Harrogate Borough Council
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Any person wishing to use a boat or other craft in navigable rivers and canals are required to register, or obtain a British waterways licence, or pay a toll.
Almost all of Britain's waterways are run by three main organisations, each of which issues its own licences and registrations.
- British Waterways runs almost all the canals, and rivers such as the Severn, Trent and Yorkshire Ouse.
- The Environment Agency runs the River Thames, the River Medway, and the rivers of East Anglia.
- The Broads Authority runs the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.
You can also find alot of useful information about boating licences and registrations on the Waterscape website.
Any person who wishes to be in charge of or navigate a pleasure boat/vessel for the purpose of letting it out for hire to members of the public, must obtain licences from the Local Authority.
Licences will not be issued to persons under 18 years of age. The application must be accompanied by a certificate of compliance with the British Waterways Standards (issued by an approved Marine Surveyor). The pleasure boat must comply with any Authority or statutory conditions.
The cost of the licence is £3.00 per boat.
- Apply for a Pleasure Boat licence (88K, Word)