Requirements for Obtaining a Licence
- Insurance
- Standards for Boat Contruction & Equipment
- Home Mooring
- Special Requirement for Passenger Boats
Insurance
As a boat licence holder, you are very likely to be responsible for any injury or damage caused by you or the boat. Damages could be substantial and it is therefore a requirement that you have third party liability insurance for the boat.
You must have in force an insurance policy in the name of the licence applicant for the boat, provided by a company that is regulated by the UK Financial Services Authority. It must provide cover for third-party liabilities for at least two million pounds and must remain in force for the complete duration of the boat licence. You must ensure that the insurance is appropriate for the intended use of your boat.
If your current insurance certificate expires before the start date of the new licence, you must renew the insurance before applying for your licence.
When applying for your licence, you are asked to declare the following details of your boat's insurance:
- Name of insurance provider
- Policy number
- Expiry date of the policy
The policy holder's name must be the same as the licence applicant.
Your renewal reminder shows the policy name, number and expiry date that we currently hold for you in our records. You must update this by correcting these details on the form.
We accept your declaration of insurance cover in good faith. We do however carry out random sample checks to validate the policy information supplied.
Unpowered Boats
There are risks to third parties associated with any boat on the waterways, so we strongly recommend you have insurance in place for unpowered as well as powered boats. We will not however refuse a licence for an unpowered boat (as defined in the terms and conditions) if the application does not include an insurance declaration. Insurance for unpowered boats is readily and cheaply available and is often automatically included within relevant club memberships.
Standards for Boat Construction & Equipment
There is a legal requirement for boats to comply with BW's standards for construction and equipment (80KB PDF). You are responsible for making sure that your boat is maintained so that it complies with the required standards at all times.
Exemption from requirement to provide evidence of compliance
If your boat does not carry any gas or fuel, has no electrical circuits and no domestic cooking, heating, refrigeration or lighting appliances, it might be exempt from the requirement to produce evidence of compliance. Use this chart (221KB PDF) to determine whether your boat is exempt from this evidence requirement.
If your boat is exempt you will need to tick the appropriate box on your licence application form.
Home Mooring
The boat must have a home mooring (as defined in the Licence Terms and Conditions) - somewhere you can lawfully leave your boat when it is not being used for cruising.
Special Requirement for Passenger Boats
Passenger boats carrying more than twelve people:
A Passenger Certificate issued by the Marine and Coastguard Agency is required for boats carrying more than twelve passengers not including the crew
Small passenger and hotel boats carrying fewer than twelve people
Boats that carry twelve or fewer passengers must comply with ("Sound Practice, Safer Waters"), the Inland Waters Small Passenger Boat Code published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities, and which is available from their respective websites:
As a condition of obtaining a licence you must complete a declaration of compliance with the Inland Waters Small Passenger Boat Code.
New MCA regulations for the licensing of boatmasters came into force on the 1st January 2007 - The Merchant Shipping (Inland Waterway and Limited Coastal Operations) Boatmasters' Qualifications and Hours of Work Regulations 2006. You must ensure that your current and any new skippers are appropriately qualified in accordance with these regulations and the transition arrangements for their introduction. Further guidance is available on the MCA website (see below), in particular, Merchant Shipping Note 1808 and Marine Guidance Notes 333 and 334.
www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga-guidance-regulation/ mcga-guidance_regulations-inland.htm