06 January 2009Under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and the Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1907, lLocal authorities have the power to licence pleasure boats and pleasure vessels that
For a local authority to be able to grant a licence, the boat or vessel must be less than 24 metres long, carry no more than 12 passengers and operate only in categorised waters. These licences do not cover waters that are owned and managed by the British Waterways Board. A local authority also has the power to issue boatman licences for people that hire out boats and navigate boats that carry passengers.
For vessels that are less than 24 metres long and carry no more than 12 passengers that operate outside categorised waters, ie at sea, a Small Commercial Vessel Certificate should be obtained from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The British Waterways Boards licence pleasure boats for hire and passenger boats that carry less than 12 passengers that operate in waters owned and managed by the British Waterways Board.
Please note that Sevenoaks District Council does not issue these licences. You will need to contact either the authorities mentioned or the local council.
