GovWire

Introduction

The UK has over 4,000 miles of inland waterways. Construction requirements and levels of safety equipment that must be carried on vessels in the UK depend on the nature of the waters in which the vessel operates. There are no national construction requirements for private pleasure vessels.

Inland waters are categorised as A, B, C or D. This includes canals, non-tidal rivers, tidal rivers, large, deep lakes and lochs, and estuaries. Inland water categorisation policy and processes are dealt with by Technical Services Navigation (TSN) of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). You can find a list and definitions of these categories in Merchant Shipping Notice (MSN) 1837 (M) (as amended).

This guide explains:

• what inland waters are
• how inland waters are categorised
• how to apply for categorisation of waters
• safety requirements for vessels operating on inland waters
• best practice to adopt

Its aimed at owners, operators and masters of vessels operating in all inland waters categories.

Inland waters and how they are categorised

Inland waters includes any area of water not categorised as sea for example, canals, tidal and non-tidal rivers, lakes, and some estuarial waters (an arm of sea that extends inland to meet the mouth of a river).

Inland waters are classified as one of four categories. These are:

• Category A narrow rivers and canals where the depth of water is generally less than 1.5 metres
• Category B wider rivers and canals where the depth of water is generally 1.5 metres or more and where the significant wave height could not be expected to exceed 0.6 metres at any time
• Category C tidal rivers, estuaries and large, deep lakes and lochs where the significant wave height could not be expected to exceed 1.2 metres at any time
• Category D tidal rivers and estuaries where the significant wave height could not be expected to exceed 2 metres at any time

These categorisations determine the waters not regarded as sea for the purposes of most Merchant Shipping legislation, except that, for marine pollution legislation, sea normally includes any estuaries or arms of the sea, and therefore tidal Category C, and Category D, waters.

Water categorisation policy and processes are dealt with bythe Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

You can find more information on thecategorisation of waters in MSN 1837 (as amended).

Applying to categorise waters

Inland waters are not regarded as sea for the purposes of Merchant Shipping legislation. Vessels operating in categorised waters have different construction and equipment standards. Because of this, its important that the area you conduct your business in is correctly categorised.

You can make a request for the categorisation or re-categorisation of a defined area of water if you hold an interest in the area requested.

Water categorisation matters are co-ordinated by the Technical Services Navigation (TSN) branch of theMCA. Applications for categorisation or re-categorisation are considered by consultee surveyors and experts within the Focal Point Group Alpha (FPA). Consideration is also given to the views of the relevant MCA marine offices and select external consultees, as appropriate.

If you intend to apply, you should seek advice about categorisation of a particular stretch of water from your local marine office. You can find contact details for your localmarine office on theMCAsOffice access and opening times page.

Categorising or re-categorising an area of water

Applications for categorisation or requests to change an existing categorisation may be made by any person or organisation with an interest. The applications need to be fully supported and accompanied by the following information, as appropriate:

• chart of location
• recent sounding charts
• levels of vessel movement
• types of vessels using the area
• physical description of the area
• details of significant wave heights
• predominant wind chart for the area
• general rationale to support the application
• supporting letter from the local harbour or navigation authority, as applicable

You will need to provide evidence of how the significant wave height has been established. This information should, ideally, include evidence that the significant wave height at a representative point or points within the proposed area does not, at any time, exceed the maximum limit specified in the definition of the proposed category. That is:

• Category B up to 0.6 metres
• Category C up to 1.2 metres
• Category D up to 2.0 metres

This evidence could, for example, be based upon information derived from a mathematical model of the geographic area that has been validated by wave height observations from a wave rider buoy or seabed pressure sensor or sensors. Other evidence may be accepted if considered suitable by the Focal Point Group Alpha (FPA).

For an application for a winter or summer seasonal area, measurements should represent the period of worst weather. For all-year-round applications, measurements should represent the worst winter conditions.

In addition to wave heights, you should also consider other factors such as the:

• strength of any tidal stream
• effect of the prevailing wind against the tidal stream, which can shorten the sea giving rise to steeper waves that are more liable to break
• height of banks at the waters edge and the degree of shelter that may be found in bad weather
• effect of any surrounding high land which may give rise to sudden and unpredictable wind shifts and strengths
• fetch of the wind especially in long, straight estuaries with a low-lying hinterland
• effect of underwater banks on the tidal streams
• effect of shifting underwater sand banks which result in changing navigational channels
• relevant local phenomena for example, a bore

Considering applications

TSNco-ordinates the categorisation of a defined area of water that is listed in MSN1837 (M) (as amended). TheMCAwill consider any request for the categorisation of new or for changes in the existing categorisation of areas. For a successful application the following process needs to be followed, to avoid unnecessary delays.

Once the application is complete, send it and all supporting documents to the local marine office for the attention of the technical manager (TM).

TheTM will consult with the nearest coastguard station and the District Safety Committee or Small Passenger Ship Steering Group, as appropriate. They may want further clarification and send it back to the applicant. Once content with the application they will reply with comments or recommendations to TSN.

TSNwill review the application within 28 days and, if considered appropriate, will submit the application to the FPA for consideration and ratification.

Safety requirements for boats to operate on inland waters

If you operate a vessel commercially on inland waters, you must comply with construction regulations and standards for safety equipment to be carried onboard.

Inland water passenger ships that were not new in April 2010 are covered by several sets of regulations and guidance your localMCAmarine office can advise on these. A passenger ship is a vessel that carries more than 12 passengers.

The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Safety Code for UK Categorised Waters) Regulations 2010 provides the technical requirements for new passenger vessels, from April 2010. The Code also contains safety requirements with which the ship must comply to secure a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate.

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