Guidance

Boat registration forms explanatory notes

Published 28 March 2022

Applies to England

This guidance should be read before making any application to register a boat on Environment Agency waterways.

1. Boat name and registration number

We keep registration data (including boat names) for 7 years in line with our data retention policy in the privacy notice. This means a boat name will become available to others if not used for 7 years.

Boat names must be unique for registration purposes on the Thames and Upper Medway.

It is acceptable for owners of narrowboats to display the boat name in the traditional way on each side of the cabin.

2. Registered owner

Only one person or organisation may be registered as the owner.

Please note, if you sell your boat, it is your responsibility to notify us of the change of ownership in writing. You must complete the change of ownership form. Until you do so, you remain the legal owner of the boat and are therefore responsible for it. This means you are still responsible for registering it and paying any charges due.

3. Usual mooring or location of boat

This is the permanent mooring or storage location of your boat.

For a boat with both summer and winter berths, please enter summer berth only.

4. Boat details

Please give length and beam measurements in metres and tenths.

‘Length’ is overall hull length excluding moveable items such as rudder or outboard engine. ‘Beam’ is measured at the widest part of the hull.

5. Sanitary facilities

We expect boats with sanitary facilities to have a suitable means of sewage disposal; not a direct discharge into the river. It is a criminal offence to put into the water any liquid or solid matter that is poisonous or injurious to fish, spawning ground or food of fish.

River Thames - Boats fitted with a lavatory or sanitary holding tank capable of discharge to the river must have these appliances sealed to prevent discharge whilst on the Thames. Owners of boats fitted with such appliances are legally obliged to inform the Lock Keeper at the lock nearest to the boat’s point of entry to the river in order that arrangements for sealing can be made.

6. Propulsion

Where the main engine(s) is of the outdrive/sterndrive type, tick the ‘inboard’ box.

7. Construction and equipment standards

You must make sure your powered boat complies with our construction and equipment standards at all times it is kept or used on Environment Agency waterways.

We may refuse to issue a registration or suspend a current registration if we find a boat does not comply with these standards at any time.

7.1 Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) Declaration of Conformity

We will accept a valid RCD Declaration of Conformity made by the boat’s builder instead of BSS Certification for the first four years from new. This is because CE marked craft conforming to the Essential Requirements of the RCD should also comply with the construction and equipment safety standards of the Boat Safety Scheme.

RCD Declarations of Conformity are valid for a maximum of four years from the date of issue, but all boat owners are responsible for making sure their boat complies with safety standards at all times.

7.2 Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) Certification - Private

These standards are set out in the BSS Examination Checking Procedures for Privately Owned and Managed Boats.

All boats carrying fuel or fitted with domestic cooking, heating, refrigerating or lighting appliances must have BSS Certification with the exception of boats covered by a Recreational Craft Directive Declaration of Conformity and privately owned unpowered open boats.

BSS Certification is not required for a privately owned outboard engine, open boats providing it is not carrying or fitted with domestic cooking, heating, refrigerating or lighting appliances, other permanent electrical systems and it is propelled solely by an outboard engine without a fixed fuel system. This type of boat must still comply with the relevant BSS requirements of the BSS Examination Checking Procedures for Privately Owned and Managed Boats parts 3, 4, 5 and 6 as appropriate. We strongly recommend fire extinguishers are also carried.

BSS certification are valid for a maximum of four years from the date of issue, but all boat owners are responsible for making sure their boat complies with safety standards at all times. The Boat Safety Scheme requirements and lists of authorised Boat Safety Scheme examiners are available from:

Boat Safety Scheme
First Floor North
Station House
500 Elder Gate
Milton Keynes
MK9 1BB

Call 0333 202 1000 or visit the Boat Safety Scheme website.

Note: A boat which has any form of enclosed accommodation or which is decked‐over the greater part of the hull is not regarded as an open boat for the purposes of these requirements.

7.3 Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) Certification – Non-Private

For other non‐private boats, these standards are contained in the Boat Safety Scheme Guide (2002 edition). Examples of these boats are;

• small passenger boats
• shared‐ownership boats managed jointly by the private owners
• workboats
• emergency service boats and rescue boats
• club/society/not-for-profit organisation/charity activity boats
• hotel boats, boats let as residences or longer term accommodation, for example advertising a cabin aboard, or even the whole boat, as rentable accommodation.

8. Insurance - private powered boats and unpowered enclosed boats

You must have in force an insurance policy for the boat, provided by a company that is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Services Authority, which covers third‐party liabilities of at least one million pounds. We do not need a copy of the insurance certificate but we carry out sample checks on declarations.

We recommend all unpowered open boat owners have insurance which covers third‐party liabilities of at least one million pounds. We do not need to see a copy of the insurance certificate.

9. Public liability insurance - not for profit organisations or charities only

Operators of all not-for-profit organisation or charity boats must hold a valid public liability insurance policy covering liabilities of at least two million pounds for each claim. You will need to provide details of your public liability insurance on the form.

10. Business boats: additional requirements

Operators of business boats will need to meet additional requirements in order to register the business boat with the Environment Agency.

The requirements you need to meet are shown next to the business category(s).

Unpowered open - hire boat - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance

Unpowered open - not-for profit/charity boat - Public Liability insurance

Self-drive day hire boat - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, BSS Hire Boat Certification, Code of Practice for Hire Boats

Self-drive holiday hire boat - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, BSS Hire Boat Certification, Code of Practice for Hire Boats

Skippered passenger boat with 12 or less passengers - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, BSSC – Non private, Inland Waters Small Passenger Boat Code, Merchant Shipping Regulations 2015

Skippered passenger boat with more than 12 passengers - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, MCA Passenger Certificate, Merchant Shipping Regulations 2015

Skippered hotel boat - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, BSSC – Non private, Inland Waters Small Passenger Boat Code, Merchant Shipping Regulations 2015

Static letting boats - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, BSSC – Non private

Fixed location trading boat - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, BSSC – Non private (only required if customers are boarding the boat for the purposes of trade), BSSC – Private (only required if customers are not boarding the boat for the purposes of trade)

Roving trading boat - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, BSSC – Non private (only required if customers are boarding the boat for the purposes of trade), BSSC – Private (only required if customers are not boarding the boat for the purposes of trade), Merchant Shipping Regulations 2015 (Only required if the boat is carrying high-risk goods)

Maintenance work boats - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, BSSC – Non private, Merchant Shipping Regulations 2015

Safety/rescue boats - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, BSSC – Non private, Merchant Shipping Regulations 2015

Tug - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, BSSC – Non private, Merchant Shipping Regulations 2015

Boats used solely for the carriage of goods on the River Thames - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, BSSC – Non private, Merchant Shipping Regulations 2015

Coaching boats - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, BSSC – Non private, Merchant Shipping Regulations 2015

Tender - Boat insurance, Public Liability insurance, BSSC – Non private

If tenders are used to carry passengers then the requirements for ‘skippered passenger boat with 12 or less passengers’ must be met.

For more information, please email our boat registration team and ask for the business boats supplementary registration form.

You may also require local council permissions and may be liable to pay business rates, depending on the type and location of your business. You must contact your local council to seek advice on the requirements; GOV.UK: Find your local council.

11. Registration plate

Valid only for the boat in respect of which it has been issued; it is not transferable.

12. Tenders

The powered parent boat must be registered and declared when registering the ‘Tender’ for these charges to apply. Only one ‘Tender’ will be registered for each powered parent boat.

Tenders must be permanently marked with the words “Tender to” or “TT” and the name of the parent boat.

13. Payment and charges

All boats are registered in accordance with The Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010.

The full registration charge is payable for a boat kept, used or let for hire on the Thames at any time during the registration year (1 January to 31 December) unless it qualifies for the part-year or short-period registration.

The full registration charge is payable for a boat kept, used or let for hire on the Anglian Waterways at any time during the registration year (1 April to 31 March) unless it qualifies for the part-year or short-period registration.

The full registration charge is payable for a boat kept or used on the Medway Navigation at any time during the registration year (1 April to 31 March) unless it qualifies for the part-year or short-period registration.

Payments made for short period registration of a boat can be deducted from the charges due for any subsequent full rate registration of that boat.

When registering the boat, you are responsible to pay the full registration charge.

If you sell the boat or it leaves our waterways, you may qualify for a refund. Our refund guidance explains the current terms for refunding your boat registration.

If you sell the boat or it leaves our waterways and are paying by Direct Debit, there may still be an outstanding balance. If you cancel your Direct Debit before the final instalment is paid, we may invoice you for the outstanding balance.

Thames only - No separate lock tolls are charged on boats currently registered (except certain passenger boats).

14. Short-period registration

Visiting boats normally used on other waterways and entering from another waterway and boats not kept on the waterway may apply for short-period registration.

The number of 1 day and 7 day certificates are unlimited but only three 31 day certificates can be issued in any calendar year.

15. Visiting other Environment Agency waterways

Boats which have current annual registration issued for the Environment Agency waterways can visit the other Environment Agency Waterways free of charge for two periods of 7 consecutive days. A separate short period application must be made to claim this. This concession is only available to boats in private use. No allowance can be made for any non‐use during your concessionary registration period.

Unpowered registrations are valid for use on all Environment Agency waterways.

16. Unpowered enclosed boats

If at any time during the registration period your unpowered enclosed boat is altered and classified as a powered boat, the registration becomes invalid and you must re‐register as a powered boat.

For the purposes of registration under Article 4 Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010, the following is included within the meaning of “vessel” and subject to the Agency’s general requirements for registration but is not eligible for an ‘unpowered enclosed boat’ registration:

• Any type of private domestic or commercial space, whether used for accommodation or not (e.g. caravan / lodge / shed / shack / beach hut or similar) mounted on a raft, pontoon, floats, hull or tank and fitted with an operable means of propulsion and used / capable of being or intended to be used in navigation.

For the purposes of registration under Article 4 Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010, the following are included within the meaning of “vessel” and subject to the Agency’s general requirements for registration and are eligible for an ‘unpowered enclosed boat’ registration:

• Any type of private domestic or commercial space, whether used for accommodation or not, built within or upon a navigable hull originally intended to be towed by a tug, whether or not it is still towed or is permanently moored (e.g. a converted dumb barge, lighter, butty etc).

• Any type of private domestic or commercial space, whether used for accommodation or not, built within or upon a navigable hull but either not originally fitted with a means of propulsion or with the means of propulsion removed or permanently disabled (e.g. Dutch barge, Humber Keel barge, wide beam or narrowboat)

• University of Oxford College Barge – whether permanently moored or not.

For the purposes of registration under Article 4 Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010, the following is not included within the meaning of “vessel” and is not liable for registration:

• Any type of structure designed and built as static private domestic / commercial space mounted on a raft, pontoon, float, tank or hull, permanently moored and neither intended nor capable of being used in navigation (whether built in situ or moved into position by water).

(Some structures on the River Thames may require a licence under Section 60 Thames Conservancy Act 1932, subject to assessment against the published licensing policy).

For the purposes of registration under Article 4 Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010, the following may be included within the meaning of “vessel” and subject to the Agency’s general requirements for registration following a case‐by‐case assessment:

• Any type of structure designed and built as static private domestic / commercial space, mounted on a raft, pontoon, float, tank or hull, but not permanently moored and capable of / actually being used in navigation.

17. Other charges and fees

17.1 Anglian Pass

The Anglian Pass is a joint arrangement between the Environment Agency, the Conservators of the River Cam and the Middle Level Commissioners to allow powered boaters, annual unrestricted access across the three authorities’ navigations.

You will require a valid annual boat registration when applying for the Pass. For the Environment Agency, you will require an annual powered boat registration that covers the Great Ouse system and River Nene.

The Pass is a fixed price, based on boat length, for the year starting 1 April and ending the following 31 March. The Pass can be purchased at any point during the year, but there are no reductions in the cost if obtained part way through the year. However, boaters still have the option of purchasing short-term/visitor registrations/licences, from the respective navigation authorities, if they so choose.

Further information at Visit Anglian Waterways.

17.2 Navigation key – Anglian Waterways only

Boats navigating on the Anglian Waterways will require a navigation key to use our locks and other facilities, such as slipways. These can be purchased with your registration or from various agents along our waterways.

18. River advice for boaters

18.1 Anglian Waterways: Ancholme, Nene and Great Ouse

We encourage all river users to sign up to receive our free ‘River Advice for Boaters’ messaging service, which is currently available on the Rivers Ancholme, Nene and Great Ouse. We will call your mobile and/or your landline via an automated service which can send voice messages at any time. Once signed up for the voice message service, we can also issue text messages and emails.

Details on how to register for RAB messages can be found at Visit Anglian Waterways

18.2 River Thames

Recorded navigation information is available on Floodline. Call 0345 988 1188 and select option 1 for river information for boaters.

Additionally, you can check the latest river conditions or view information on lock closures and restrictions.

If you would like to subscribe to email updates on river closures and restrictions or newsletter emails from us, please send an email to riverthames@environment-agency.gov.uk with ‘Subscribe’ as the subject heading and state whether you want to subscribe to closures and restrictions emails or newsletter emails, or both.

18.3 Medway Navigation

You can check conditions, closures and restrictions (updated during business hours - Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) on the River Medway.

For the current condition of the River Medway, please check the Medway Navigation website for the most up-to-date information.

You can telephone Allington Lock for the latest information outside of business hours. Allington Lock - Telephone: 01622 752864

19. The Thames – definition

“River Thames” means the river as defined in section 4 Thames Conservancy Act 1932.

This explains ‘the Thames’ means the parts of the Rivers Thames and Isis between Town Bridge, Cricklade, Wiltshire and an imaginary line drawn across the river 242 metres downstream of Teddington Lock; and also the part of the River Kennet between the point it flows into the Thames and an imaginary line drawn across the river 64 metres downstream of the High Bridge, Reading. It also means all locks, cuts and works within these waterways (which includes basins and marinas).

20. Anglian Waterways - definition

“Anglian waterways” means the waterways as defined in section 3 of, and described and listed in Schedule 1 to, the Anglian Water Authority Act 1977 as amended by the Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010 as well as that part of the River Little Ouse between Brandon Staunch and Brandon Bridge, the Great Ouse Flood Relief Channel between the Head sluice lock at Denver and the Tail sluice at Saddlebrow and the Black Sluice (South Forty Foot Drain) from Donington Bridge (TF 17 4 356) to Black Sluice Lock, Boston (TF 326 429).

21. Medway navigation – definition

“Medway navigation” means the waterway as defined in section 32 Southern Water Authority Act 1982.

22. Registration definitions

Administration fee: A fee payable when amendments to, or cancellations of, registrations are requested by the boat owner.

Annual charge period: The twelve month period from the start date defined in the scheme.

Annual registration: A registration that is valid for the whole annual registration period.

Area charge: A charge based on the area of a boat. This charge consists of an initial charge per square metre up to and including a defined boat area, plus a charge per square metre charged for the remaining area of the boat

Boat: Any pleasure boat, launch, vessel, maintenance workboat, tender.

Boat area: The length excluding movable items such as rudders or outboard motors (to the nearest 0.1m) of the boat x beam measured at the widest part of the hull (to the nearest 0.1m) of the boat. This area is rounded down to the nearest full square metre.

Boat length: The length excluding movable items such as rudders or outboard motors (rounded down to the nearest 0.1m) of the boat.

Boat solely used for the carriage of goods: In the River Thames a boat used solely for the transportation of goods on the River Thames.

Business boat: A boat kept or used on a waterway which is not kept or used solely as a private boat.

Carriage of goods: The transportation of goods by boat on a waterway.

Coaching boat: A boat owned and operated by a not-for-profit organisation or charity and used solely for coaching and training during supervised boating activities aboard other boats.

Daily charge: A charge to keep or use a boat for 24 hours from the time of issue, or where issued in advance valid for 24 hours from the time requested at application.

Daily registration: A registration that is valid for 24 hours from the time it is issued, or where issued in advance valid for 24 hours from the date and time the registration stipulates.

Electrically powered: The power to propel the boat is solely from an electric motor.

Emergency services: The police, fire, ambulance, RNLI and Coastguard services.

Event registration charges: Charges for registering boats taking part in an organised event on any waterway.

Existing owner: Someone who is not a new owner.

Explorer registration charge: A registration charge of a private unpowered open boat that is valid for 15 days within the annual period but that period does not have to be consecutive days.

Fixed location trading: Boats selling goods or services from a permanent mooring location, or used for other commercial purposes. Examples include cafe, restaurant, office, hairdressers, gallery or shop.

Houseboat: Any type of private domestic or commercial space, whether used for accommodation or not, built within or upon a navigable hull originally intended to be towed by a tug, whether or not it is still towed or is permanently moored (e.g. a converted dumb barge, lighter, butty etc.), or any type of private domestic or commercial space, whether used for accommodation or not, built within or upon a navigable hull but either not originally fitted with a means of propulsion or with the means of propulsion removed or permanently disabled (e.g. Dutch barge, Humber Keel barge, wide beam or narrowboat).

Junior only boats: Unpowered open boats registered by a club or organisation to be solely used by people aged up to and including 18 years old.

Launch: A mechanically propelled boat not being used solely as a tug or for the carriage of goods.

Maintenance work boat: A boat that is principally kept or used to undertake maintenance on, and about, the waterway and its banks and structures, and occasionally as a tug.

Mechanically propelled: Propelled by a combustion engine, steam engine or electric motor, whether this is the main or auxiliary engine.

Monthly charge: A charge to keep or use a boat on the waterway for a period of 31 days from the date and time of issue, or where purchased in advance, from the date and time requested at application.

Monthly registration charge: A registration that is valid for 31 days from the date and time of issue, or where issued in advance, valid from the date and time the registration stipulates.

New owner: Someone who is bringing a boat onto the waterway for the first time, or someone who has not brought a boat onto the waterway in the current or previous annual charge periods.

New part year registration: The registration of a boat for the first time on the waterway, or by a new owner following the purchase of a previously registered boat, or a boat which has not been kept or used on the waterway by the existing owner for the previous annual registration period.

Not for profit organisation or charity boat: A boat owned or operated by not-for-profit organisations or charities solely used to encourage participation by providing access to the waterways for sport, recreation or education.

Open boat: A boat that is either open to the elements with no enclosed or decked accommodation space (including a rowing boat, dragon boat, punt, dinghy with or without sail, canoe, paddle board, light inflatable) or the occupants are only protected by a spray deck (including a kayak).

Permanently disabled engine: An engine that has been mechanically altered so that it cannot be started or operated. This does not include where the means of cranking the engine has been temporarily disconnected from the engine or the cranking power source; or the removal or failure of a component that can be replaced. Temporary removal of an outboard engine is not considered permanently disabling a boat.

Permanently removed boat: An annually registered boat that is removed from the waterway and will not return to the waterway during the current annual registration period and the next annual registration period.

Pleasure boat: Includes any yacht, launch, houseboat, randan, wherry, skiff, gig, dinghy, shallop, punt, canoe, float or other ship, boat or craft (including amphibious craft) but does not include a boat being used solely as a tug or for the carriage of goods.

Private boat: Any boat that is kept and used on a waterway solely for private leisure purposes, and not for the purposes of generating income for any organisation or business or for providing a service to others.

Powered boat: A boat which is mechanically propelled.

Powered boats with engines of 4 horse power or less: A boat that has one engine of 4 horsepower or less.

Powered maintenance work boat: A maintenance work boat that is mechanically propelled.

Roving traders: Boats used to sell goods or services, moving between various locations on a waterway or waterways. Examples include fuel, chandlery, food or craft items.

Safety or rescue boat: A boat owned and operated by an organisation or charity and used solely to carry out safety and rescue activity on the waterway for which it is registered.

Sailing boats with engine: A boat where the main means of propulsion is by sail, that also has an engine for mechanical propulsion.

Self-drive day hire: A boat that is hired to members of the public without a skipper or crew, and is let out solely for periods up to 1 day, returning to the operating base each day.

Self-drive holiday hire: Boats that are hired to members of the public without a skipper or crew, have sleeping accommodation and are normally let out for periods longer than 1 day. They include timeshare boats and shared ownership arrangements where one or more of the owners has a business interest in the boat. It also includes boats owned by a social club where members of that club are able to use the boat unsupervised and any privately owned boat this is offered out for hire to others even if only rarely or for short periods.

Skippered passenger boat (12 or less passengers): Boats operating scheduled trips, private charters, water taxi or water bus services with a skipper and crew which can carry up to 12 passengers.

Skippered passenger boat (over 12 passengers): Boats operating scheduled trips, private charters, water taxi or water bus services with a skipper and crew which can carry over 12 passengers.

Static letting boats: Boats let out for short or long stays as either overnight, holiday or residential accommodation. May include, but is not limited to, letting a cabin/room on a boat, letting a whole boat, or letting multiple cabins/rooms on a boat.

Temporary transit Registration: A registration for boats moving on the waterway solely for winter storage, repair, delivery and trial trip/demonstration, including boats under tow, and not operating for private leisure or business purposes.

Tender (Thames): A pleasure boat (other than a launch exceeding 20 feet [6 metres] in length or a houseboat) which is used solely as the only tender to a launch in the same ownership as the tender {and which is permanently marked with the words “Tender to” and the name of such launch}.

Tender (Anglian & Medway): A boat which is used solely as the only tender to a boat in the same ownership as the tender.

Tidal Thames passenger boats: Any boat certified by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to carry more than 12 passengers which is normally based on the Tidal Thames below the Teddington Boundary.

Trade exemption: An exemption that has been granted by the Environment Agency to a business operating on the waterways undertaking a boat sales, brokerage or repair business. The exemption is for boats under the business’s sole control which are moored afloat as demonstrator models, as stock for sale, on brokerage or being restored, refitted or repaired.

Trade plate: Identification plates issued to a business operating on the waterway under a trade plate agreement with the Environment Agency for use on boats without a current boat registration and that are only being moved in the course of delivery after sale, during delivery to or from winter storage, for refitting or repair or on trials or demonstration runs by the boat business.

Tug: A powered boat principally kept or used on the waterway to push or pull other boats or floating equipment (including pontoons, floats, or rafts) and occasionally for carrying out maintenance work on the waterway and its banks and structures.

Unpowered boat: A boat that is not mechanically propelled.

Unpowered enclosed boat: A boat that is not mechanically propelled, or the machinery that propels the boat has been removed or permanently disabled and is fully or partially structurally covered with enclosed or decked accommodation space (including houseboats as defined, butty boats).

Unpowered maintenance work boat: A maintenance work boat that is not mechanically propelled.

Unpowered open boat: A boat that is not mechanically propelled; and is either open to the elements with no enclosed or decked accommodation space (including a rowing boat, dragon boat, punt, dinghy with or without sail, canoe, paddle board, light inflatable) or the occupants are only protected by a spray deck (including a kayak).

Unpowered open boat hire: Boats that are hired to members of the public without a skipper or crew, with or without sleeping accommodation.

Vessel (Thames): Any ship, boat, lighter, or craft whatsoever however propelled or navigated and (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing description) includes also any amphibious craft.

Vessel (Medway): Every description of craft used or designed for use in navigation however intended to be navigated, propelled or moved and includes a hovercraft (as defined in the Hovercraft Act 1968), a hydrofoil vessel (being a vessel designed to be supported on foils) and anything constructed or used to carry persons or goods by water.

Vessel (Anglian): Any ship, lighter, keel, barge, boat, tug, hovercraft, hydrofoil and craft of any kind howsoever navigated, propelled or moved and any seaplane on the surface of the water.

Waterway: The River Thames, the Medway navigation or the Anglian waterways.

Weekly charge: A charge for the use or keeping of a boat on the waterway from the date and time of issue for 7 consecutive days, or where registration is issued in advance, from the date and time requested at application.

Weekly registration: A registration that is valid from the date and time of registration for 7 consecutive days, or where issued in advance, from the date and time the registration stipulates.