Pleasure boat or vessel guidance

Important notice: Delays in response times

Due to current staff shortages, we are experiencing delays in responding to enquiries. We kindly ask for your patience and understanding during this time. Please be assured that we are making every effort to process your application as soon as possible.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Do I need a licence?

The Council requires any pleasure boats or vessels used for hire, or used for carrying passengers for hire to hold a licence. The person in charge of such a vessel, the boatperson is also required to hold a licence. Licences last for 4 years for a boat licence and 3 years for a boatperson licence.

The purpose of licensing is to protect the public and promote public safety.

The Pleasure Boat or Vessel and Boatperson Policy provides clear guidance to applicants.

View a map showing which section of the river Derwent is licensed. (Map instructions: select top left 'burger menu' to show map options. From the dropdown menu select; Map Features, then Environment and Planning, then River Boat Licence).

Determination

Applications will be considered on their own merits, and may be referred to the Licensing Committee, if necessary.

If granted the licence will last for 4 years.

If refused, you may appeal to the Magistrates Court

Once granted, the licence holder must comply with Pleasure Boat or Vessel Licence Conditions and or the Boatperson Licence Conditions.

Fines and penalties

If you don’t hold a licence and hire out or use your pleasure boat to carry passengers, you could be fined up to £1,000.

You could also be fined £1,000 if you don’t follow any conditions of your licence.

Licence conditions

1. The maximum number of persons permitted to be carried on any pleasure boat or vessel to which this licence applies shall not exceed the number specified in the licence applying to such boat.
2. An identification number of the pleasure boat or vessel shall be permanently affixed in a conspicuous position to both sides of the pleasure boat or vessel in figures not less than 75 mm (3 inch) in height and must be legible from the riverbank.
3. A notice stating the maximum number of persons permitted to be carried shall also be prominently displayed on the pleasure boat as follows: "Licensed To Carry ** Persons"
4. A copy of the Pleasure Boat or Vessel Licence shall be prominently displayed on the pleasure boat.
5. All pleasure boats or vessel shall be kept in good, sound and safe condition by ensuring the requirements of the qualified marine surveyor and compliance with the Inland Waters Small Passenger Boat Code are met at all times. Any boat or vessel not in such condition shall not be made available for hire.
6. All pleasure boats or vessels shall be insured at all times.
7. The licence-holder must have a suitable and sufficient system is in place and is operated to ensure that proper records are kept which show how many journeys have been undertaken.
8. These records shall be retained for at least 12 months from the date of the last entry or such longer period as may, by written notice, be required by an officer of the Council.
9. These records shall be produced on request to an officer of the Council at all reasonable times.
10. No boat hereby licensed shall be used when the water is in flood or when strong stream conditions prevail which may pose a threat to the safety of those on board.
11. The licence-holder must inform the Council of any collision or grounding of the pleasure boat or vessel as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 24 hours.
12. The licence holder must inform the Council of any substantial damage caused to the pleasure boat or vessel as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 24 hours. The Licensee shall supply to the Council on request a written specification of the proposed repairs.
13. If the Pleasure Boat or Vessel suffers any significant damage or deterioration caused by collision, accident or any other means it shall not be used for carrying passengers for hire until it has been repaired and the Pleasure Boat or vessel has been inspected (at the Licence Holders expense) by a qualified marine surveyor.
14. If any change occurs in the ownership or any particulars of the pleasure boats during the period of the licence, notice must be given within 48 hours by email to licensing@derby.gov.uk or in writing to The Licensing Team, Derby City Council, Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, DE1 2FS.