24-hour kayak ‘vending machine’ launched by Port of Dover sparks fears of drunken drowning

There are fears a new self-service kiosk offering 24-hour kayak hire could lead to drunken people drowning in the harbour.

Port of Dover has launched a waterfront facility to make water sports “more accessible”.

Users book and pay online and can enter the harbor day or night, raising fears of incidents in the water.

Bosses stress the area is monitored by Dover Port Council officers who are on the lookout for “anything out of the ordinary”.

But residents say the 24-hour availability of kayaks provided by the Swedish company Kayakomat needs to be reviewed.

Kai Clarke, who lives in the city, is afraid that “someone drunk might drown.”

“There should be hours for kayaking, maybe 9am to 8pm, not 24 hours,” he said.

“It’s a port and if you’re kayaking near the ferries there’s a risk, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing.

“I wonder if people have to be certified to use them.”

When pre-booking, users receive a code that unlocks a paddle board or kayak, as well as a paddle and life jacket.

An hourly stand up paddle board hire starts from £14. Two-hour kayak hire starts from £29 and users must be over 18 years of age unless accompanied by an adult.

But the experienced kayaker told KentOnline that people need supervision.

“The local water sports center restricts where users can go in the water, but no one is monitoring these kayaks,” she said.

“Shouldn’t there be some sort of oversight? People can use them when they are drunk and eventually someone can drown.

“If they capsize in the water, it’s going to be very difficult for them to get back upright, and they can also lose their oar.”

Despite the concerns, other residents say they support the idea, which is the first of its kind in the UK.

Claire Coburn, who works at the Riverside Catering ice cream stand next to the kayak station, says “everything is a risk and people cross the road when they’re drunk”.

“You need to pay for the use of kayaks so that people think…”

“I think it’s a good idea and you get a life jacket,” she said.

“You need to pay for the use of kayaks to make people think.”

Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, says the quay is now “open to all”.

“There’s nothing stopping anybody from going swimming if they’re drunk and we’ve drunk them,” he said.

“But part of our defense is that Dover Harbor Police regularly patrols the area for anti-social behavior or anything out of the ordinary.

“There are also regular sea state and tide updates.”

A Port spokesperson added: “Our new waterfront offering is another step forward in our commitment to making water sports more accessible to the community.

“The beach and harbor offer endless opportunities for leisure and relaxation for everyone, with paddleboarding and swimming becoming increasingly popular.

“We will continue to encourage this in a safe and sensible way in our recreation area.

“Kayakomat is a world-renowned paddleboard rental company and our expert teams here have been involved in various planning stages to help create a fun and innovative facility in Dover.

“All users must be over 18 years of age, wear the buoyancy aids supplied with the kayak and agree to follow various safety procedures as part of the booking process.

“All reservations must also be made in advance online and confirmed before the kayak can be issued.”