The incident happened on the morning of 6 May when around 60 vessels travelled from ports in Brittany and Normandy to St Helier Harbour to show their displeasure at Jersey’s post-Brexit fishing-licence regime.
During the protest an argument broke out between the master of a small French vessel and an Axopar-brand boat which Jonathan Ruff – the Islander behind the former Tamba enterprise – was at the helm of.
Footage of the incident shows the two boats closing on each other while travelling towards the entrance of the Harbour. After a few seconds, just before they appear as if they will collide, Mr Ruff turns his vessel towards Elizabeth Castle and his stern swings around and hits the bow of the French boat, which appeared to make no attempt to slow down. A group of onlookers are heard to roar in response, while Mr Ruff emerges from his wheelhouse and seems to have a verbal altercation with the master of the other vessel.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Ports of Jersey said an investigation had concluded that both vessels had played a part in the collision.
‘The investigation was carried out by the Maritime Standards Manager, who found that although the collision was not caused by the deliberate act of either party, the provocative actions of both vessels, during which inflammatory language was used on both sides, created a close-quarters situation where it only took a minor error of
judgment to cause a collision.
‘The local boat owner accepts the findings of the investigation together with the lessons that need to be learned in order to prevent any similar incident occurring, which could have had far more serious consequences,’ the spokesperson said. ‘The owner has been advised that while the incident has been recorded, no further action is being taken. However, should the local owner be found to be in breach of any future Harbour regulations within the next three years, this incident may be reconsidered in deciding whether any formal enforcement action and/or prosecution would be appropriate. The same would be the case in the event of a further incident involving the French vessel during the same period.’
