Jet skiers could get insurance breaks if they sign up for water safety courses, it was revealed yesterday.

But if voluntary measures do not work, restrictions on engine size and operations could be coming over the horizon.

Water Safety Council chief Sheelagh Cooper told The Royal Gazette : "We're investigating a range of incentives which we hope will get all boat owners involved in water safety and piloting programmes.

"And one thing we're looking at is the possibility of reducing insurance premiums for these kinds of craft.'' She compared the move to similar schemes aimed at teaching new bike owners the rules of the road.

Mrs. Cooper said: "What we're looking at is a sort of Project Ride on the water. I'd like to look at it that way.'' She added: "It's fair to say we're leaning more towards an approach which encourages rather legislates for safe behaviour on the water -- and, of course, that applies to all forms of water craft.

"We're not just singling out personal water craft for legislation -- unless our other approaches aren't successful.'' Mrs. Cooper was speaking after controls on jet ski trailers were eased off after pleas from watersports fans.

Now the regulation which required jet ski owners to be a member of one particular association before they could buy and register a trailer for the craft has been abolished.

And yesterday Lennox Boodram and Christopher Smith of the Bermuda Jet Sports Association welcomed the news.

Mr. Smith said: "There were problems. I know people went down to TCD and then were sent away to call a number nobody seemed to know anything about.

"The big issue here was you buy a jet ski to have fun -- then you're being told you have to join an association whether you like it or not.'' Transport Minister Ewart Brown -- who ordered the change -- said the previous regulation was "illogical and unreasonable''.

He added: "This was not consistent with good government and certainly not consistent with this Government.'' The news came as US statistics revealed that -- although jet skis make up just ten percent of boats in the US -- they are involved in 36 percent of boating accidents.

US Coast Guard records show that there were 84 deaths and 184 injuries out of 1,812 accidents involving jet skis in 1997.

Mrs. Cooper said: "There is no question many other jurisdictions have had problems with the proliferation of these water craft and we also know they're getting more powerful.

"Some can do 65 or 70 mph and carry up to four people and we will probably see these in Bermuda.'' But she did not rule out controls on engine size similar to those for motorcycles being introduced if necessary.

Dr. Brown said he was well aware of safety concerns over jet skis -- but said they were being addressed.

He added: "I'm expecting the Water Safety Council under Sheelagh Cooper to work with the Jet Sports Association and the other association to produce some real guidelines for safety.'' Fun and dangerous: Georgia computer consultant Bill White rides his new personal watercraft. White, who also owns a private boat, also knows the problems of "personal watercraft'' which last year were involved in 36 percent of the boating accidents in the U.S.