Safety updated in new Broads act

The legislation includes a boat safety scheme for hire crafts

Inspections like the MOT test for road vehicles and licensing for boats are to be carried out under new laws on the broads in Norfolk and Suffolk.

The Broads Authority Act has received royal assent, updating regulations that have stood for 20 years.

The Boat Safety Scheme (MOT equivalent) has been made mandatory and powers are increased to manage water skiing.

Boats hired to the public on the waterways must now also have third party insurance.

The original regulations came into force when the Broads Authority was created in 1989.

They take into account recent tragedies on the waterways and their increasing use for leisure pursuits.

Fire and explosion

In July 2003 a hire boat with 10 people onboard capsized and inverted without warning at Horning Hall, resulting in one woman's death.

The subsequent report by the DTI's Marine Accident Investigation Branch recommended "the introduction of licensing regimes by inspection of hire craft by competent bodies".

The Navigation Committee has recommended that this should be for a minimum of £2m and they said the costs of this insurance are affordable and many owners will already have it.

The Boat Safety Scheme, a four-year boat MOT designed to reduce the risk of fire and explosion, was fully introduced in April this year.

The act will improve the arrangements for managing water skiing.

Julian Barnwell, of British Water Ski, said: "It cements the voluntary agreement which has existed for the past three years and we look forward to working very closely with the Broads Authority in the future.

"We are delighted that the changes are now law so we can ensure that water skiing continues in a safe and responsible manner on the Broads."