After Kawasaki had developed a prototype and introduced the first Jetski”” back in the early 1970s, certain Powered Craft, such as waterscooter, personal watercraft, waterbike, JETSKI, WAVERUNNER, SEADOO arrived in quantity on the waterways, lakes and at sea in the 1980s. In different countries associations were formed to look after the interests of increasing numbers of persons who owned or operated such machines.
The high speeds – up to 80 kph or more – that such powered craft can reach, the rapidity with which it can change direction, and the waves and noise it can produce, all cause real disruption to shipping, other water traffic (i.e. swimmers) and the natural environment. They are almost impossible to catch because of their speed and high manoeuvrability, and as they very rarely travel in straight lines, they cannot be sighted against two immovable objects and the speed calculated.
For the sake of both water traffic safety and the environment, regulations are wanted. Tt.aditional commercial routes where recreational boating safety restrictions used to be unnecessary are becoming steadily busier with all kinds of boats. National and local authol-ities are being pressured to introduce control systems to regulate the phenomenal rise in numbers of powered craft in use on waterways, lakes and at sea and ensure water safety. In different countries, central and local governmental authorities used different approaches to control the activities of powered craft. Some local authorities enacted new byelaws whilst others used legal powers which were available under local or harbour regulations.
Since the first designs from the early “70s, many new types of powered craft have been introduced, and more are expected as the market continues to grow.
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