Draft Pleasure Boats and Boatperson Licensing Policy

This consultation is now closed.

The results will be analysed and presented to Licensing Committee. We will let you know when a date has been confirmed.

Background

BCP Council is responsible for licensing pleasure boats and boatpersons operating within its inland waters.

We are consulting on the Draft Pleasure Boats and Boatperson Licensing Policy.

The policy is being introduced to update and formalise the existing licencing processes.

The purpose of the policy is to ensure that:

boats and motorised personal craft used and licensed within inland waters around Poole and Christchurch are safe to use
businesses hiring out boats and motorised personal craft hold appropriate insurance
staff operating or hiring out craft are suitably trained.

It also sets out requirements for applications and renewals, as well as the conditions attached to licences.

This policy applies to:

small, motorised pleasure craft and/or motorised personal watercraft, such as motorboats, jet skis and e-foils hired to members of the public
skippered vessels carrying up to 12 passengers within inland waters
boatpersons, who are skippers of pleasure boats who carry up to 12 fare paying passengers within inland waters.

It does not apply to:

passenger boats carrying more than 12 passengers
any boats which leave the harbours and operate at sea or along our coastline (such as larger passenger boats which operate from Poole Quay and take passengers to Swanage or around the Jurassic Coast)
additionally, boats licensed and operating under MCA coding will not be required to hold a BCP Council Pleasure Boat Licence.

The proposed policy aims to provide clearer guidance on licensing requirements, training and qualifications, inspections and safety standards, helping to ensure that people can enjoy the harbours safely and responsibly.