Boatmen Licensing

Section 94 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1907 empowers the City Council to “grant upon such terms and conditions as they may think fit licences for pleasure boats and pleasure vessels to be let for hire or to be used for carrying passengers for hire, and persons in charge of or navigating such boats and vessels”.

The effect of this is that any vessel which is available for hire to no more than 12 passengers within category C or D waters must be licensed by the local authority within whose area the vessel is based. Likewise, persons acting a boatmen on such vessels must be licensed as such. Category C waters are those in Southampton Water north of Calshot and category D waters are those in the Solent within lines between Hurst Point to the Needles in the west and between West Wittering church to Bembridge church in the east.

Licences
On first application for a licence you may be required to pass an examination unless you are in possession of a Department of Transport Boatmaster’s Certificate or RYA Certification as laid down in the MCA’s “Inland Waters Small Passenger Boat Code”. In all cases, the applicant will be required to visit the VTS centre at Berth 37, Eastern Docks and to prove their competence as a boatman to the satisfaction City Council through their appointed agent, Associated British Port's harbour master

Application Forms and Further Information
Forms, including further information and fees are contained in the application form which can be accessed through the links on the right.

Contact information

Email: licensing@southampton.gov.uk

Telephone: 023 8083 3245

Fax: 023 8083 4061

Postal address:
Licensing Team
Southampton City Council
PO Box 1344
Southampton
SO15 1WQ

Document Exchange: DX 115710 Southampton 17

Personal callers:
Licensing Team
Southbrook Rise
4-8 Millbrook Road East
Southampton
SO15 1YG

Opening hours:
Members of the licensing team will normally be available at Southbrook Rise to assist personal callers on weekdays between 09:00 and 12:00 and between 14:00 and 16:00. We may be available at other times by prior appointment.

Please note that the addresses and numbers given above should only be used for communication with the licensing team.

Service of Documents
Please use the PO Box or Document Exchange addresses for the service of all applications and notices on the licensing authority; please do not send or deliver such communications to the Civic Centre, as your application, notice or representation will inevitably be delayed, which may cause difficulties or result in your representation not being considered or your application failing to meet the strict prescribed time limits.

We are not able to accept service of applications, notices etc by fax or e-mail. Please note that all applications must be accompanied by the appropriate fee and bear original signatures.