THE owner of the speedboat that crashed during a thrill ride killing a 15-year-old girl told a court he carried out a risk assessment to ensure the safety of passengers.

Emily Lewis suffered fatal injuries after the rigid inflatable boat (RIB) collided with the 4.5m high buoy at 36.8 knots in Southampton Water. 

A number of other passengers were seriously injured in the incident on August 22, 2020.

But on Wednesday Michael Howley, the owner of Seadogz, has said he had experience carrying out risk assessments from his more than five years serving as a lifeboatman.

He told Winchester Crown Court said: “When you are on a shout, you are doing assessments on risk, as you (are) arriving to a vessel, when assigning crews.”

He added that he was responsible for his boats being safe and had prepared a risk assessment to meet the requirement of insurance companies.

READ MORE: Emily Lewis speedboat crash trial: Recap as defence case opens

He told a jury that requirements for passengers included them wearing appropriate clothing and footwear, sunscreen when appropriate and a strict no-alcohol policy in place.

He said that thrill rides would regularly need to be cut short because a passenger would become too scared with this happening about 10 times per season.

The father-of-two said: “You always drive the boat to the weakest person on the Rib and every now and again you would check on the passenger.”

The trial heard that Lawrence drove the Rib at 44.7 knots at an earlier point in the August 22 trip which is above the speed limit that used to be in place of 40 knots.

Howley said he had no safety concern about this speed and added: “The boats are more than capable, they can easily handle it.”

Lawrence, of Blackfield, New Forest, and Howley, of Hordle, New Forest, deny the charges and the trial continues.

Michael Lawrence, 55, who was driving the boat, has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence, failing to maintain a proper lookout and failing to proceed at a safe speed.

Howley, 52, is accused of not operating the boat safely.

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