Report pushes for light dues and registration for leisure boaters
- Tue, 13 Apr 2010
A new lighthouse tax and compulsory boat registration could be forced on leisure boaters if the Government follows the recommendations of a report commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT) into the provision of marine aids to navigation.
The report, the Assessment of the Provision of Marine Aids to Navigation around the UK and Ireland, published last month, makes more than 50 recommendations, most of which don't concern the average British leisure boater.
But two that could have a profound impact are the extension of light dues - the levy paid by commercial shipping to fund Britain and Ireland's lighthouse authorities - to private boatowners and a compulsory registration scheme to make the collection of this tax easier.
"We believe there is also a strong case in principle for extending the [light dues] payment system to include those pleasure craft not already captured by the present system," the report states.
"We have identified significant practical drawbacks, and it is likely that the introduction of a compulsory registration scheme would be required if all eligible to pay are to come within the net for charging."
The report goes on to suggest that £100 is the appropriate yearly charge for light dues for leisure boaters.
The RYA has written to the Government to express its concern that many of the report's assumptions made in relation to leisure boating are flawed.
"[The RYA] has highlighted our concerns that the authors of the report have based their recommendations and conclusions on false assumptions and not taken due account of the views of stakeholders in the recreational sector," it said.
The DfT, meanwhile, has said that the report is "only a start", and that "before we make any revisions to the system of light dues we will carry out a full consultation with everyone who is affected and that will certainly include [RYA] members".
Photo: Chris Ison/PA Photos
Have your say!
Latest comments
April 14 10:05
Bob Goode
Most of the lights and buoys used by yachtsmen for navigation purposes are provided by bodies such as Chichester Harbour, which is funded by yachtsmen and others through harbour dues. Why am I likely to be asked to pay for something which I don't use?
Whe need more than just the blatherings of the RYA to stop this dead in it's tracks.
April 15 20:46
Max Bacon
Another stealth tax, will it cover dinghy owners?
April 15 22:05
Sean
£100 / year / boat will just about cover the admin costs. Part 1 registration recently cost me £130, supposedly the cost of administration.
April 16 19:07
Roger
I have been a leisure sailor for 50 years but do not recall using a lighthouse for any reason during this period. I pay my local authority a expensive annual license fee for the privilege of providing my own mooring equipment. I am not aware of any benefit they give me for the fee. They neither patrol or enforce maritime regulations in my area. Additionally, a expensive mooring fee is paid to any Harbour Authority that I may care to visit during the year. I do not welcome a further 'fee' for a service I neither use or need. I do hope that the RYA - I am a member - strongly resist this further attempt to raise more, unjustified, revenue from us plebs. Perhaps they should de-commision the lighthouses? That would probably generate more money for the coffers?