The National Trust has been ordered to pay more than £10,000 in a fine and costs for breaching passenger boat safety regulations in Poole Harbour.
According to the BBC, the Brownsea Enterprise can take up to 37 passengers and two crew around Brownsea Island in Dorset.
Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court heard that the trust continued to run the vessel after its certificate expired in May 2009.
It admitted operating the vessel without a valid certificate as well as failing to implement proper procedures.
As a result the trust was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £5,653 in costs.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said it was contacted by the trust about renewing the boat’s passenger certificate and domestic safety management certificate almost a month after the boat’s certificates had expired.
However, the boat had continued to operate a passenger service during this time. Richard Pellew, area operations manager for the MCA, said: “Passenger safety is paramount. Proper certification of passenger boats is required to ensure that minimum standards are met and that all such vessels are in a fit and proper condition to carry out their work.”
The National Trust left themselves vulnerable to a claim for injury by operating the boat without the correct certifications. Had someone been injured while the boat was uncertified then it would have been difficult for the trust to claim that they had complied with all their safety requirements and discharge the burden of taking such a level of care as was reasonable in the circumstances. The chances of them being held liable for the accident would therefore increase.
