Boatmaster Licensing

10.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 12th May 2008

Colin Breed today met with the Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Transport, Jim Fitzpatrick, to discuss changes in licensing regulations for boats. The rules, which came into effect on the 1st January 2008, impacted heavily on local boat services as they classify all boats as either Tier I ( Europe-wide) or Tier II (inland lakes and waterways). There is no exception made for boats such as the Fowey to Mevagissey ferry, which operates on the sea and on inland waterways.

Mr Breed said "for many local ferry companies these rules are simply too onerous to comprehend. The Tier I licence is far too complex for the vast majority of local boats, which typically carry less than 100 passengers, are less than 50 feet in length and only operate within 3 miles of land. For these companies, an intermediary level encompassing some elements of both Tiers would be far more relevant.

I brought these problems to the attention of the Minister, in order to save local companies an inordinate amount of administration, over-training and unnecessary costs, and am pleased to say he agreed with my suggestions."