Over that past few years the Boat Safety Scheme Office in conjunction with the Hire Trade, BSS Examiners, Navigation Authorities and Hirer Representatives have been reviewing the existing Examination Checking Procedures (ECP’s) relating to UK Hire Boats. This year saw the implementation of the New 2017 (ECP’s) which took effect on the 1st April.
A revised set of requirements and modernised checking procedures are now applied to hire craft. Hire craft in this case are any powered boats such as weekly and day hire vessels:
- Let or hired under an arrangement, whether or not on a pre-contract basis;
- The subject of a bare boat charter arrangement;
- The subject of any form of third-party managed shared-use arrangement (including timeshare or shared ownership).
The term ‘hire boat’ does not include:
- Privately owned or managed boats;
- Boats operating commercially with a skipper or crew, and which carry passengers;
- Shared-ownership boats managed jointly by the private owners;
- Workboats;
- Emergency service boats and rescue boats.
- Hotel boats,
- Boats let as residences or longer term accommodation
From 1 April 2017:
1A) The BSS Examination Checking Procedures for Privately Owned and Managed Vessels will apply to all hire boats.
All relevant private boat BSS checks are mandatory compliance for hire boats, whereas for privately-owned and managed boats the set of checks is a mix of requirements and advice checks.
For the avoidance of doubt, these are the checks for Hire Boats that are required compliance and that also appear in the private boat examination procedures as advice checks.
| Check Item Reference | Check Question |
| X3.7.1R | Is the electrical system insulated from the hull? |
| X3.8.1R | Are all A.C. shore-power and battery charging lead inlet connections of the correct type in good condition, and suitably protected from the weather? |
| X3.8.2R | Are all shore-power, battery charging, and other A.C. power source lead connections of a suitable type? |
| X3.8.3R | Are all shore-power, battery charging, and other A.C. power source leads and connectors in good condition? |
| X3.9.1R | Is it impossible to connect simultaneously more than one power source to the alternating current distribution system? |
| X3.9.2R | Do all A.C. electrical circuits pass through a consumer unit? |
| X6.3.1R | Is the vessel provided with adequate means of escape? |
| X8.10.1R | Are all appliances requiring a flue, or exhaust fitted with one? |
| X8.10.1R | Are all appliances requiring a flue, or exhaust fitted with one? |
| X8.10.2R | Are all appliance flues and exhausts complete and in good condition? |
| X8.10.3R | Do all appliance flues and exhausts terminate directly to outside air? |
| X8.10.4R | Are all open flues to LPG appliances operating effectively? |
| X8.10.5R | Are all solid fuel appliances free of unintended gaps? |
| X8.9.1R | Is the vessel provided with adequate fixed ventilation? |
| X8.9.2R | Are warning notices displayed on sea-going boats with closable ventilators? |
To view and download the public edition the BSS Examination Checking Procedures for Privately Owned and Managed Vessels BSS (version 3.0 April 2015) click here.
1 B) New and revised BSS checks also apply to hire boats in addition to the private boat ones mentioned above. These additional BSS Requirements for hire boats are made up of seven new checks and nine original requirements from Part 10 of the 2002 BSS Standards.
To view and download the list of additional BSS Requirements for hire boats click here.
Technical support for any hire boat operator seeking information to help move their fleet to full compliance is available by using the ‘contact-us‘ page on this site where questions, photos, diagrams and supporting documents can be uploaded to the BSS website or call 0333 202 1000.
Background information from the hirer safety review and resulting consultation leading to the new BSS Hire Boat Requirements for April 2017
The original September 2015 consultation paper (now closed) and details of the revisions – click here
A short summary of the changes proposed arising out of the consultation (Sept 2015) can be read here. (Feb 2016)
A summary of the impact for hire operators as a result of the adoption of the private boat checks for hire boats, click here as published for the 2015 consultation
A hard copy of the 2015 consultation document is available upon request.
All comments and the BSS responses in detail can be viewed here (Feb 2016).
The news release (Feb 16) announcing decision to implement the revised BSS hire boat requirements from April 2017 can be viewed here
For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd. Marine Surveyors & Consultants
EMS also undertake BSS Inspections & Engine Oil Analysis Reports
Tel: 01603 327 123 www.europeanmarinesurveys.com
