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License your boat to use it on inland waterways

You must have a navigational licence to use your pleasure boat to cruise on inland waterways, like canals or rivers. This applies to all types of boats, including:

• motor cruisers
• sailboats
• narrow boats
• open boats, like canoes and rowboats

There is a range of navigational licences available, from annual to shorter-term visitor licences. The type of licence you'll need depends on the sort of boat you have and where and how long you want to use it for. If you need a licence for your boat but don't register for one, you could be charged a penalty.

Most of the waterways are managed by navigation authorities. You need to contact the relevant navigation authority for your stretch of water for advice about licence requirements. British Waterways and the Environment Agency are the two major authorities in charge of canals and rivers in the UK. The Norfolk Broads are controlled by the Broads Authority. There is also a number of smaller authorities. For contact details of the navigation authorities for waterways not controlled by British Waterways, check the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) website.

• Boat licensing - British Waterways Opens new window

• Environment Agency - craft registration Opens new window

• Inland waterway navigation authorities - BSS website Opens new window

Make sure you have a Boat Safety Scheme certificate

If you use your boat on inland waterways controlled by British Waterways or the Environment Agency, you'll need a Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) certificate. You must send this with your application for a navigational licence. The only boats that don't need this certificate are privately owned open boats, like canoes and rowboats.

To receive a BSS certificate, you'll need to show a BSS examiner that your boat meets certain safety requirements on the BSS checklist. The checklist items are split into two categories:

• mandatory checks
• advisory checks
  

Mandatory checks

Your boat has to comply with all the mandatory checks before you can apply for a navigational licence. The mandatory checklist sets out essential safety requirements for your boat, like making sure you have taken certain measures to prevent fires and explosions.

Advisory checks

The advisory checklist sets out safety measures that are considered best practice for boating. Privately owned boats don’t have to comply with these items to get a licence, but it's strongly recommended that they do so. The more confidence you have that your boat meets the highest safety standards, the more you and your crew will enjoy your boating experience.

More information on BSS requirements and where to find an examiner can be found on the BSS website.

• The Boat Safety Scheme Opens new window

Owning or operating a commercial vessel on inland waterways

You'll need to comply with a code of practice if you own or operate a commercial vessel on inland waterways, like a:

• trip boat
• water taxi
• freight vessel

Follow the link below for more information.

• Inland Waterways and Boatmaster's Licence Opens new window

Guidance on how inland waterways are categorised

If you use your boat on inland waterways in the UK, it's a good idea to understand how waterways are categorised. The different categories indicate how deep the water is and/or how high the waves can be expected to get.

It's especially important to understand the categories if you operate vessels commercially, particularly passenger vessels. You may have to comply with certain regulations depending on where you operate.

Follow the link below for detailed guidance from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on how inland waterways are categorised.

• Merchant Shipping Notice 1776 - Categorisation of Waters Opens new window

More useful links

• Registering pleasure craft including yachts

• Using pleasure craft safely

• Boats and caravans - fire safety (home and community section)

• Boat moorings (home and community section)

• River quality, flood risk areas and clean beaches (environment and greener living section)

Useful contacts

• British Waterways Opens new window

• Waterways Ombudsman Opens new window

• Broads Authority Opens new window

• Maritime and Coastguard Agency Opens new window