Working hard in support of the sector British Marine has continued to seek to improve standards, raise safety, provide training and encourage research as well as acting as counterpoint to evolving government policies.
In the support of industry British Marine has led the development of a range of Industry Codes of Practice and Industry Best Practice agreements to support our members in areas where the regulatory framework may not give industry the detailed support they need for business security.
Hire Boat Code (HBC)
The Hire Boat Code of Practice has been produced jointly by the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities, and British Marine with support from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, it sets down the basic principles of safe operation of all types of craft hired to members of the public and makes clear the responsibilities of each of the parties involved.
The HBC can be downloaded here
Inland Boatbuilding Association Code of Practice
The recreational craft regulations are a set of requirements that cover all recreational craft between 2.5m and 24m length. In the support of the canal boat industry British Marine has developed the Inland Boatbuilding Code of Practice, a simplification of the regulations referencing not only the approved standards applicable to canal boats but also inland bylaws and historic industry best practice developed from the many years of experience held within the association.
Further details can be found in the member area
British Marine Electrics and Electronics Association (BMEEA) Code of Practice
This document is designed for those involved in the design and installation of marine electrical and electronic systems in leisure craft up to 24m in length. It references the relevant Standards and an explanation of them linked to our own recommendations. The intention is to help the installer, boat builder, or boat owner understand the regulations, and enable him to complete a safe and legal system.
Find out more here
Industry Best Practice (IBP) Code (Water Supply Regulations)
Whilst the Water Supply Regulations set the legal requirements for water supply systems there is a lot of misunderstanding in how they are applied by water undertakers, British Marine has worked with a number of water undertakers to create a best practice guide for marinas, boatyards and any one else in the industry who supplies fresh water to waterside areas. This guidance is however only applicable in the areas of those water suppliers that have signed up to the code.
More details can be found here
High Speed Passenger Vessel (HSPV) Voluntary Code of Practice
This Code of Practice is the result of an in-depth, industry wide review of the original guidance, recommended by the Marine Investigation Accident Branch and published in 2019. It promotes common safe working practices for the industry by addressing where previous guidance and legislation failed to fully capture the specific features of small high-speed passenger craft operations.
To ensure the new guidance is based upon the experience of operators and crews, and the lessons learned over the years, British Marine has collaborated with members from its association, the Passenger Boat Association (PBA), and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), as well as key stakeholders including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Port of London Authority.
It covers all practical considerations of passenger safety and comfort while engaged in high speed experience rides. This includes crew qualification requirements, crew to passenger ratio, weather limitation, passenger safety briefing, hazard perception and fleet operations. For the first time, the Code of Practice also identifies the potential environmental impact of operations, raising awareness of the risks to the wildlife, vessel and passengers if the guidance is not followed. This is a voluntary code of practice for owners, operators, managers, skippers and crew and can be downloaded here HSPV Voluntary Code of Practice 2019
Thames Hire Boat Transit
As a result of the lessons identified from a PLA investigation into an accident involving a hired narrowboat on the tidal Thames, the Port of London Authority (PLA) and representatives from the British Marine Federation (BMF) and the Association of Pleasure Craft Operators (APCO) worked together to agree clear, safe and practical rules and guidelines to make it safe for hired narrowboats to transit the tidal Thames above Brentford.
The agreement covers construction requirements, LSA and operational requirements.
Further details can be found in the member area
In Development
Health and Safety in Marinas and Boatyards CoP
A Health and Safety code of practice for marinas and boatyards developed by industry and supported by the HSE.