North Wales MP calls for jet ski use to be regulated after raising safety concerns

A North Wales MP hopes to bring in Parliamentary legislation regulating the use of jet skis and making it illegal to operate such water vehicles without a licence.

The private members bill follows similar calls from Gwynedd Council and would establish a licensing system for drivers of jet skis, which are currently exempt from normal maritime regulations.

Set to be presented on Tuesday but requiring several votes and committee scrutiny before implementation, the private members bill would also bring into law the offence of using a jet ski without the necessary licencing requirements and set a maximum penalty for the offence.

“Its currently possible for anyone, even a child as young as 12, to drive a jet ski,” said Arfon MP Hywel Williams who has introduced the bill with cross-party support.

“A jet ski driver doesn’t need a licence – unlike in most other EU countries and beyond, which already have a strict licensing system in place.’

“As an MP who represents an area well-accustomed to the use of jet skis and personal watercraft, especially during the summer months, I feel the safety of other seafarers and beach goers is currently being undermined by the current lack of legislation.”

Last month a full Gwynedd Council meeting unanimously backed calls on the  UK Government to treat such personal water vehicles in the same way that motorbikes are governed by road legislation.

Cllr Gareth Thomas, who holds the maritime portfolio, said that complaints of dangerous jet ski use had “increased significantly.”

And despite Gwynedd Council already requiring all powerboats and jet skis launched from county’s beaches and harbours to be registered, concerns remain that their own enforcement powers are “limited” without tighter government restrictions.

Cllr Thomas’ motion called for every personal watercraft to be insured with every driver  given a test on their ability to navigate and manage the vehicle.

“It’s bizarre that there’s really no regulation to control boats capable of travelling at speeds in excess of 40mph by anyone regardless of their age and without the need for training, insurance or a licence at all,” said Cllr Thomas.

“We wouldn’t let our children or grandchildren travel our roads on a motorcycle. But there’s no law in place to prevent a 12-year-old from jumping on the back of these powerful machines and playing on our waters, it makes no sense.”

In an open letter to the Minister for Transport earlier this year, the UK Harbourmasters Association pressed for closing the loophole in the law by clearly defining that a jet ski is recognised as a “ship.”

But according to several councillors in Gwynedd, businesses have been reporting sales of power vehicles to have increased by over 30% this summer, with concerns it could be an even bigger issue next year if foreign travel continues to be problematic.

Hywel Williams MP concluded,  “Successive governments have so far failed to take decisive action to legislate on this issue. It remains the case that jet skis fall outside maritime legislation, preventing local authorities from responding to concerns with any serious powers.’

“Some local authorities such as Gwynedd have demonstrated that there is cross-party political will to challenge the irresponsible and antisocial use of jet skis when the personal safety of other sea users is put at risk, but without meaningful legislation, their hands are tied.’

“My Bill seeks to redress this inconsistency by bringing in a UK-wide licensing system so that jet ski drivers, much like motorbike drivers, would require a licence before being allowed to operate the watercraft.”

Other than Plaid Cymru’s three MPs, among the 7 members to sign the proposed motion are Sir Roger Gale and Paul Maynard (Conservative),  Geraint Davies (Labour) and Jim Shannon (DUP).

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter