NEW alcohol legislation at sea for operators of all UK-registered vessels will apply in Bailiwick of Guernsey waters. But Guernsey’s harbour authorities have not made any decision on whether new drink laws for leisure craft would be appropriate locally.

In the UK, professional mariners who drink on duty face breath-testing by police under strict new rules.

They could face the same 80mg limit as motorists.

UK police would be able to test suspected offenders, who face fines or jail terms if found to be over the limit.

The penalties could be as high as a £5,000 fine or two years in prison.

UK marine officials have also been given powers to detain vessels pending the arrival of police if they have reason to suspect that an offence is being committed.

Limits for professional sailors will apply to those on UK-registered vessels around the globe as well as those serving on foreign or unregistered vessels in UK waters.

‘The legislation applies to all registered vessels operating anywhere in the world and to all commercial vessels operating in all UK territorial waters,’ said Guernsey’s harbour master Captain Robert Barton.

‘If a UK-registered vessel comes here, that legislation will apply to it, but it applies at the moment only to professional mariners and not leisure craft,’ he said.

The UK Government is going out to consultation to see if it is appropriate for leisure craft, said Capt. Barton.

Guernsey-registered vessels in UK waters would be affected by new legislation but there is no equivalent legislation for them in local waters at present.

‘At the moment it’s an offence to operate a vessel under the influence of drugs or alcohol but at the moment we don’t have a limit. I think we do need to look at it,’ he said.

He believed it would be appropriate to consider introducing legislation locally for professional mariners on commercial vessels.

‘As far as leisure craft are concerned, we need to wait and see what happens with the consultation exercise – the level of instances is relatively low.

‘You have to make sure that if you have legislation, you can apply it and it’s a deterrent. We don’t have a vessel we can use to police it so we have to consider the resource implications and the deterrent effect,’ said Capt. Barton.

The biggest deterrent is the loss of a licence, but for leisure boats, people do not need a licence, he said.

‘All these issues will be considered in the consultation process.’

As it is UK law, the authorities there are likely to consult the likes of the Royal Yachting Association.

‘Once we have seen what they are doing with leisure craft we will consult with all interested parties to see if it’s appropriate to introduce this legislation locally.’

It would then become a political issue and a matter in which the police would wish to be involved, he said.

UK shipping minister David Jamieson said the legislation would make it easier to prosecute offenders.

‘It is only by having prescribed limits and a proper testing regime that we can be sure of proving guilt or innocence.

‘Mariners, like drivers, need to have a clear head and I hope these new limits will make mariners think and not drink,’ he told the BBC.

The new measures followed a recommendation made by Lord Justice Clarke to introduce alcohol limits and tests for sailors.

He made his recommendation in his Thames Safety Inquiry and endorsed it in his report into the 1989 Marchioness Thames riverboat disaster, which claimed 51 lives.