The RYA has expressed its disappointment over the Government’s intentions to progress with its plans to introduce the proposed e-Borders programme into the recreational boating sector in 2014.

Gus Lewis, Head of Government Affairs at the RYA, explains their objections: “It’s disappointing that despite the inherent flaws in the proposed programme, which we have been pointing out to Government regularly over the last three years, it apparently still intends to implement the proposed programme without any attempt to address these flaws. The Government has yet to publish a comprehensive explanation of how the e-Borders scheme will in practice be rolled out in the recreational boating sector but we understand that it will be based on a system of self-reporting voyages to and from the UK via a dedicated website up to 24 hours prior to departure.”

The RYA has serious concerns that the e-Borders reporting methodology is simply not designed to accommodate the unscheduled activities of the recreational boating sector. In the absence of a carrier ticketing system, a passport ‘control line’ and attendant law enforcement assets, a system that relies on self-reporting by the law-abiding majority is unlikely to present any challenge to those intent on avoiding detection at the border - and the rationale for applying e-Borders controls across the geographic sea border therefore seems flawed. As such, the RYA believes that the extension of the programme to the recreational boating sector would (at significant cost to the taxpayer) fail to offer value for money.uk.boats.com

Gus Lewis concludes: “If the e-Borders programme is to be implemented in the recreational boating sector then the most appropriate, proportionate and cost-effective solution would be for only those persons who are not UK or EU citizens and who are on voyages outside the common travel area to be subject to a requirement to provide their details to the UKBA.” We will keep you up to date as the saga develops…