Shown here are those Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) checklist items for which British Waterways and the Environment Agency will allow a time-limited exemption. If, during a BSS examination, any of the following check list items are registered as a failure, it will still be possible to apply for a British Waterways or the Environment Agency navigation licence during the time-limited exemption period.
British Waterways and the Environment Agency have produced this attached list of time-limited exemptions based on three distinct criteria:
- Does the fail point constitute a significant risk to other waterway users or is the risk mainly limited to users of the boat?
- Is the risk and/or the existing control measure one which we are prepared to accept as a basis for future discussion?
- Is the fail point likely to be affected by emerging European Standards?
The time-limited exemption period is likely to be in place for six months, concluding before August 2001. During this time, the views of national user group and boating industry representatives will be sought on this list of mandatory and advisory BSS fail points. Once agreement is reached this will form the basis of the BSS examination in the future.
The overall Standards of the Boat Safety Scheme have not been reduced or lowered. They remain the same set of Standards as before. Boat owners and skippers are reminded that it is their duty and responsibility to ensure the best levels of safety are maintained at all times in relation to their craft, its passengers and other waterway users.
Verification of the mandatory and advisory requirements will continue to be undertaken by means of a full BSS examination.
The time-limited exemptions will be used as the basis for seeking the views of national user group and boating industry representatives. Boat owners, clubs, societies and associations will be actively encouraged to adopt best practice with regard to safety by applying the advisory items along with full compliance with those requirements that will remain mandatory.
Inclusion of a BSS fail point in this list is not a guarantee that such a fail point will acquire advisory status upon revision of the Scheme after consultation.
The acceptance of these recommendations by British Waterways and the Environment Agency does not affect other navigation authorities who have adopted the BSS. It is expected that other navigation authorities will shortly determine their policy in the light of the Review Team's interim statement.
On the attached sheets are listed the fail points which, for a time-limited period, will be eligible for exemption when obtaining a navigation licence from British Waterways or the Environment Agency. These are shown for:
private diesel and petrol boats;
private electric powered boats (Section 4);
new private boats (diesel and petrol) and hire boats (diesel and petrol).
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