Decision details

The following principle changes and clarifications have been made to the Water Users Group terms for the 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 period:

Insurance

• The minimum value of public liability insurance required to be held by Water User Group Members has been increased from £2m to £5m.

Water Craft Proficiency

• PWC users are required to hold RYA Personal Watercraft Proficiency (12 to 17 year olds must only use the power watercraft under the supervision of a responsible and qualified adult)
• Powerboat users are required to hold a minimum of RYA Powerboat Level 2 (minimum age 12 years old)

Launch Sites

• The Eastern Undercliff (Winterstoke slipway) in Ramsgate has been retained as the only TDC managed launching site for Personal Water Craft (PWC) including jet skis, jet bikes/wet bikes. Plans have been made to install improved signage and additional marker buoys at the Eastern Undercliff site and other locations around the coastline to better define zones for swimmers

To increase the minimum cover level for insurance held by members of the water users group in line with industry standards.

To ensure that members of the Water Users Group have undertaken a recognised proficiency course for the type of craft being used.

Following a review of potential PWC launch sites around the Thanet coastline, the Eastern Undercliff site was selected as the most appropriate and viable site for Water User Group members to launch PWC.

These changes were made to update and improve the requirements for launching PWC and to mitigate risk to all water users.