well as outstanding fees, to keep the boat in the water.
Important contribution
Denise Yelland, head of enforcement at the Canal & River Trust, said: “It's just not fair for the majority of boaters that a minority try to get something for nothing. We don't like having to take boats out of the water and it is a last resort, but we will take action on unlicensed vessels.
"This can result in a costly shock for the owner, or the loss of their boat. In the past four months we have removed 24 unlicensed boats from the water and we will continue to crack down on those boaters who aren't playing by the rules. Boaters make an important contribution to the canals and the income from licences helps us keep the waterways in working order.”
