The Environmental Agency has successfully prosecuted a reckless boat owner for exceeding the speed limit on the Medway Navigation. Mr Dan Casson of Hollingworth Road, Maidstone, was found guilty in his absence and fined £500 and ordered to pay £190 costs and £15 victim surcharge at Maidstone Magistrates Court.

At approximately 11pm on Saturday 28 July 2007, Mr Casson was moving at approximately 20 knots, in a 5-knot area, when he collided with a police boat and then continued to travel down the river towards Allington.

Four police officers from Kent Police Marine Unit were patrolling the River Medway as part of the Maidstone River Festival. After completing their patrol, the constables waited in a queue to use the slipway near the Dragon’s Leisure Centre in Maidstone. It was here that Mr Casson’s Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), which did not have any navigation lights, hit the police boat and sped off.

When considering the fine for this case, the magistrate took into account the high speed that the boat was travelling, the damage to both boats involved, the fact that the defendant was considered to be drunk and the increased danger of speeding on a river.

PC Robert Dadd of Kent Police said:

‘We are pleased that the Environment Agency was successful with this prosecution. We hope it will send a clear and strong message that drinking alcohol while using boats is dangerous. In this instance, it was extremely fortunate that nobody was hurt.’

Practical Boat Owner, 30 April 2008

BRP Recreational Products UK Ltd, the new regional office for BRP in the UK, has entered a strategic partnership with JBT Marine Ltd , who are based at Thornham Marina distributor of Ballistic RIBS for the UK and Europe. All new Ballistic RIBs purchased in the UK and Europe throughout 2007/2008 will be pre-rigged with Evinrude® E-TEC outboard engines.

“We believe the Evinrude E-TEC is the best engine for our boats and our customers. The E-TEC technology is one of the most environmentally advanced on the market and the engines are also offered with a great warranty that includes the first dealerscheduled service after 300 hours or 3 years,” says Jonny Boys, Managing Director, JBT Marine Ltd. “We look forward to working closely with BRP and expanding the presence of Ballistic RIBs internationally as well as introducing new dealers to our network.”

The Evinrude E-TEC is one of the cleanest engines available today. It meets and exceeds the European Union emissions standards, and was the first outboard engine to receive the prestigious Clean Air Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2005. The range was also the first full line of outboard engines to receive the Air Resources Board’s (CARB) 3-star designation for Ultra Low Emissions.

The direct injection of the Evinrude E-TEC engine provides up to twice the fuel efficiency of competitive technologies. Its Engine Management Module (EMM) coupled with the fully stratified combustion system ensures that the engine burns less fuel under any load or condition.

See several Ballistic RIBs equipped with Evinrude E-TEC outboard engines, ranging from 5.5m to 7.8m, on display on the pontoons at RIBEX 2008. Alternatively, JBT Marine Ltd is running test days most Saturdays at Gunwharf Quays. For more information and to register, please email info@ribsforsale.com.

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