The Fordson - Q.B.D. (Div.Ct.) (Lord Lane C.J. and Lloyd J.) - 14 October 1980

Whether defendant had been acting as a waterman - Definition of navigation

The defendant was the owner of the m/v Fordson , and had held a waterman’s licence from the Port of London Authority (PLA) for over 25 years. On June 12, 1978 the PLA, purporting to act under bye-law 8(4) of the Port of London Waterman and Lighterman Bye-laws 1965, suspended that licence for two years. During the currency of the suspension, the defendant used the Fordson to carry passengers on the Thames. Five informations were preferred against him charging contravention of bye-law 4(2) of the 1965 bye-laws in that he had acted as a waterman on the river without having a licence as required by the bye-laws and the PL Acts 1920_1968.