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The Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010

Thames Conservancy Act 1966 (S6)

The National navigation boat charging scheme 2022 sets out the charges for all boats, kept or used on the River Thames from 1 January 2022. It is made under the powers of the Environment Agency to fix charges in section 6 Thames Conservancy Act 1966 and under article 23 of The Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010.

The scheme will increase charges by 4% in 2023 and a further 2% in 2024. Charges will then continue at the 2024 values each year until the scheme is amended.

This requirement extends to every part of the non-tidal River Thames between Cricklade Bridge and Teddington Lock, and the short section of the tidal River Thames between Teddington Lock and the Port of London Authority鈥檚 boundary, including backwaters and marinas.

All boats have to register and pay the appropriate charge unless they are exempt from charge (go to section 11).

Annual charges are due on 1 January of each year, and they expire on 31 December each year.

If a powered or unpowered enclosed boat is registered for the first time part way through a registration year, then a pro rata (reduced) charge may apply in certain circumstances (go to section 17).

Visitor charges (monthly, weekly and daily) are due when coming onto the waterway and they expire after the defined period of the registration. They are valid from the date and time set when registering for the period. Boats kept on Environment Agency waterways are not eligible for visitor registrations.

Monthly visitor charges allow a boat to be on the waterway for consecutive 31 days.

Weekly visitor charges allow a boat to be on the waterway for 7 consecutive days.

Daily visitor charges allow a boat to be on the waterway for 24 hours. They are valid for 24 hours from the time of issue, or where issued in advance, valid for 24 hours from the date and time requested at application. Where tidal conditions prevent moving off the waterway within the valid time, the valid time shall be extended by 12 hours to allow passage on the next tide. Any extension will be managed by staff at our tidal locks.

Explorer charges allow a boat to be on the waterway for up to 15 non consecutive days in the annual registration period. The 鈥榚xplorer鈥� option is only available for privately owned unpowered open boats.

When registering a boat, the registered owner is responsible to pay the full charge.

Charges for powered boats and unpowered enclosed boats are subject to a minimum charge of 拢11.40.

Words or expressions used herein shall have the same meaning as defined in the Acts and the Order and the National navigation boat charging schemes from 2022.

1. Powered boats

鈥減owered boat鈥� means a boat which is mechanically propelled by a combustion engine, steam engine, or electric motor.

Annual charges for powered boats

The annual charges for powered boats are:

• 拢24.14 per complete square metre for up to and including the first 80 square metres (minimum chargeable area of 5 square metres)

• 拢13.01 per complete square metre for every additional one over 80 square metres

How to calculate the charge for powered boats

Example for a boat of 5.7m length and 2m beam

Step 1: Calculate the chargeable area by multiplying the length by the beam - 5.7 m x 2 m = 11.4 m

Step 2: Round down the chargeable area - 11.4 m = 11 m

Step 3: Multiply the chargeable area by the charge per square metre - 11 m x 拢24.14 = 拢265.54

Annual charges for electrically powered boats

鈥淓lectrically powered鈥� means the power to propel the boat is solely from an electric motor.

Electrically powered boats shall pay 75% of the appropriate annual powered boat charge set out above.

How to calculate the charge for electric powered boats:

Step 1: work out the area of the boat

Step 2: use the powered boat rates in section 1 to calculate the powered boat charge

Step 3: multiply the result by 0.75

If a powered boat is registered for the first time part way through a registration year, then a pro rata (reduced) charge may apply in certain circumstances. Go to section 17 for more details.

Visitor charges

Table 1. Visitor charges for powered boats

Boat Area	Monthly	Weekly	Daily
up to 10 square metres	拢55.10	拢15.30	拢14.00
11 square metres to 15 square metres	拢101.20	拢40.50	拢24.40
16 square metres to 20 square metres	拢130.10	拢47.20	拢28.30
21 square metres to 25 square metres	拢158.10	拢55.70	拢31.00
26 square metres to 30 square metres	拢189.80	拢67.50	拢41.50
31 square metres to 35 square metres	拢224.40	拢79.00	拢50.50
36 square metres to 40 square metres	拢249.20	拢91.50	拢55.70
41 square metres to 45 square metres	拢272.20	拢104.50	拢58.40
46 square metres to 50 square metres	拢305.70	拢116.20	拢64.20
51 square metres to 55 square metres	拢341.70	拢127.30	拢68.00
56 square metres to 60 square metres	拢370.40	拢139.10	拢75.90
61 square metres to 65 square metres	拢398.40	拢152.10	拢83.60
66 square metres to 70 square metres	拢430.40	拢159.20	拢90.90
71 square metres to 75 square metres	拢462.20	拢168.40	拢95.40
76 square metres to 80 square metres	拢483.10	拢178.80	拢98.70
Over 80 square metres	拢514.20	拢191.20	拢100.70

Charges for powered boats and unpowered enclosed boats are subject to a minimum charge of 拢11.40.

Business boats pay these charges plus an additional business charge dependent on the business category. These charges and categories are outlined in section 7. Business charges do not apply to not-for-profit organisations or charities.

Electrically powered boats shall pay 75% of the visitor charges for powered boats shown in table 1.

Charges for maintenance workboats and tugs are outlined in section 5.

Boats kept on Environment Agency waterways are not eligible for visitor registrations.

Privately owned powered boats, which have a current annual registration issued for an Environment Agency waterway, can visit the other Environment Agency waterways free of charge for two periods of 7 consecutive days.

2. Tenders

鈥渢ender鈥� means for River Thames a pleasure boat (other than a launch exceeding 20 feet [6 metres] in length or a houseboat) which is used solely as the only tender to a launch in the same ownership as the tender and which is permanently marked with the words 鈥淭ender to鈥� and the name of such launch.

鈥渓aunch鈥� means a mechanically propelled vessel not being used solely as a tug or for the carriage of goods.

Table 2. Charges for unpowered tenders

Registration charge type	charge
Annual	拢24.70
Monthly	拢17.80
Weekly	拢11.00
Daily	拢5.50

Table 3. Charges for powered tenders up to 3m in length

Registration charge type	powered	electrically powered
Annual	拢57.36	拢40.81
Monthly	拢27.50	拢20.20
Weekly	拢13.70	拢10.00 (subject to minimum charge)
Daily	拢6.80 (subject to minimum charge)	拢4.50 (subject to minimum charge)

Table 4. Charges for tenders between 3m and less than 6m in length

Registration charge type	powered	electrically powered
Annual	拢75.01	拢56.26
Monthly	拢37.40	拢28.00
Weekly	拢18.60	拢13.40
Daily	拢9.20 (subject to minimum charge)	拢6.70 (subject to minimum charge)

Charges for powered boats and unpowered enclosed boats are subject to a minimum charge of 拢11.40.

Powered tenders that are greater than 6m in length pay the relevant powered boat charge outlined in section 1.

Business boats pay these charges plus an additional business charge dependent on the business category. These charges and categories are outlined in section 7.

The powered parent boat must be registered and declared when registering the 鈥楾ender鈥� for these charges to apply. Only one 鈥楾ender鈥� will be registered for each powered parent boat.

3. Unpowered open boats

鈥淯npowered open boat鈥� means a boat that is not mechanically propelled; and is either open to the elements with no enclosed or decked accommodation space (including a rowing boat, dragon boat, punt, dinghy with or without sail, canoe, paddle board, light inflatable) or the occupants are only protected by a spray deck (including a kayak).

Table 5. Charges for unpowered open boats

Registration charge type	charge
Annual	拢48.60
Monthly	拢21.80
Weekly	拢11.50
Daily	拢5.50
Explorer (15 days)	拢19.00

The annual registration or explorer registration for an unpowered open boat allows that boat to be used on any of the Environment Agency waterways.

Explorer registrations are only available for privately owned unpowered open boats. Explorer registration days do not have to be consecutive.

Business boats pay these charges plus an additional business charge dependent on the business category. These charges and categories are outlined in section 7.

4. Unpowered enclosed boats

鈥渦npowered enclosed boat鈥� means a boat that is not mechanically propelled, or the machinery that propels the boat has been removed or permanently disabled and is fully or partially structurally covered with enclosed or decked accommodation space (including houseboats as defined below and butty boats).

鈥渉ouseboat鈥� means any type of private domestic or commercial space, whether used for accommodation or not, built within or upon a navigable hull originally intended to be towed by a tug, whether or not it is still towed or is permanently moored (including a converted dumb barge, lighter or butty), or any type of private domestic or commercial space, whether used for accommodation or not, built within or upon a navigable hull but either not originally fitted with a means of propulsion or with the means of propulsion removed or permanently disabled (including a Dutch barge, Humber Keel barge, wide beam or narrowboat).

鈥減ermanently disabled engine鈥� means an engine that has been mechanically altered so that it cannot be started or operated.

The charge for an unpowered enclosed boat is 50% of the relevant powered boat charge as outlined in section 1.

How to calculate the charge for unpowered enclosed boats

Step 1: work out the area of the boat

Step 2: use the powered boat rates in section 1 to calculate the powered boat charge

Step 3: multiply the result by 0.5

Charges for powered boats and unpowered enclosed boats are subject to a minimum charge of 拢11.40.

Business boats pay these charges plus an additional business charge dependent on the business category. These charges and categories are outlined in section 7.

If an unpowered enclosed boat is registered for the first time part way through a registration year, then a pro rata (reduced) charge may apply in certain circumstances. Go to section 17 for more details.

5. Maintenance workboats and tugs

鈥淭ugs鈥� means a powered boat principally kept or used on the waterway to push or pull other boats or floating equipment (including pontoons, floats, or rafts) and occasionally for carrying out maintenance work on the waterway and its banks and structures.

鈥淢aintenance workboat鈥� means a boat that is principally kept or used to undertake maintenance on, and about, the waterway and its banks and structures, and occasionally as a tug.

Table 5. Charges for powered maintenance workboats

Registration charge type	charge
Annual	拢220.64
Monthly	拢55.00
Weekly	拢27.50
Daily	拢13.70

Table 6. Charges for unpowered maintenance workboats

Registration charge type	charge
Annual	拢132.29
Monthly	拢33.00
Weekly	拢16.50
Daily	拢8.20

Table 7. Charges for tugs

Charge type	charge
Annual	拢220.64
Monthly	拢55.00
Weekly	拢27.50
Daily	拢13.70

Charges for powered boats and unpowered enclosed boats are subject to a minimum charge of 拢11.40.

Business boats pay these charges plus an additional business charge dependent on the business category. These charges and categories are outlined in section 7.

6. Charges for boats used solely for the carriage of goods

鈥渃arriage of goods鈥� means the transportation of goods by boat on a waterway.

Table 8. Charges for boats used solely for the carriage of goods

Charge type	charge
Annual	拢106.08
Monthly	拢53.00
Weekly	拢26.50
Daily	拢13.20

Charges for powered boats and unpowered enclosed boats are subject to a minimum charge of 拢11.40.

These boats do not pay the additional business boat charges.

7. Business boats

鈥渂usiness boat鈥� means a boat kept or used on a waterway which is not kept or used solely as a private boat.

鈥減rivate boat鈥� means any boat that is kept and used on a waterway solely for private leisure purposes, and not for the purposes of generating income for any organisation or business or for providing a service to others.

Business boats shall pay the relevant boat charge outlined in sections 1 to 6 plus the relevant business charge for each boat as outlined in table 9. For powered boats and unpowered enclosed boats, the combined charge is subject to the minimum charge of 拢11.40.

There are several categories of business boat covering the different business uses. These are outlined below.

Table 9. Business charges

Business boat charge category	annual	monthly	weekly	daily
Unpowered open business boat	拢5.50	拢2.75	拢1.37	拢0.63
Unpowered enclosed business boat	拢137.90	拢82.70	拢41.80	拢20.80
Unpowered business tender	拢5.50	拢2.75	拢1.37	拢0.63
Unpowered maintenance business workboat	拢33.08	拢16.50	拢8.20	拢4.08
Powered business boat, other than those covered elsewhere in this table (default)	拢220.64	拢110.20	拢55.00	拢27.50
Powered self-drive day hire business boat	拢55.16	拢27.50	拢13.70	拢6.80
Powered business tender	拢11.02	拢5.50	拢2.75	拢1.37
Powered maintenance business workboat	拢55.16	拢27.50	拢13.70	拢6.80
Powered business tug	拢55.16	拢27.50	拢13.70	拢6.80

Where there is not a specific charge category for the business category, the default category shall apply.

Reductions for electric and unpowered enclosed boats do not apply to these additional business charges.

If a powered or unpowered enclosed boat is registered for the first time part way through a registration year, then a pro rata (reduced) charge may apply in certain circumstances. Go to section 17 for more details.

Categories of business boat and relevant charge category

Unpowered open hire boats

Unpowered open boats that are hired to members of the public without a skipper or crew, with or without sleeping accommodation. Charge category: Unpowered open business boat.

Self-drive day hire boats

Boats that are hired to members of the public without a skipper or crew, have no sleeping accommodation and are let out solely for periods up to 1 day, returning to the operating base each day. Charge category: Powered self-drive day hire business boat.

Self-drive holiday hire boats

Boats that are hired to members of the public without a skipper or crew, have sleeping accommodation and are normally let out for periods longer than 1 day. They include timeshare boats and shared ownership arrangements where one or more of the owners has a business interest in the boat. It also includes boats owned by a social club where members of that club are able to use the boat unsupervised and any privately owned boat this is offered out for hire to others even if only rarely or for short periods. Charge category: Powered business boat (default).

Skippered passenger boats (up to 12 passengers)

Boats operating scheduled trips, private charters, water taxi or water bus services with a skipper which can carry up to 12 passengers. Charge category: Powered business boat (default).

Skippered passenger boats (over 12 passengers)

Boats operating scheduled trips, private charters, water taxi or water bus services with a skipper and crew which are certified by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) can carry over 12 passengers. Charge category: Powered business boat (default).

Skippered hotel boats

Boats operating as serviced guest or hotel accommodation with a skipper and crew which can accommodate up to 12 guests. Charge category: Powered business boat (default) or Unpowered enclosed business boat.

Static letting boats

Boats let out for short or long stays as either overnight, holiday or residential accommodation. May include, but is not limited to, letting a cabin or room on a boat, letting a whole boat, or letting multiple cabins or rooms on a boat. Charge category: Powered business boat (default) or Unpowered enclosed business boat.

Fixed location trading boats

Boats selling goods or services from a permanent mooring location, or used for other commercial purposes. Examples include cafe, restaurant, office, hairdressers, gallery or shop. Charge category: Powered business boat (default) or Unpowered enclosed business boat.

Roving traders

Boats used to sell goods or services, moving between various locations on a waterway or waterways. Examples include fuel, chandlery, food or craft items. Charge category: Powered business boat (default) or Unpowered enclosed business boat.

Maintenance workboats

A boat that is principally kept or used to undertake maintenance on, and about, the waterway and its banks and structures, and occasionally as a tug. Charge category: Unpowered maintenance business workboat or Powered maintenance business workboat.

Safety boat

A boat owned and operated by an organisation or charity and used solely to carry out safety and rescue activity on the waterway for which it is registered. Charge category: Exempt from charge or Powered business boat (default) if not 鈥榮olely鈥� used as a safety boat.

Coaching boat

A boat used solely for coaching and training during supervised boating activities aboard other registered boats. Charge category: Not-for-profit/charity 鈥� coaching boat charge.

Tugs

A powered boat principally kept or used on the waterway to push or pull other boats or floating equipment (including pontoons, floats, or rafts) and occasionally for carrying out maintenance work on the waterway and its banks and structures. Charge category: Powered business tug.

Boats solely used for the carriage of goods on the Thames

Boats, powered or unpowered, which are used on the Thames solely for the carriage of goods. Charge category: Charges shown in section 6.

Tender

For the River Thames a pleasure boat (other than a boat exceeding 20 feet [6 metres] in length or a houseboat) which is used solely as the only tender to a boat in the same ownership as the tender [and which is permanently marked with the words 鈥淭ender to鈥� and the name of such boat. Charge category: Unpowered business tender or Powered business tender.

Details of the specific registration requirement for these business categories are on the business boats supplementary boat registration form.

8. Not-for-profit or charity boats

鈥渘ot-for-profit organisation or charity boat鈥� means a boat owned or operated by not-for-profit organisations or charities solely used to encourage participation by providing access to the waterways for sport, recreation or education.

These can include:

• junior unpowered open boats only to be used by people 18 years old or younger

• unpowered open boats to be used by people of any ages

• coaching boats used solely for coaching and training

• other powered boats kept and used by the organisation

Table 10. Annual charges for boats own and operated by not-for-profit organisation or charities

Type of annual registration charge	charge per boat
Junior only unpowered open boats	拢11.57
Other unpowered open boats	拢34.06
Coaching boats	拢83.25
Powered boat	25% of the relevant annual charge

The charges are for each boat to be registered and are not subject to the additional business charges in section 7.

For charges for unpowered enclosed boats, please contact our Boat Registration team.

The annual registration for an unpowered open boat allows that boat to be used on any of the Environment Agency waterways.

鈥渏unior only boats鈥� means unpowered open boats registered by a club or organisation to be solely used by people aged up to and including 18 years old.

鈥渃oaching boat鈥� means a boat owned and operated by a not-for-profit organisation or charity and used solely for coaching and training during supervised boating activities aboard other boats.

9. Event registration charges - unpowered open boats

For unpowered open boats competing in an organised event on the waterway (that otherwise would not be registered). The registration will cover the boats for the period of the event only.

Table 11. Event registration charges

Number of boats to be registered	Total charge
1 to 10	拢97.08
11 to 25	拢123.19
26 to 50	拢149.11
51-100	拢173.49
101 to 200	拢225.99
Over 200	拢254.08

These charges are available to the organisation holding the event only, not to individual participants.

10. Passenger boats out of service

Class V passenger boats (that are certificated by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency) which are kept on the waterway but 鈥榦ut of service鈥� shall pay a charge for each annual registration period or part of the annual registration period for keeping that passenger boat on the waterway.

Annual charge: 拢112.44

This charge shall be payable at the start of each annual registration period, or when a boat is taken 鈥榦ut of service鈥�. It is an annual charge, there are no pro-rata charges.

For passenger boats declared 鈥榦ut of service鈥� they will not pay the additional business charge.

For details of which boats qualify for this charge, please contact the Boat Registration team.

11. Boats exempt from registration charges

There are certain categories of use of boat that are exempt from registration charges.

These include:

• safety or rescue boats

• emergency services boats

• Highways Authority boats

• boats owned or operated by, or operated on behalf of, the Environment Agency

All these boats listed above are still required to register and meet appropriate registration requirements.

In exception to those listed above, boats owned or operated for hire by freemen of the Watermen鈥檚 Company are exempt from registration and charges. However, tolls apply to these boats when using the locks, go to section 15 for the toll charges.

These boats are still required to formally apply for exemption, please email our boat registration team and ask for the Freemen of the Watermen鈥檚 form.

鈥渆mergency services鈥� means the police, fire, ambulance, Royal National Lifeboat Institution or Coastguard services.

鈥渟afety or rescue boat鈥� means a boat owned and operated by an organisation or charity and used solely to carry out safety and rescue activity on the waterway for which it is registered.

12. Temporary transit

鈥渢emporary transit registration鈥� means a registration for boats moving on the waterway solely for winter storage, repair, delivery and trial trip/demonstration, including boats under tow, and not operating for private leisure or business purposes.

Temporary transit of a boat through a waterway shall pay the daily charge for that category of boat as outlined in these charges.

13. Trade charges

Trade plates

鈥渢rade plates鈥� means identification plates issued to a business operating on the waterway under a trade plate agreement with the Environment Agency for use on boats without a current boat registration and that are only being moved in the course of delivery after sale, during delivery to or from winter storage, for refitting or repair or on trials or demonstration runs by the boat business.

New trade plate application charge: 拢74.25

Trade plate annual charge: 拢212.16

These are for use on the Thames only.

Trade exemption

鈥渢rade exemption鈥� means an exemption, that has been granted by the Environment Agency, to a business operating on the waterways undertaking a boat sales, brokerage or repair business. The exemption is for boats under the business鈥檚 sole control which are moored afloat as demonstrator models, as stock for sale, on brokerage or being restored, refitted or repaired.

New trade exemption application charge: 拢15.91

Annual charge for a trade exemption: 拢106.08

These are for the Thames only.

14. Passenger boats from the tidal River Thames

Passenger boats that operate on the tidal River Thames but wish to operate on the non-tidal waterway shall pay annual charges and individual charges depending on the circumstances.

Passenger boats that just wish to use the Teddington lock only shall pay an annual charge of 拢1,347.36. If these boats wish to subsequently use other locks on the waterway they shall pay 拢31.80 for each passage through each of these other locks.

Passenger boats that wish to use all locks on the waterway shall pay an annual charge of 拢4,456.77.

15. Freeman of the Waterman鈥檚 company

Where a boat is being used for hire by a freeman of the Waterman鈥檚 Company or by the widow of any such freeman and the boat is registered with and licensed by the port authority under the provisions of the Port of London (Consolidation) Act, 1920, then they will pay 拢31.80 for each passage through each lock.

16. Other charges

Replacement boat registration plate

When a replacement registration plate is requested by a boat owner the charge for supplying this replacement plate is 拢11.66.

Change of boat name

When a formal change of name of a boat is requested by a boat owner, outside of the registration or renewal process, the charge for recording this name change and supplying a replacement plate is 拢11.66.

17. New boats on the waterway

When a powered boat or unpowered enclosed boat is registered for the first time part way through a registration year, a pro rata (reduced) charge may apply in certain circumstances.

If a boat does not qualify then the full annual charge is applicable.

A 鈥榥ew part year registration鈥� will apply if the registration of a boat is:

• for the first time on the waterway

• by a new owner following the purchase of a previously registered boat

• a boat which has not been kept or used on the waterway by the existing owner for the previous annual registration period

• by the same owner following a period on 鈥榯rade exemption鈥� for repair

Calculation of new part year charge

When a new part year registration occurs after the start of the annual charge period, the charge payable shall be calculated as follows;

Charge = Annual charge x (number of months remaining in annual registration period (including the current month)/12

The annual registration period ends on 31 December on the Thames.

Full details are in the new part year registration guidance.

18. Refunds

We will offer a refund of the annual registration for:

• permanent removal of a boat from the waterway

• completion of the sale of a boat

• moving a boat onto 鈥榯rade exemption鈥� for sale or repair*

• a boat that is stolen or destroyed by fire

• an upgrade of a registration to a Gold Licence - in most cases we can refund your waterway registration fee in full

• administrative errors - we will offer a full refund as appropriate

*repair does not include winter storage or general maintenance.

We make pro rata refunds for whole months only, and calculate the number of unexpired months from the date declared on the change of ownership form. There is an administration fee of 拢15.91.

鈥渁dministration fee鈥� means a fee payable when amendments to, or cancellations of, registrations are requested by the boat owner.

Full details are in the refund guidance

19. Other registration options

Gold licence - You can buy a gold licence which lets you use all Environment Agency and Canal & River Trust waterways. Gold licences are only available to buy through the Canal & River Trust.

British Canoeing or Canoe Wales - Members of British Canoeing or Canoe Wales can use our waterways as part of their yearly membership fee. They are required to carry their membership card with them as it acts as a registration too. Affiliated clubs through British Canoeing and Canoe Wales may purchase registrations for club owned boats through British Canoeing and Canoe Wales or can purchase registrations directly from us. Members of the Scottish Canoe Association and the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland must apply for registrations through us.

British Rowing - Members of a British Rowing affiliated club should register their boats with British Rowing at a reduced rate. This should be done through their club.

20. Footnotes

Footnote 1: Applying multiply reductions

If more than one reduction applies, the value of each one is calculated on the declining net balance.

For example, if the full charge is 拢100 and the boat is eligible for the electric and not-for-profit or charity reductions, the net payable would be 拢100 鈥� 25% = 拢75 鈥� 75% = 拢18.75. Subject to the minimum charge for powered boats and unpowered enclosed boats.

Footnote 2: Applying the increase

Percentages have been applied and the charges rounded down to the nearest 1p, apart from charges for registrations sold at locks which have been rounded down to the nearest 10p for operations reasons.

Contacts

If you require any further information, please contact:

03708 506 506* (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm)

boatreg@environment-agency.gov.uk

www.gov.uk/register-a-boat

Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number and must count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls. These rules apply to calls from any type of line including mobile, BT, other fixed line or payphone.