Atkins recommends light dues levy on leisure yachts

The Atkins report on the provision of Marine Aids to Navigation around the United Kingdom and Ireland was published on 16 March 2010 and is available from the Dept for Transport website. The consultants spoke to the "Royal Yachting Association, representatives of marinas and moorings and those involved in yacht cruising" (p.49) and they are aware of the opposition their recommendations will provoke. Yachts over 20 NRT are currently subject to light dues at a flat rate of £77 per year, and Atkins recommends an extension to to bring into charge yachts of 9-10 metres in the belief that this would target those which "go foreign" (p.150).

Four approaches are considered:

• a tax on marinas on the basis of berth capacity
• a tax on VHF licence holders in conjunction with OFCOM
• a charge through Crown Estates, who levy fees for use
  of water above land in Crown Estates ownership
• a registration fee.

The first three are rejected, and Atkins comes down in favour of a registration system, either using the current Part I and Part III registers, or their preferred option:- the creation of a new compulsory register, based on the residence of the owner, rather than the location of the yacht.(p.152) The suggested levy would be £100 per year and spread across 50,000-55,000 yachts below the current light dues threshold would be expected to raise £5-6 million gross revenue per year.(p.151)