Boat Safety Scheme Examiner

The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS), created by British Waterways and the Environment Agency was launched in 1997, with the main objective to minimise the risks of fires & explosions onboard, also to reduce pollution on the UK’s inland waterways, by specifying a set of requirements that most boats must meet before they can be granted a navigation licence.

Just like a car, on most of the UK’s inland waterways, a boat needs to be licensed, insured and have the boat equivalent of a MOT – a valid BSS certification  before it can cruise, or in some circumstances moor.  New boats up to four years old do not require a BSS, they are covered by a document called ‘Declaration of Conforminity’ (DOC), but will need a certificate issuing after this date.

The BSS test is required once every four years and must be carried out by a registered Boat Safety Scheme Examiner such as myself.  Please get in touch if you would like an initial inspection or to renew a certificate.

The BSS applies to all boats with engines and/or cooking, heating, lighting, refrigeration and other domestic appliances, including open boats propelled by outboard motors with fixed electrical systems such as electric starts.

The BSS examination includes:-
• Flues & ventilation
• Pollution prevention
• Boat with inboard engines:- fuel tanks & fuel systems, electrical installations, batteries, battery compartments, electrics & fusing
• Boats with outboard & portable engines and electrically propelled vessels:- fire prevention & extinguishing equipment, LPG installations, appliances,

For more information on the BSS, please click the link  http://www.boatsafetyscheme.com