Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Boat Safety Scheme?

The Boat Safety Scheme is jointly owned by British Waterways and the Environment Agency.  It's designed to minimise the risks of fires or explosions on boats cruising the UK's inland waterways network, by specifying a set of requirements that most boats must meet before they can be granted a navigation licence.  The Scheme also recommends a number of 'safety best practice' measures which enhance the personal health and safety of those on board privately owned boats.

As licensing bodies, British Waterways and the Environment Agency have a statutory duty to insist that all boats on the waterways they care for are as safe as possible.  This helps to minimise the risks of fires and explosion which can kill or seriously injure visitors to the waterways network.  It's in everyone's interests to help ensure the waterways are as safe as possible.

Who manages the BSS?

British Waterways and the Environment Agency jointly own the Boat Safety Scheme.  It's administered through the Boat Safety Scheme office, where technical officers prepare reports on various safety items, monitor trends within safety legislation and work closely with other safety-related organisations.  They also provide an information service to the boating public and BSS examiners.

Although British Waterways and the Environment Agency take ultimate responsibility for the management and decision-making processes within the Scheme, input is actively sought from other navigation authorities, boating user groups, trade and professional bodies and other regulatory organisations.

The Boat Safety Scheme has been endorsed by all the UK navigation authorities, represented by the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA), and will become a requirement for licensing purposes on waters managed by the Broads Authority from January 2005.

What are the Boat Safety Scheme Standards?

The BSS Standards are a set of essential safety requirements and best safety practice advice.  The Standards include safety criteria for boat systems such as electrical installations, inboard/outboard engines, appliances, ventilation and fuels.

Each Standard is broken down into individual Check List items that are applied to the boat, its installations and its appliances during an examination.  A privately owned boat used only for recreational purposes must comply with around 75% of (specified) Check List items before being granted a navigation licence.  However, private boat owners are actively encouraged to comply with the remaining 25% of Check List items, since these represent best safety practice and offer the most opportunities for safety on the waterways.

Does the Boat Safety Scheme apply to all boats on all inland waterways?

The full set of Boat Safety Scheme requirements apply to all boats based on all British Waterways managed navigations and most Environment Agency waters, with the exception of privately-owned boats used solely for recreational purposes.  A navigation licence will be issued to these types of boats that only comply with the Mandatory requirements of the Scheme.  Of course, it's also best safety practice to ensure your privately-owned boat meets the Advisory Check List items too.

The Boat Safety Scheme has been endorsed by all the UK navigation authorities, represented by the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA), and will become a requirement for licensing purposes on waters managed by the Broads Authority from January 2005.

If you keep your boat on a waterway managed by any other navigation authority other than British Waterways, the Environment Agency and the Broads Authority, then it is a good idea to contact the relevant authority to see how much of the BSS applies and whether any other regulations are in force.

Hasn't the BSS changed recently?

Yes.  The changes to the Scheme have been made in order to make it much simpler and easier to understand for everyone   It is important to  be aware that the BSS Standards themselves have not changed  and remain the same in number.  The requirements of the Check List items have not altered either; but it is useful to note that the emphasis placed on some of the items as a requirement for licensing has been relaxed.

Other changes include the publication of the Boat Safety Scheme Guide, the development of this website, revised BSS committee structures and a new quality assurance and management system to ensure consistency between examiners and throughout the examination process.

If the BSS has changed, that must mean the Standards have changed too then?

No, the Standards remain exactly the same.  It is the emphasis placed on some Check List items that make up each safety Standard that have changed.

What are Mandatory and Advisory Check List items?

Put together, the Mandatory and Advisory Check List items become the BSS Standards that are applied to most private boats on the inland waterways.  Mandatory Check List items are those which most private boats must comply with in order to gain a licence for navigation.  Advisory Check List items are examples of sound safety advice.  British Waterways and the Environment Agency consider that not meeting the advisory Check List items should not prevent a licence from being granted, but strongly recommend that these measures are taken to improve your own personal safety and the safety of those around you.

Are there any special dispensations within the Standards for small craft, sea going yachts, commercial boats, etc, etc?

It is best practice to invite a competent person to look over any craft with an eye to commenting on safety, at any time and for a reasonable cost.  Sharing knowledge of risks helps make the waterway environment safer when it comes to boats.

That said, provisions and special conditions do exist within the BSS Standards for particular types and usage of some boats.  Information is available from the Boat Safety Scheme office by clicking here, or by contacting the relevant navigation authority. Details of these can be found by clicking here.

What happens if a boat has been granted a licence based on failure of a 'Time Limited Exemption (TLE)'?

British Waterways and the Environment Agency are currently reviewing all licence applications made with one or more TLEs and will write to any boat owners who must now meet requirements that have been reaffirmed as Mandatory.

The first £50.00 of any work and re-examination costs incurred by these boat owners will be refunded by the navigation authorities as a gesture of goodwill.  These boat owners will have until 30 June 2002 to comply with any additional requirements.

In any case, the TLEs still represent best safety practice and should be implemented to minimise any risks of injury or death.

Does it cost anything to get a boat examined?

Yes it does.  However, the fee paid by you as a boat owner includes a full boat safety survey as well as access to competent advice from the examiner  on safety precautions in the future for boat installation systems and appliances.

Examiners' fees vary widely, usually according to the distance they will have travelled and the total time spent in examining the boat and preparing a written report.  At the end of the day, it's a good idea to compare prices without compromising on the additional value examiners can bring to promoting safety during the examination.

How frequent are the examinations?

You will still need to renew your BSS Certificate with a boat examination once every four years.  At this time, the examiner will carry out a full inspection on appropriate appliances and installations, looking for wear and tear as well as damage or frailty in any system which could present a safety risk in the foreseeable future.  They will also check to see whether any alterations or modifications to appliances and systems have been done in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.  Examiners will, from 1 April 2002, also complete an 'Appliance Status Record' which logs relevant details on the model, make and condition of all appliances on your boat.  This Record will then be checked and amended accordingly at the time of the next examination to show any changes in the condition or operation of the appliance(s)

Do I have to have an 'Appliance Status Record' completed during the BSS examination?

Yes.  The Record helps reduce inconsistencies between examiners when inspecting and testing the same appliance(s) over a period of time.  It also helps record any modifications to existing appliances or new installations on board the boat, and gives you a document that you can show to any prospective buyer in the future.

Where can I find out more information about having my boat examined?

By clicking here.

What is The Boat Safety Scheme Guide?

The Boat Safety Scheme Guide is an essential handbook for all powered-boat licence holders and is made freely available to them by their navigation authority.  It takes the boat owner step-by-step through each part of the BSS Standards, showing what risks can exist and explaining how these are prevented through complying with the Check List items.

It contains illustrations which identify the parts and installations of a boat , showing the  boat owner how to check whether  their boat complies with the requirements.  It also contains examples of how things can go wrong, and tips from examiners who are keen for you to pass the BSS examination first time around.

A handy fold-out reference sheet concludes each chapter ,showing all the Check List items applicable to each BSS Standard. This makes it  convenient to read through the Guide whilst checking the boat's level of safety compliance at the same time.

The Boat Safety Scheme Guide is designed to be kept on board and referred to at any time.  A plastic wallet included in the Guide allows  you to keep BSS Certificates, warranties, invoices and other paperwork related to the boat in one place.  Clearly, being able to produce complete paperwork  showing the history of the boat, its installations and appliances can also improve its market value .

If the requirements of the BSS Standards change won't the Guide become invalid?

It is very unlikely that the BSS Standards and the Check List items will change in the next two years because the scope of the Scheme has now been fully re-appraised by its owners, British Waterways and the Environment Agency.  It is, however, likely that by 2004 the Guide will need to be re-published to take account of developments in safety and statutory legislation.

The Environment Agency and British Waterways are committed to providing private boat owners with information about safety and the risks that can arise from faulty systems and components.  The Boat Safety Scheme Guide is an important way of aiding understanding of boat safety risks and how everyone can  avoid them.

But surely there will be the odd amendment to the Scheme over  the next two years?!  What happens then?

The pages of the Guide have been specially numbered and are laid out in a handy A5-sized ring binder file so that if it becomes necessary to alter advice or instructions given in the Guide this can be done independently of  the other pages.   Your licensing authority will simply write to you  enclosing a new page for the Guide and, where necessary, any further information concerning the amendment.

Where can I get one of these Guides?

Anyone who has a powered-boat navigation licence on British Waterways or Environment Agency waters in January 2002 should receive a copy of the Guide sent free of charge by post.  Distribution of the guides should be completed by the end of February 2002.

Boat owners on inland waterways other than those managed by British Waterways and the Environment Agency should contact their appropriate navigation authority to make arrangements to receive a copy, if available.

I would like a copy of The Boat Safety Scheme Guide.  How do I go about getting one?

If you are a British Waterways licence holder....

From January 2002 British Waterways will send a free copy of the Guide to all of its powered-boat licence holders.  This is in line with our commitment to improve waterways safety by providing information on how risks can be minimised.

From 1 March 2002 you will be able to request a copy of the Guide if you have not yet received one.  You can do this by one of the following ways:

·   Complete the on-line email form by clicking here.

·    Write to: BSS Communications, Willow Grange, Church Road, WATFORD, WD17 4QA giving your name, address, boat index and current navigation licence number details.

Some local waterway offices have  copies of the Guide, although supplies may be limited.

Alternatively, you can download the Guide by clicking here.

If you are an Environment Agency licence holder.....

From January 2002 the Environment Agency will send a free copy of the Guide to all of its powered-boat licence holders.

Alternatively you can download the Guide by clicking here.

If you are a licence holder with another inland waterways' navigation authority.....

You should contact the navigation authority that has issued your current boat licence.  A list of contact details are available by clicking here.

Alternatively you can download the Guide by clicking here.

When does the new Guide take effect?

From January 2002.  It replaces the previous guidance notes and checklist issued in October 1999 and commonly referred to as the 'BSS blue & grey booklets'.

It's important to note that the Standards appear in the new Guide unchanged from those published previously.  More information is now provided to help ensure risks are minimised when out boating, such as diagrams, tips and hints and further reading.