Apply for a passenger boat licence

Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1992 all passenger boats carrying up to twelve passengers for reward are required to hold a valid passenger boat licence. The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Boat) Regulations (link is external)were introduced in June 2002 under section 18 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1992, as amended. These Regulations require all passenger boats to comply with the safety requirements applicable to their class of vessel as set out in these Regulations.

To obtain a passenger boat licence the boat must be surveyed by one of our marine surveyors who must certify that the vessel complies with the Regulations.

For the purposes of the regulations, passenger boats are arranged into the following Classes

Class P1

Passenger boats with no more than three passengers on board used for domestic voyages in smooth waters in the course of which the passengers are engaged in activities other than those specified in Class P4.

Class P2

Passenger boats with no more than twelve passengers on board used for domestic voyages in smooth waters in the course of which the passengers are engaged in activities other than those specified in Class P4.

Class P3

Passenger boats with no more than twelve passengers on board used for domestic voyages in smooth waters, in partially smooth waters or to sea in the course of which the passenger boats are within fifteen miles (exclusive of any smooth waters or partially smooth waters) from their designated points of departure and within three miles from land.

Class P4

Passenger boats with no more than three passengers on board used for domestic voyages in smooth waters, in partially smooth waters, within harbour limits, or to sea in the course of which the passenger boats are within half a mile (exclusive of any smooth waters or partially smooth waters) from their designated points of departure; provided that the passengers are engaged exclusively in the course of their employment in connection with marine civil engineering, survey of harbour limits, dredging or similar commercial activities.

Class P5

Passenger boats with no more than twelve passengers on board used for domestic voyages in smooth waters, in partially smooth waters or to sea.

Class P6.

Passenger boats with no more than twelve passengers on board used for domestic voyages in smooth waters, in partially smooth waters or to sea, in the course of which the passengers are engaged actively and solely in waterborne activities in which the passenger boats form an integral and necessary part of those activities.

Complete the Survey Form 6 Application Form below and send it to