Boat Safety Scheme (BSS)

Boat Safety Scheme (BSS)

Robert Burton provides services as a Quality Assurance assessor and consultant to the Boat Safety Scheme.

Most of the waterways of Britain require boats to have insurance, a licence and a valid BSS Certificate in place.  This requirement includes craft using most of the rivers, canals and some lakes of the UK’s inland waterway network.

The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) minimises the risk of boat fires, explosions, deaths or injuries, and pollution to the waterways. 

All powered craft, or vessels with an electrical, gas, or heating system require a BSS Examination every four years in order to be compliant with the requirements of most navigation authorities.

The Boat Safety Scheme is often likened to the UK’s MOT requirement for cars and other motor road vehicles. The majority of the inland navigation authorities, together with some National Parks and coastal areas such as the Norfolk Broads require boats to have a valid BSS Certificate before granting a licence for the vessel to navigate their waterways. A BSS Certificate will currently last four years.

The Boat Safety Scheme places a heavy emphasis on aspects of the boat’s safety including gas installations and the engine’s fuel systems, together with all electrical systems, safe escape routes, and precautions such as portable fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors.

A stringent set of checks must be met before a Certificate can be issued.