Proposed Registration of small craft, jet skis etc

jkchambers

The proposed bill below may have some implications for the angling community in relation to the use of boats for recreationl purposes. Inter alia: it proposes the registration of 'small' angling boats, and Jet Skis as part of a wider register of maritime craft.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD has announced the publication of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013.

The Bill is one of the Minister's legislative priorities and is part of an overall objective to update and enhance the national maritime legislative code, and ensure the safety of maritime transport services.

The importance of ship registration is that it confers Irish nationality on ships, allowing them to fly the Irish flag and register ownership. The new Bill will provide a basis for the introduction of an updated and modernised ship registration system in Ireland.

Among the new categories of vessels for which the Bill proposes registration are fishing boats less than 15 metres in length overall, personal watercraft (jet skis), small fast powered craft and small angling boats.

The proposed extension of a registration requirement to jet skis takes account of the increase in the numbers of such craft in recent times, the risks that can be involved in the operation of such craft and, in particular, responds to a recommendation made by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board following a number of marine casualty incidents involving jet skis in recent years.

The Bill is the result of a detailed review of the existing registration regime, which dates from 1955, and involved an extensive public consultation process and meetings with interested stakeholders. It has been prepared against a background of international growth in maritime trade, an increase in the use of pleasure craft and an increasing emphasis on safety, security and environmental issues both at EU and international level.

"This Bill will bring the ship registration system in Ireland up to date. It will replace the existing arrangements that have been in place since 1955 and allow us to introduce a new, centralised, electronic Irish Register of Ships. My aim is to provide a ship registration system which underpins a high standard for ships on the Irish flag and provides a more accessible registration system for ship owners," Minister Varadkar said.

The Bill sets out a new registration process for vessels. Most ships operating domestically in Irish waters will be registered on this new Register.

The current arrangements for the registration of ships will continue until such time as the new Register is in place and the relevant provisions of the Bill and subsequent regulations are commenced.

Currently in general terms, registration applies to ships of more than 15 net tons, and fishing boats of 15 metres or more, wholly owned by Irish citizens. Certain exemptions apply, including ships owned by Irish citizens not ordinarily resident in the State.

The current legislation is the Mercantile Marine Act 1955, as amended by the Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1998 and the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006.

Some key points of the Bill are as follows:

A new Irish Register of Ships will be created consisting of different Parts for the registration of different types of ships and for different registration purposes, e.g. a new system of visitor registration is proposed.
The different Parts of the Register (for the different ship categories) can be established if necessary at different times on a phased basis. The specific registration requirements for different types of ships will be set out in regulations which would be made under the Bill following enactment.
Mandatory ship registration will be extended to additional ship categories including fishing boats less than 15 metres in length overall, personal watercraft (jet skis), small fast powered craft and some small angling boats. In general, subject to some exemptions, all ships operating domestically will be required to be on the Register or to have a current valid registration conferring nationality from another country. Other than the small vessels mentioned, registration of all leisure craft less than 24 metres is not proposed.

A system of visitor registration is proposed for recreational craft 24 metres in load line length and greater, personal watercraft (jet skis) and small fast powered craft, where such craft are not registered in another country and wish to operate in Irish waters for short periods not exceeding three months. This will be a simplified form of registration and for a nominal fee, so as not to impact negatively on tourism.

The proposed extension of a registration requirement to jet skis takes account of the increase in the numbers of such craft in recent times, the risks that can be involved in the operation of such craft and, in particular, responds to a recommendation made by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board following a number of marine casualty incidents involving jet skis in recent years.

Both ship registration renewal and a facility to refuse ship registration or remove ships from the Register are being introduced, to improve the quality, integrity and accuracy of the Ship Register. A ship registration will have to be renewed up to five years after initial registration and at intervals of up to ten years thereafter.
Under the Bill, Irish ships that are registered under the current regime will be transferred free of charge to an appropriate Part of the new Register for an initial period of up to five years and, subject to compliance with the requirements of the Bill, will then become eligible for consideration for renewal of their registration.

Improvements to enforcement provisions include:

increases in penalty levels;
a power of detention given to surveyors for ship registration related offences;
the introduction of a system of fixed payments (€150) for certain offences involving personal watercraft, small fast powered craft and smaller angling ships; and
the designation of a range of State personnel as authorised persons for enforcement purposes.

The next stage following publication of the Bill is its consideration by the Oireachtas, which will take place in 2014.

jkchambers

How do you reconcile this
" Among the new categories of vessels for which the Bill proposes registration are fishing boats less than 15 metres in length overall, personal watercraft (jet skis), small fast powered craft and small angling boats"
With this
" Other than the small vessels mentioned, registration of all leisure craft less than 24 metres is not proposed."
What is a leisure craft less than 24 metres ? When is a 17 foot lake boat not a leisure craft ? Maybe if its used for commercial purposes ? We will try to find out.

Flysfisher

jkchambers wrote: »

How do you reconcile this
" Among the new categories of vessels for which the Bill proposes registration are fishing boats less than 15 metres in length overall, personal watercraft (jet skis), small fast powered craft and small angling boats"
With this
" Other than the small vessels mentioned, registration of all leisure craft less than 24 metres is not proposed."
What is a leisure craft less than 24 metres ? When is a 17 foot lake boat not a leisure craft ? Maybe if its used for commercial purposes ? We will try to find out.

More money for the lads pension funds. Another agency for jobs for the boys etc etc that's what it's about.

jkchambers

Well, many anglers would like to see jet skis registered with a big number on display. There have been numerous cases where jet skiers have come right in on anglers fishing. Some show absolutely no respect for other water users.

Flysfisher

jkchambers wrote: »

Well, many anglers would like to see jet skis registered with a big number on display. There have been numerous cases where jet skiers have come right in on anglers fishing. Some show absolutely no respect for other water users.

Jet skis should be banned on a lot of lakes and rivers, lethal things, hate the site of them.
But are they serious about taxing rowing boats and dinghies now as well? (That's what it will be an excuse for a tax, sorry registration fee, or something like that).

Then it will be a tax for float tubes and while they are at it waders too.

They can **** right off with it.

jkchambers

Flysfisher wrote: »

Jet skis should be banned on a lot of lakes and rivers, lethal things, hate the site of them.
But are they serious about taxing rowing boats and dinghies now as well? (That's what it will be an excuse for a tax, sorry registration fee, or something like that).

Then it will be a tax for float tubes and while they are at it waders too.

They can **** right off with it.

As I posted earlier I am trying to get answers but half the Dept officials are still on hols

jd

Its not clear what is proposed - as I posted on SAI

Looked at the bill again.

Requirement to register certain ships
11. (1) Subject to subsections (2), (9) and (10), all ships operating domestically, including—
(a) a fishing boat in respect of which a sea-fishing boat licence has been granted or is
required to be held under section 4 (inserted by section 97 of the Act of 2006) of
the Act of 2003,
(b) personal watercraft and small fast powered craft, and
(c) a ship carrying not more than 3 passengers for the purposes of angling as
exempted in the Licensing of Passenger Boats (Exemption) Regulations 2002
(S.I. No. 274 of 2002) from the requirement to be licensed under section 14 of the
Merchant Shipping Act 1992,
are required to be registered on the Register in accordance with this Act.

The 2002 SI

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2002/en/si/0274.html

3. The following class of vessel is hereby exempted from the requirement to be licensed under section 14 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1992 (No. 2 of 1992), as amended, that is to say,

vessels, being open vessels of no less than 4 metres in length, carrying no more than 3 passengers on board for the purpose of angling and engaged on domestic voyages in smooth waters on canals, rivers, lakes and loughs.

So it looks like a current exemption is being removed.?!? And this exemption is for inland boats.

Mr Bumble

No question. They want a registration fee for every boat. As said above, they can go and ask the back end of my....

"the introduction of a system of fixed payments (€150) for certain offences involving personal watercraft, small fast powered craft and smaller angling ships"

....how can you possibly bracket 'small fast powered craft' with 'smaller angling ships' and what are the 'certain offences'?

I've a 19ft lakeboat. Am i right in saying that this is NOT exempt under current legislation?