Reckless conduct can be expensive. Rightly so.

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PORT SOLENT MAN MUST PAY OVER £6000 AFTER NEAR MISS WITH RED FUNNEL FERRY IN COWES

22nd July 2021 18:05Adam Richardson

A man has been fined after pleading guilty to 2 offences following a joint investigation carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Regulatory Compliance Investigations Team and Hampshire Constabulary today (Thursday).

Sean Gower, 40, of Newlyn Way, Port Solent, who appeared before Isle of Wight Magistrates Court, was the master of a 6.5 metre-long RIB vessel which was almost directly involved in a collision with a Red Funnel passenger ferry, Red Osprey, in the main fairway of the River Medina on Saturday 12th September last year.

Mr Gower was handed a £2,000 fine, with full legal costs awarded to the MCA (£3,953) and an additional surcharge of £190 – making the total amount payable of £6,143.

Mr Gower, along with 3 companions in his vessel – none of whom were wearing lifejackets – departed Cowes Yacht Haven, Isle of Wight, and were shown on the Red Osprey’s CCTV camera to have been over the harbour speed limit of 6 knots before overtaking and turning sharply across the bow of the Southampton-bound ferry.

The dangerous manoeuvre, which was measured to have taken place at just 8 metres away from the ferry’s bow, forced the master of the Red Osprey to go hard astern and also caused a temporary loss of manoeuvrability and awareness. The RIB continued on its passage at speed, towards Portsmouth, despite the presence of other small craft in the Solent at the time