Ovation Boat Services
Go Boating Stay Safe
Boat Safety Scheme
Examination
The Boat Safety Scheme
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
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
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
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