48-year old Scott Keen from Morden has been charged more than £4000 for "disgraceful" behaviour during last year's Kingston Regatta.
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The harbour master of the River Thames has said that several people “could have been killed” when a boat owner steered dangerously close to rowers competing in a regatta.
48-year old Scott Keen from Morden has been told to pay more than £4,000 for “disgraceful” behaviour during last year’s Kingston Regatta.
Video footage of the incident shows Keen almost colliding with young rowers and verbally abusing organisers of the race last July.
Magistrates at Staines Magistrates’ Court found Keen guilty of several offences, including endangering the safety of river users, conducting himself in a threatening or offensive manner and failing to register his boat for use on the Thames.
River rage ‘could have caused a tragedy’
Watch: the moment 'disgraceful' boat owner almost collides with rowers on the Thames. Credit: Environment Agency
Maria Herlihy, operations manager at the Environment Agency and harbour master of the Thames, said that Keen had “no regard” of any other river users, ignored all clear warnings and used “foul language” towards others on the river.
She described how Keen’s “total disregard” for the rules of the river “could easily have caused a tragedy” when his boat got caught on a rope that almost dragged rowers into the water.
The harbour master told City London News that whilst dangerous use of motor boats can be a problem on the river during the busy summer season, most people respond to instructions from patrolling Environment Agency officers.
She said people who ignore the rules were a “minority” and that the large fine issued over this incident showed that the agency is committed to prosecuting people who break the rules of the river.
She insisted that the River Thames is still a safe place to enjoy leisure activities like paddleboarding, kayaking and swimming.
The Environment Agency is responsible for managing and maintaining more than 600 miles of inland waterways across England, including non-tidal areas of the River Thames from Teddington to Cricklade Bridge.
River rage ‘quite uncommon’
Patrick White, a marine river inspector for the Port of London Authority, patrols the river from Putney Bridge to Teddington. CREDIT: TOM DAVIES/CITY NEWS
The tidal Thames – from Teddington to the sea – is managed by the Port of London Authority, who run daily patrols to keep river users safe and ensure they are complying with the law.
Patrick White works as an inspector for the authority covering the section of the river between Putney Bridge and Teddington.
He told City London News that river rage incidents were “quite uncommon” and that most people were respectful towards inspectors and out to enjoy their time on the Thames.
This section of the Thames is generally a “very safe place to be”, Mr. White added, and is a popular area for pleasure boats including narrow boats, rowing boats and stand up paddleboards.
He emphasised that Port of London Authority inspectors aim to educate rather than police river users by helping them to navigate safely and in accordance with the relevant bylaws.
‘We should all share the river’
Nigel Muir, who owns a paddleboarding and kayaking school in Richmond, says the area is a “very safe stretch of the river.” CREDIT: TOM DAVIES/CITY NEWS
Nigel Muir, who runs Paddle Richmond, a paddleboarding and kayaking school on the river, agreed that moments of madness are rare on this stretch of the Thames.
He told City London News that he’d never seen anything like the Kingston Regatta incident and that in the last six years he has only had to report two collisions and one-near miss to authorities.
Incidents can be reported to the relevant authority – either the Environment Agency or the Port of London authority depending on the location of the incident. They launch an investigation and have the power to prosecute anyone found to have breached the rules.
In Nigel’s experience, most companies and boat owners operating in the area know the rules and understand that “we should all share the river.”
Issues only tend to arise when less experienced boaters, or people who may have “had a few drinks”, are navigating near paddleboarders and kayakers who may also be “floating” in the middle of the river.
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Headline‘An absolute disgrace’: Thames harbour master slams boat owner fined for river rage incident
Short Headline'Disgraceful': Harbour master slams Thames river rage boat owner
StandfirstA 48-year-old man from Morden has been fined more than £4,000 for steering his boat through the middle of a regatta in Kingston.
The harbour master of the River Thames has said that several people “could have been killed” when a boat owner steered dangerously close to rowers competing in a regatta.
48-year old Scott Keen from Morden has been told to pay more than £4,000 for “disgraceful” behaviour during last year’s Kingston Regatta.
Video footage of the incident shows Keen almost colliding with young rowers and verbally abusing organisers of the race last July.
Magistrates at Staines Magistrates’ Court found Keen guilty of several offences, including endangering the safety of river users, conducting himself in a threatening or offensive manner and failing to register his boat for use on the Thames.
River rage ‘could have caused a tragedy’
Watch: the moment 'disgraceful' boat owner almost collides with rowers on the Thames. Credit: Environment Agency
Maria Herlihy, operations manager at the Environment Agency and harbour master of the Thames, said that Keen had “no regard” of any other river users, ignored all clear warnings and used “foul language” towards others on the river.
She described how Keen’s “total disregard” for the rules of the river “could easily have caused a tragedy” when his boat got caught on a rope that almost dragged rowers into the water.
The harbour master told City London News that whilst dangerous use of motor boats can be a problem on the river during the busy summer season, most people respond to instructions from patrolling Environment Agency officers.
She said people who ignore the rules were a “minority” and that the large fine issued over this incident showed that the agency is committed to prosecuting people who break the rules of the river.
She insisted that the River Thames is still a safe place to enjoy leisure activities like paddleboarding, kayaking and swimming.
The Environment Agency is responsible for managing and maintaining more than 600 miles of inland waterways across England, including non-tidal areas of the River Thames from Teddington to Cricklade Bridge.
River rage ‘quite uncommon’
Patrick White, a marine river inspector for the Port of London Authority, patrols the river from Putney Bridge to Teddington. CREDIT: TOM DAVIES/CITY NEWS
The tidal Thames – from Teddington to the sea – is managed by the Port of London Authority, who run daily patrols to keep river users safe and ensure they are complying with the law.
Patrick White works as an inspector for the authority covering the section of the river between Putney Bridge and Teddington.
He told City London News that river rage incidents were “quite uncommon” and that most people were respectful towards inspectors and out to enjoy their time on the Thames.
This section of the Thames is generally a “very safe place to be”, Mr. White added, and is a popular area for pleasure boats including narrow boats, rowing boats and stand up paddleboards.
He emphasised that Port of London Authority inspectors aim to educate rather than police river users by helping them to navigate safely and in accordance with the relevant bylaws.
‘We should all share the river’
Nigel Muir, who owns a paddleboarding and kayaking school in Richmond, says the area is a “very safe stretch of the river.” CREDIT: TOM DAVIES/CITY NEWS
Nigel Muir, who runs Paddle Richmond, a paddleboarding and kayaking school on the river, agreed that moments of madness are rare on this stretch of the Thames.
He told City London News that he’d never seen anything like the Kingston Regatta incident and that in the last six years he has only had to report two collisions and one-near miss to authorities.
Incidents can be reported to the relevant authority – either the Environment Agency or the Port of London authority depending on the location of the incident. They launch an investigation and have the power to prosecute anyone found to have breached the rules.
In Nigel’s experience, most companies and boat owners operating in the area know the rules and understand that “we should all share the river.”
Issues only tend to arise when less experienced boaters, or people who may have “had a few drinks”, are navigating near paddleboarders and kayakers who may also be “floating” in the middle of the river.
