The Boat Safety Scheme

The Boat Safety Scheme, or BSS, is a public safety initiative run as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.

The Boat Safety Scheme

Having safely installed systems is only part of the story. Two-thirds of fire and carbon monoxide risks arise from the way that engines, appliances, systems and fuels are used and maintained.

Stay Safe Advice

The Boat Safety Scheme

Our role in supporting navigation and harbour authorities, is to help reduce the risk of boat fires, explosions, carbon monoxide or pollution from boats harming visitors to the inland waterways, the waterways' workforce, other waterways users and property on or alongside the waterways.

Requirements, Examinations & Certification

The Boat Safety Scheme

Boat Safety Scheme Ltd (BSS) is a public safety initiative helping to protect people, property and environments across the UK’s inland waterways. A not-for-profit company, working with navigation and harbour authorities to reduce the risks of boat fires, explosions, carbon monoxide poisoning, and pollution.

BSS examination and certification

Just like a car, on most of the UK's inland waterways, a boat needs to be licensed, insured and have the boat-equivalent of a MOT - valid BSS certification - before it can cruise, or in some circumstances moor.

Check with your navigation or harbour authority if this applies to your waterway, harbour or marina. (This is not in the BSS remit to state whether this applies)

BSS Examination & Certification

Stay safe advice

Most boat-related incidents involve someone on board doing something to cause it, or not doing something to avoid it.

With the help of some of the leading organisations in their fields, we have advice and tips that may help keep you and your crew safe.

Stay Safe Advice

About the BSS

You can learn more on how the Scheme is run, the committees that steer its activities, how stakeholders are involved in the decisions and policies, as well as how the appeals and complaints systems work.

About the BSS