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Regulations & Safety

Regulations and best practice advice for boating in the UK, helping you to stay safe on the water.

Pleasure Craft Regulations: An overview of the regulations boaters in the UK must comply with and the equipment required when boating for personal pleasure.

Commercial Craft Regulations: Information for owners of boats that take fare paying passengers and guidance relating to club owned boats

Marine Licensing: All vessels operating in tidal and coastal waters will need to comply with new marine licensing requirements.

Inland Regulations: Whether your boat is in private or commercial use, the regulations will vary depending on which Authority presides over the particular waterway.

Licensing Onboard Electronics: Your VHF Radio, EPIRB, Radar, TV etc. must all be covered by appropriate licences, as must any other transmitting equipment onboard a boat.

Safety Information: Not sure when you should be wearing a life jacket or buoyancy aid; wondering where you can get notices to mariners; how do you best avoid a collision with a kite surfer; and more...

Stability Data: The RYA Stability List provides a list of yachts with some of their parameters for which the RYA has stability information. This currently only includes monohull ballasted sailing boats.

Recreational Craft Directive: Applies to virtually all recreational craft built since 16 June 1998 and intended for sport and leisure use, within the EEA.

Flag Etiquette: Flag etiquette is a combination of law, good manners and tradition. Being ill-informed of your obligations could lead you to cause insult at home or abroad by giving a signal you do not intend to

Tonnage Surveys: RYA Tonnage Measurers are able to carry out tonnage measurement for the purpose of Part 1 Registration with the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen.

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See Also

Boat Registration

About the UK Ship Register

Firearms Regulations

Carriage of firearms (including very pistols) on-board a recreational boat

Maritime Safety Information (MSI)

Weather Forecasts

Tidal Predictions