Boat Safety Examination

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Boat Safety Scheme Examination

The Boat Safety Scheme

Used by navigation authorities to help prevent fire, explosion and pollution through a four yearly examination

Availability to suit your requirements

Many boat owners like to be present during the examination. Although normal week days is preferred, the examination if often carried out over a weekend or in the evening during Summer months

All boats examined

Both Private and Hire boats examined on all waterways. Some open boats do not require a Boat Safety Certificate, please call to discuss further

Group together and reduce the price

Where boat owners can group together, the individual price per boat can be reduced, providing the examinations take place on the same day

Checking Procedures

The "Essential Guide" details in full all the check points for the examination. These will help you prepare your boat

Visit the links page for the guide which is available from the Boat Safety office

For privately owned and privately managed boats Essential Guide (August 2005) can be downloaded or a hard copy ordered

For hire craft, small passenger boats, workboats and similar non-private craft the BSS Guide 2002 can be downloaded or viewed on line

Note, printing a complete copy requires a lot of paper

Pre-Examination Guidance

Don't be daunted by the examination. Advice you may require is given free and without obligation. Many people find some guidance with the BSS requirements very helpful. To help ensure a positive outcome to the examination please note the following

Notify your Marina or Landowner to allow access to your boat
Towpath examination can be accommodated, providing road access is available
Ensure the existing Boat Safety certificate is available, where applicable
Appliance booklets would be helpful, if available
Ensure the boat systems all work correctly, charge battery and have sufficient gas & water to allow at least 15 minutes running
Provide full access to all gas joints and pipe work
Gas lockers and other areas must be unlocked and accessible
Please ensure the boat is presented in a SAFE condition
Please call to discuss any concerns or for clarification
Electric boats, charging lead must be available
Steam powered engines, the inspection certificate and current insurance policy or certificate must be available

When to book an examination

To help ensure boats always have a current certificate the certificate can be issued up to two months before the expiry date of the current certificate. With the new certificate being forward dated to give an expiry date four years from the expiry date of the current certificate. Should the boat fail any part of the examination it then gives two months for the failure points to be corrected

Recreational Craft Directive, RCD

Since 1998, all new boats fall within the requirements of the Recreational Craft Directive

In general terms, until the boat becomes 5 years old, it needs to comply with the RCD if offered for sale

Any builder selling a boat, to any stage of completion, will need to comply with the directive

A boat being fitted out by its owner does not need to comply. However, should the owner offer the boat for sale within the 5 year period, it will need to comply

For many reasons, not least safety, it is good practice even if not legally required for the boat owner to build to the standard of the directive. Five years is a significant period of time, during which plans can change. Building to the standard can provide peace of mind, if subsequently the boat needs to be certified against the RCD. If wishing to fully certify the boat, this is a self certification process. A number of companies offer help in this area

Regardless of compliance to the RCD, after 5 years the boat will need to comply with the requirements of the boat safety scheme. Hence, building to a poor standard may mean the boat does not meet BSS standards

Boats on the waters of British Waterways, the Environment Agency and other waterway agencies require a valid licence to be held. Within the first year the licence application can be supported by RCD documentation issued by the manufacture for part completed boats. However, in order to obtain the licence after the first year, the boat will need to be fully CE marked against the RCD or have a boat safety certificate. After 5 years, boats then require a boat safety certificate only

When a boat safety certificate is issued to a boat up to 5 years old, the certificate will be marked "Certificate issued to support a licence application and in doing so does NOT remove any RCD requirement that may be required by law". The boat owner needs to sign acknowledgement of this understanding

Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Smoke Alarm information

Strictly outside requirements of the Boat Safety Scheme fitting of Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Smoke Alarms if highly recommended practically if the boat is used as a main residence or a heavy user

Used by navigation authorities to help prevent fire, explosion and pollution through a four yearly examination

Many boat owners like to be present during the examination. Although normal week days is preferred, the examination if often carried out over a weekend or in the evening during Summer months

Both Private and Hire boats examined on all waterways. Some open boats do not require a Boat Safety Certificate, please call to discuss further

Where boat owners can group together, the individual price per boat can be reduced, providing the examinations take place on the same day

The "Essential Guide" details in full all the check points for the examination. These will help you prepare your boat

Visit the links page for the guide which is available from the Boat Safety office

For privately owned and privately managed boats Essential Guide (August 2005) can be downloaded or a hard copy ordered

For hire craft, small passenger boats, workboats and similar non-private craft the BSS Guide 2002 can be downloaded or viewed on line

Note, printing a complete copy requires a lot of paper

Don't be daunted by the examination. Advice you may require is given free and without obligation. Many people find some guidance with the BSS requirements very helpful. To help ensure a positive outcome to the examination please note the following

Notify your Marina or Landowner to allow access to your boat

Towpath examination can be accommodated, providing road access is available

Ensure the existing Boat Safety certificate is available, where applicable

Appliance booklets would be helpful, if available

Ensure the boat systems all work correctly, charge battery and have sufficient gas & water to allow at least 15 minutes running

Provide full access to all gas joints and pipe work

Gas lockers and other areas must be unlocked and accessible

Please ensure the boat is presented in a SAFE condition

Please call to discuss any concerns or for clarification

Electric boats, charging lead must be available

Steam powered engines, the inspection certificate and current insurance policy or certificate must be available

Since 1998, all new boats fall within the requirements of the Recreational Craft Directive

In general terms, until the boat becomes 5 years old, it needs to comply with the RCD if offered for sale

Any builder selling a boat, to any stage of completion, will need to comply with the directive

A boat being fitted out by its owner does not need to comply. However, should the owner offer the boat for sale within the 5 year period, it will need to comply

Regardless of compliance to the RCD, after 5 years the boat will need to comply with the requirements of the boat safety scheme. Hence, building to a poor standard may mean the boat does not meet BSS standards

Strictly outside requirements of the Boat Safety Scheme fitting of Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Smoke Alarms if highly recommended practically if the boat is used as a main residence or a heavy user

Designed and managed by Chris Williams, last up-dated Sept 2007

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