THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY V GIBBS AND ANOTHER

[2016] EWHC 843 (Admin), Queen's Bench Division, Divisional Court, Lindblom LJ, Teare and Holroyde JJ, 15 April 2016

Vessel - Houseboats - Meaning of word vessel - Whether immobile houseboats constructed in situ vessels - Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010

Two men lived on stationary houseboats which had been built in situ in the marina, by bringing construction materials by road. The Environment Agency commenced proceedings against them for the offence of keeping an unregistered vessel on a waterway. The men were fined by the Recorder but the appeal was allowed by the county court. This was the appeal of the Environment Agency upon the single issue of the meaning of the word vessel in the Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010.