Licence

Boatmasters' licence

Apply for a boatmasters’ licence, once you have completed the necessary training, to operate on certain vessels on inland waters or “limited” coastal operations.

Apply for this licence

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The boatmasters’ licence (BMLs) structure is a two-tiered system based on the competency standards.

You must have a boatmasters’ licence if you’re the master of certain vessels on:

  • inland waters in categories A to D, such as canals, rivers, lakes and some estuaries
  • “limited” coastal area operations - no more than 5 miles from the land and 15 miles from where your vessel sets off or arrives

How much it costs

Fees vary depending on the licence service your need. Please check the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s fee guidance.

What you’ll need to apply

You’ll need to:

Exemptions

You do not need a boatmasters’ licence (BML) if you’re in charge of:

  • a pleasure vessel, including hire boats used as pleasure vessels
  • fishing vessels

You can also apply for BML vessel exemptions, which are valid for up to 3 years, under the 2015 Regulations. Once they’ve expired, masters named on the exemptions, which include tidal or limited coastal waters, need to apply for a boatmaster’s licence exemption certificate to get a new tier 2 level 2 (T2L2) BML and pay the fee to their local MCA marine office. See section 22 of MSN 1853 Amendment 1 for more information.

Displaying your licence

You do not need to display your licence, but if you have a boatmasters’ licence you must make sure you’ve completed the appropriate training and can provide the right documentation to prove this to MCA surveyors during an inspection.

How long it lasts

You need to renew your licence every 5 years. We suggest doing so before it expires, but you can apply up to 6 months after the expiry date.

What happens next

If you provide the correct paperwork and pay the correct fee, the MCA will contact you, usually by phone, and give you a date for an oral and practical assessment by an examiner. The timescale for the assessment can vary. Once you’ve passed the assessment, the licence will be issued.

How to appeal

The first step to appeal an assessment decision is to make a complaint to the Secretary of State, via the Surveyor in Charge at the appropriate MCA marine office.