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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Travel, transport and roads
    3. Sea and river travel

    Registering and using boats or pleasure craft

    If you own a boat or pleasure craft, you don't necessarily need to register or get a licence if you want to keep or use it on inland waterways. For some facilities, however, you will need to register before you can use them.

    Register for use on inland waterways

    As a boat or pleasure craft owner, if you want to use navigable waterways maintained by Waterways Ireland you will need to register with them. 

    • Register – Waterways Ireland

    For all other navigable waterways, you should check the signs at all facilities for information about who owns it. You may need to register with the facility you want to use.

    For some facilities, such as those belonging to riverside hotels, registration may not be necessary – you may be able to pay on the day for the facilities you wish to use.

    You may need to get a Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) certificate before you can register or buy a licence to use inland waterways.

    You can also register your boat’s details with the UK coastguard.

    You can find further information, including about insurance, at this link:

    • Owning a boat

    Register for use at sea

    For use at sea, you can register your boat or pleasure craft on the UK Ship Register.

    Regulations

    You can find information about pleasure craft regulations at this link:

    • Regulations for pleasure craft
    • Sailing a pleasure craft that is departing from the UK
    • Sailing a pleasure craft that is arriving in the UK

    Ship Radio Licence

    As an owner of a pleasure craft you will need a Ship Radio Licence. Registration is online at Ofcom.

    You can find out more at these links:

    • Ships' radio and ship portable radio
    • Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
    • GMDSS: benefits of digital selective calling
    • Register 406 MHz beacons

    Safety

    There is basic boat-handling and safety advice on the boater's handbook.

    You must follow international safety regulations if you’re using a boat at sea, including what safety equipment you must have.

    You'll also need to know about fire safety, how to prevent a collision,  what to do if you get into difficulty, and life-saving signals.

    You can find out more on these pages:

    • Seasonal safety - boat safety section 
    • Safety at sea
    • Maritime safety
    • Maritime safety: weather and navigation
    • Navigation safety for UK seafarers
    • Carriage and use of radar reflectors on small vessels
    • Maritime and shipping
    • Ship equipment

    There is also information on the safety on inland waterways page.

    Out-of-date or damaged flares

    You need to check flares regularly to make sure they're in good condition and dispose of unwanted distress flares safely.

    If you have an accident

    The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigates all accidents on all UK boats and all accidents in any UK waters, including inland waterways.

    The Marine Casualty Investigation Board carries out investigations into marine casualties in Irish waters or involving Irish vessels. 

    Calling for help

    If you get into difficulty at sea, contact the coastguard.

    If you're in life-threatening distress, make a Mayday call on your VHF radio.

    • Calling for help

    Changing boat name or port

    You can find information about changing the name of your boat at this page:

    • Apply to change a ship's name or port of choice

    Making a complaint

    If you have experienced an issue on a waterway or with a service, find information on who to complain to at this link:

    • Making a complaint about river and sea services

    More useful links

    • Maritime and Coastguard Agency
    • Irish Coast Guard
    • Loughs Agency
    • Belfast Harbour
    • Lough Neagh
    • Licensing of boats and watercraft in the Republic of Ireland
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    Sea and river travel

    • Ferry travel
    • Keeping safe on waterways and at the coast
    • Making a complaint about river and sea services
    • Recovering and reporting wreck material
    • Registering and using boats or pleasure craft

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