Boatmasters' Licence

Regulators: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Nations: United Kingdom
Sectors: Transport

Regulatory or professional bodies

Primary regulator

Regulatory authority: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Address: Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency
Phone number: +44 (0)2038 172 200

Regulation

Regulation summary

The MCA, on behalf of the Secretary of State, issues Boatmaster Licences (BMLs) to candidates once they have met the qualifying conditions. A boatmasters’ licence is required if you are the master of passenger and non-passenger vessels operating on:

• The UK's inland waters in categories A to D, such as canals, rivers, lakes and some estuaries;
• The UK's ‘limited’ coastal area operations - but no more than 5 miles from the land and 15 miles from where your vessel sets off or arrives.

Regulation type

Licence

Reserved activities

A BML, or accepted alternative qualification is required for the masters of:

Passenger Ships;
• Class IV, V VI and VI(A), including Passenger Ships Operating solely in UK Categorised Waters and High Speed Craft including Hovercraft operating solely in UK categorised waters and limited coastal areas.

Non-Passenger Ships;
• Class IX(A) and IX (A) (T).

A boatmasters’ licence is required if you are a master on the aforementioned vessels on the UK's:
• Inland waters in categories A to D, such as canals, rivers, lakes and some estuaries; and
• ‘Limited’ coastal area operations - no more than 5 miles from the land and 15 miles from where your vessel sets off or arrives.

More about regulated activities and titles: https://www.gov.uk/boatmasters-licence

Qualifications and experience

New professionals

Routes to qualification

To qualify for a UK BML, candidates must:

a) Be of the correct minimum age;
b) Have completed the appropriate qualifying service time and present this service in the Work Record book;
c) Present certificates to reflect having completed the ancillary safety training;
d) Present the Training Record Book (TRB) with relevant sections completed, appropriate to the type of BML sought; and
e) Hold a valid accepted medical certificate.

Candidates must complete application form MSF 4364 and submit it with proof of identity, evidence of meeting the above criteria and the statutory fees to their local MCA Marine Office. On receipt of the application, the local Marine Office will arrange assessments for the candidate:

(a) To demonstrate the level of underpinning knowledge required for the type of BML sought; or;
(b) To demonstrate a satisfactory level of seamanship and vessel handing competencies (practical boat handling).

Full details are contained in MSN 1853 Amendment 1, or any subsequent publication.

More about qualification

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/msn-1853-m-boatmasters-qualifications-crew-and-hours-of-work

Professionals from outside the UK

Recognition for professionals outside the UK

Some - qualifications from some countries may be recognised, but professionals from other countries will have to re-qualify

Summary of routes

Candidates holding certain 'higher' certificates can be used in lieu of a UK boatmasters’ licence. There are two categories of equivalent Licence:

• Annex 3 of MSN 1853 details which certificates can be used in lieu to master small vessels in commercial use under 24m in loadline length which carry no more than 12 passengers and are not certificated to operate under the MCA’s Small Commercial Vessel and Pilot Boat (SCV) Code).

• Annex 4 of MSN 1853 details the list of equivalent or higher sea-going qualifications to be used in lieu of the BML. Holders of certifcates listed in annex 4 may be subject to a practical boat handling examination if the alternative qualifications do not include a command capacity or function to master vessels in the scope of the Regulations.

Candidates for all equivalent certificates will be required to meet the other requirements, such as a valid medical certificate, and will be subject to any relevant specialist operation or local knowledge endorsement requirements.

More about recognition for professionals outside the UK