Can we cruise or not?

[frangar]

3 hours ago, Dave123 said:

Just hope the EA follow suit so I can escape to the Thames on the bank holiday wkend?

The EA seem slightly more wooly than CRT...excuse the long doc but I lifted it from facebook!

 

The EA released the following up date at 13.38 today 13th May  
Dear customer

Following the Government announcement on 10 May about plans to relax some of the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), we wanted to let you know how this affects our advice for Environment Agency navigations. Firstly, we are continuing to follow Government advice during this Coronavirus pandemic and our main priority remains protecting the health of our staff, customers and the general public. 

The Government have clearly stated that it is far too early to make fundamental changes to the social distancing requirements in relation to the Coronavirus emergency. So at this stage, we want to reiterate that boaters should avoid all non-essential travel on our waterways for the next few weeks and to make journeys only to access essential services and facilities - this will help ensure safety of boaters and staff. 

We know boat owners have told us they are keen to get back out on the water in the near future. We are working hard to prepare for boaters to get out on the water as soon as it is safe to do so. Environment Agency teams will prepare for boat travel to resume by undertaking inspections and maintenance to river channels and structures to ensure they are safe. 

In light of the Prime Minister's announcement, lifting restrictions on spending time outdoors and allowing car travel to outdoor spaces irrespective of distance from Wednesday, boat owners can visit their boats from today (Wednesday 13 May 2020) to ensure they are well maintained, registered and ready for use once restrictions are lifted. 

We will work as fast as we can to get the navigations ready for non-essential leisure cruising. We hope to allow some leisure cruising from June and will provide a further update setting out how and when you will be able to resume further leisure boating over the coming weeks. 

We appreciate the boating community are keen to head out on the waterways at this time of year and we understand the huge strain this continues to put on the boating and leisure industry. However we believe that this is still the right thing to do at this time to help ensure safety of our customers and staff. 

In line with the Government announcements about slight changes to the lockdown, from Wednesday you may see the resumption of angling and watersports on our waterways. We continue to encourage all waterways users to respect the needs of our residential waterways community and maintain appropriate social distancing, following the guidance of organisations such as British Canoeing and British Rowing where it is available. 

Restart planning 
We are continuing to work hard to deliver our critical asset management activities in order to keep our waterways safe and to support essential travel. Where possible we are ensuring safe passage to essential facilities that support the welfare of residential boaters (water, pump outs, fuel points etc.). However, in the short term we will still not be able to provide assisted passage at sites that can be self-operated by boaters for essential travel; we will only operate those locks where our staff have to provide this service and this will be done with a safe system of work to ensure social distancing is complied with. 

We have been planning over recent weeks for how we can deliver a safe level of service ready for when boaters are able to resume cruising. We will share a clear roadmap of how and when you will be able to resume leisure boating over the coming weeks. 

Provided we can do so safely, and in line with Government guidance, we will continue to respond to incidents that pose an immediate risk to users of the waterway, for example asset failure that prevents essential passage or responding to blockages that significantly affect water level management and could therefore present a risk to public or staff safety. 

For the time being, mooring exemptions remain in place however these will be reviewed as part of the plan for resumption of leisure cruising. 

Boat registration 
The recent announcements mean that boaters may well be able to get back out to their boats in the near future. It is therefore essential that boats are registered in line with the requirements of the Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010, which means that owners of all boats kept or used on our waterways need to register them and pay the registration charge.

[canalboat]

And another question:

In a scale from Jet-ski to Widebeam barge, when does a "privately owned motorized craft" be defined as a home?

[Sir Nibble]

Just now, canalboat said:

And another question:

In a scale from Jet-ski to Widebeam barge, when does a "privately owned motorized craft" be defined as a home?

When you can live on it?

[BilgePump]

11 minutes ago, canalboat said:

And another question:

In a scale from Jet-ski to Widebeam barge, when does a "privately owned motorized craft" be defined as a home?

when you can stand up in it? when it has a toilet behind a door? Mine boasts neither facility.

OTOH we've all seen brave souls living in sub 20' Normans and Shetlands.

Wouldn't want to but if it was a park bench or the boat, no question.

[Machpoint005]

23 minutes ago, canalboat said:

And another question:

In a scale from Jet-ski to Widebeam barge, when does a "privately owned motorized craft" be defined as a home?

 

22 minutes ago, Sir Nibble said:

When you can live on it?

 

Shouldn't the question really be "Was the vessel considered to be a home before March 2020?" If no, then it isn't. If yes, then it is. It was motorised in either case, though. (Admittedly, perhaps it is the EA that can't spell.) 

 

 

[WotEver]

On the local news two minutes ago:

 

"I think he's done it [relaxed the lockdown] sooner than he should have done."  Said the fisherman by the side of the lake...

[Dave123]

An excellent response to the gov't clarification that motor boats can be used from today from the Broads Authority, including a not so subtle dig at the EA for having done no maintenance during lockdown. Seems the EA haven't caught up yet though but I'm not sure what right they have to stop navigation given the gov't have said it's ok and there is a prn?

[Dave123]

Broads Authority statement 13 May: Government confirms that private boats can use Broads waterways

The Broads Authority has today received confirmation from Defra that privately owned powered boats can be used on the Broads for day trips as long as other guidance on social distancing is followed. 

This follows guidance issued earlier this week that allowed sailing and paddle boating (including canoes, kayaks and paddle boards) to resume.

Whilst other inland waterways face a delay in the return of powered private boats, the Broads is able to welcome boaters back because maintenance of the waterways has continued throughout the COVID-19 lockdown.

Whilst the public are advised to stay at home as much as possible, from today (13 May) you are now able to leave your home and travel to exercise or spend time outdoors from today.

As well as the relaxation of boating restrictions, owners may also visit their boats for leisure or to do maintenance but are not able to stay overnight away from their usual residence (so day trips only).

The Authority urges people to take care to follow guidelines and respect social distancing and to bear in mind that many businesses associated with boating may not yet be able to open.

It is also essential that boaters contact marinas where their vessels are moored directly to see if they are able to access them as some businesses may not be open or able to facilitate safe access.

The revised guidance on returning to work (if you are not able to do so from home) may also mean that some businesses may be able to re-open whilst others cannot. 

As well as restrictions business owners will have to judge whether it is safe to re-open and if they can apply social distancing/precautionary measures to protect staff and customers.

Whilst we are all pleased that we can access the Broads again, the threat of Coronavirus is still very real. It is up to all of us to ensure the guidelines are followed to help save lives and protect our NHS.

Read the full statement on our website: https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/news/coronavirus-covid-19/

[Machpoint005]

5 hours ago, Dave123 said:

I'm not sure what right they have to stop navigation given the gov't have said it's ok and there is a prn?

 

The EA also has responsibilities as an employer to keep its workforce safe. The Agency should do whatever it thinks best to that end. 

 

[nbfiresprite]

Latest from Foxes

 

The main thing being that any visit has to be pre-booked and no staying over night.

 

 

 

Fox Narrowboats Ltd
COVID 19
ACCESS GUIDE V1
FOR MOORING CUSTOMERS
13/05/2020

 

Following Review of the government’s plan for the next phases of the UK’s emergence from COVID-19 pandemic and after discussion with the industry; we have now announced that Fox Narrowboats can be accessed by our existing mooring customers. The marina will not be accessible to the general public or friends & family to visit.
This is of course subject to customer’s continuation to follow the government’s plan and the marinas guidance and users code supplied with your mooring agreement.
Before you travel…

 

 Please consider if your journey to the marina is necessary?
 Contact the marina office via email to let us know you will be visiting with dates and times reception@foxboats.co.uk
 Review government guidelines in your area e.g. England, Wales, Scotland & N. Ireland
 Bring your own PPE, hand sanitiser and any first aid kit that you may require

 

IMPORTANT
WE MUST ASK YOU TO REFRAIN FROM ENGAGING WITH OUR STAFF DIRECTLY, ALL ENQUIRIES MUST BE MADE BY PHONE, ONLINE OR E-MAIL AND MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM SHOULD NOT BE APPROACHED IN PERSON.

 

When you arrive on site…
Remember to bring your key to the security gate and wear gloves or wash your hands after using.

 

SEVERAL AREAS OF THE MARINA REMAIN RESTRICTED

 

The office is open between 9 and 10am but is not accessible in person and you should call 01354 652770 to speak with a member of our team.
The toilets, showers and laundry are closed until further notice.

We will not be accepting deliveries for customers, however if allowed by your supplier they may be left upon the step outside the office for collection obeying social distancing rules.

 

In addition to following government guidelines please also ensure that:
You should go directly to your boat, do not interact with other customers or marina staff.
Carry out activities on board your boat where possible and consider which exterior activities could break social distancing rules.

 

As per government advice you cannot stay on your boat overnight at the marina so please leave the marina the same day as arriving.
Jetties and walkways should be accessed using a ‘give way system’, you must allow people to complete a full journey before accessing the jetties or walkways as they are less than 2 metres wide.

We appreciate you may wish to speak with other boat owners but as per government guidelines we unfortunately recommend against this at this time.

 

Only one person allowed by the waste bins at any one time. When opening Bin please ensure you wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards.

 

Only one person allowed in the Elsan disposal area at any one time. Customers should ensure they clean down all surfaces and sanitise your hands before using and prior to leaving the area.

[Dave123]

9 hours ago, Machpoint005 said:

 

The EA also has responsibilities as an employer to keep its workforce safe. The Agency should do whatever it thinks best to that end. 

 

Yeah...as do the other navigation authorities. The lock keepers wouldn't be on duty to assist. The lock houses are well separated from the locks and all have public footpaths running right past them anyway...which are still open for people so I really don't see why boats using the lock would put staff at extra risk? The maintenance backlog on the closed locks is different I agree but many locks could be opened with social distancing in place.

[Machpoint005]

2 hours ago, Dave123 said:

I really don't see why boats using the lock would put staff at extra risk?

 

I would respectfully suggest that the EA knows more about the risks to its staff than you do. My suggested reason may be completely erroneous, of course, but the EA still knows more about its own business than does a customer.

 

[ditchcrawler]

We all know more than anyone in authority about this disease 

[Machpoint005]

2 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

We all know more than anyone in authority about this disease 

 

Sad, but mostly true.

 

Not sure about the "anyone" though.

[mrsmelly]

18 hours ago, Machpoint005 said:

 

The EA also has responsibilities as an employer to keep its workforce safe. The Agency should do whatever it thinks best to that end. 

 

Yep and not only to their workforce bu also to service users, boaters, fishists, walkers etc etc. Just because you can doesnt mean you should innitt.

[Scholar Gypsy]

My only other observation on the EA notice is that it covers all their waterways (Thames, Nene, Great Ouse, Medway etc). Let's hope that some more localised guidance on day trips is available soon. Where I moor is miles away from the nearest lock, so day trips would be much lower risk. Like others I am waiting for a few days to see how this all settles down.

[Mike on the Wey]

19 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

We all know more than anyone in authority about this disease 

Tracey knows more.

[Dave123]

23 hours ago, Machpoint005 said:

 

I would respectfully suggest that the EA knows more about the risks to its staff than you do. My suggested reason may be completely erroneous, of course, but the EA still knows more about its own business than does a customer.

 

Part of my job lately has actually involved planning how to make the place where I work safe for colleagues to return so I do have some idea of what the risks are, also I did study virology. Not that you would know that of course, on here I'm just a photo?. I still don't see what the risk is to say a cruise within a reach using no locks. And as Simon said above, localised advice would be welcome. Some lock houses are well removed from the lock site. Handwashing really would eliminate all risk from shared touching of surfaces like control panels. The EA have given a revised update which was much more encouraging giving more detail. Apparently some of the delay in reopening has more to do with a need to check the river is safe from flood related obstructions. They hope to be open before June

[WotEver]

Interesting outlook on the near-future from a Telegraph correspondent:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/beware-antibody-politics-rise-covid-elite/

 

It concludes:

One of the documents released by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) last week was a paper looking at the “possible negative behavioural responses to Covid-19 antibody testing”.

Those with antibodies, it worried, may take on all sorts of risky and antisocial behaviours, while those without might be excluded from work or become too worried to leave home. “Some people might try to game the system, buying fake test results for their immunity passport or purposely seeking to catch coronavirus,” it speculated.

Sage does not go here but immunity passports could cause all sorts of social angst and division. Restaurants, theatres and cinemas might bar the “negs” and welcome only the new Covid-elite. International air travel and foreign holidays could become their exclusive domain. Even swiping left and right on Tinder may take on new meaning.

Digital tracking technologies could make matters worse. In Hong Kong, there is already a system whereby people arriving from overseas are given a digital bracelet, a colourful version of a Home Office curfew tag, and told to self isolate for 14 days. If they venture out, the authorities are automatically alerted and corrective action taken. 

“I felt a bit weird about the bracelet-checking thing because of privacy reasons, but I understand why they have to do that,” said Declan Chan, a stylist and Hong Kong resident, who flew into the former British protectorate on a flight from Zurich on 17 March.