The Department for Transport has no current plans to introduce an age limit for jet ski use. Powers are available to ports and local authorities to place restrictions on use, and they remain best placed to respond appropriately to local conditions. National legislation ensures that anyone who uses a powered recreational craft in a dangerous manner can be held accountable for their actions. Guidance on safe use is available from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The Department for Transport (DfT) does not have any current plans to introduce a minimum age limit for jet skis or other personal watercraft (PWC).

However, in January 2023, the Government introduced statutory controls to the use of PWCs with the Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 2023, so that any individual using a PWC in a dangerous manner is essentially held to the same laws as ships and fishing vessels.

Local and harbour authorities have wide-ranging powers to introduce measures to respond to the negative effects of personal watercraft usage. They are best placed to decide how to ensure safety for all users in the waters they manage given significant differences in local geography and usage. Guidance, including case studies looking at effective management strategies, is available.

The Department for Transport is supporting these authorities through the introduction of new national legislation to further strengthen enforcement measures.

Most people ride personal watercraft, like jet skis, safely and responsibly and as a result serious issues are rare. There are a small minority of users who through their irresponsible actions put other people at risk.

Local and harbour authorities already have wide-ranging powers to introduce measures to respond to dangerous or anti-social behaviour. The Department is supporting them through the introduction of new national legislation to further strengthen enforcement measures.

The Department has received a large number of responses to its consultation. These represent a wide range of detailed views and we are currently reviewing our proposals in light of these to ensure that they will provide an effective and proportionate response to any safety concerns.

Once complete, we will bring forward a final package of measures for implementation and are working hard to ensure that this can be delivered as soon as possible.

The riding of personal watercraft for pleasure is, in the majority of cases, conducted both sensibly and safely. Serious incidents involving these craft are rare. However, the Department recognises that, through their actions, a minority of users can endanger other water users and wildlife.

Local and harbour authorities already have significant powers to respond to instances of dangerous or anti-social behaviour in the waters they manage. To provide additional support, the Department has recently consulted on draft legislation to implement additional enforcement measures to enable those who do misuse personal watercraft to be prosecuted. The Department believes this is a proportionate and effective response to the issue.

The riding of personal watercraft for pleasure is, in the majority of cases, conducted both sensibly and safely. Serious incidents involving these vessels are rare. However, the Department recognises that, through their actions, a minority of users can endanger other water users and wildlife.

Local authorities already have powers to respond to instances of dangerous or anti-social behaviour in the waters they manage, and the Department will shortly be consulting on measures to further strengthen enforcement provision.

We are continuing to develop the legislation necessary to bring personal watercraft within the safe use and conduct provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. A public consultation seeking comments on the draft legislation will be published once this process has been completed.

Local and harbour authorities already have significant powers to introduce measures deal with any issues in the waters they manage through byelaws and harbour directions.

The Department is continuing to develop draft legislation which will provide powers for enforcement authorities to ensure that anyone who wilfully or neglectfully causes an accident when using a personal water craft can be prosecuted. A consultation on the draft legislation, which would be applicable to the whole of the United Kingdom, will be published shortly.

Local and harbour authorities already have significant powers to introduce measures deal with any issues in the waters they manage through byelaws and harbour directions.

Local and harbour authorities already have powers to introduce measures controlling personal water craft and boat use in the waters they manage. They are best placed to consider what provisions are necessary in their local areas to ensure safety and deliver an appropriate balance between the requirements and priorities of different water users.

While the majority of personal watercraft riders use their craft sensibly and safely, we are currently considering the introduction of new enforcement measures to ensure that any who willfully or neglectfully cause accidents or endanger the safety of others can be prosecuted.

Regulations on the use and ownership of jet skis and other personal water craft is a reserved matter for the UK Parliament. This is because they are within the scope of shipping, technical and safety standards of vessels that are not ships for the purposes of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

Although the vast majority of personal watercraft users operate their craft responsibly, the Department for Transport are currently considering how to ensure that any who willfully or neglectfully cause accidents or endanger the safety of others can be prosecuted.