NR22-001 BSS Launches Public Consultation on Revisions to the Examination Checks

A public consultation by the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) on proposals within a clarified and improved set of BSS Examination Checking Procedures (ECP) opened today Monday 7 March and will run to Tuesday 31 May 2022 and is available on its website www.boatsafetyscheme.org/ECPconsultation

NR22 001 BSS Launches Consultation On Examination Check Revisions Mar22 FINAL

The revisions to the BSS ECP are the product of many months of work by the BSS stakeholder committees and the revisions are commended by the BSS Management Committee. They apply to checks used in the examination of Privately owned and managed boats in private use as well boats subject to the 2017 Hire Boat Requirements.

The main focus of this consultation is the introduction of two mandatory BSS Requirements by way of amendments to two existing BSS Checks.

The two increased BSS Requirements are:

  • on boats with petrol propulsion engines, requiring evidence of recent servicing for any Wilderness Boats conversion of an Electrolux RM 212 refrigerator, BSS Check 8.2.2R
  • clarification that ferrous/cast iron fittings, joints and components used in LPG pipework are not compliant with BSS Check 7.8.3R.

It is also proposed to introduce 20 relaxations by reducing some requirements or allowing additional compliance options. Details are provided in the consultation.

The Scheme considers that the improvements are both necessary and proportionate means of risk control that will have a very positive impact on the level of consistency of the application of BSS Checks by existing BSS Examiners and will significantly improve the uptake of knowledge and understanding of trainees going through the New Examiner entry training programme.

Comments on the amendments are welcome from boat owners, the marine trade and all BSS stakeholders. The consultation is open until 16:30 on Tuesday 31 May 2022.

If you have trouble with the consultation form or a related query, please email the BSS at bss.enquiries@boatsafetyscheme.org 

The BSS will publish a summary of the views expressed and the BSS response in Summer 2022 on the BSS website www.boatsafetyscheme.org/ECPconsultation  

It is intended that a communications campaign will promote the final agreed changes in this summer.

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Notes for editors

The Boat Safety Scheme, or BSS, is a public safety initiative owned by the Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency.  Its purpose is to help minimise the risk of boat fires, explosions, or pollution from boats harming visitors to the inland waterways, the waterways' workforce and any other people on or near the waterway.

 

BSS Committee composition

Membership of BSS Management Committee

Executive Chair, Canal & River Trust Member, Environment Agency Member, Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA), BSS Manager, Broads Authority, User Group Representative, Examiner Body Representative, Marine Trade Representative, Chair of the BSS Advisory Committee, Chair of BSS Technical Committee.

Membership of BSS Advisory Committee

Elected Chair - Canal & River Trust Member, Environment Agency Member, Broads Authority, Association of Inland Navigation Authorities, British Marine (3 sectors), Royal Yachting Association (RYA), Association of Waterway Cruising Clubs (AWCC), National Association of Boat Owners (NABO), Inland Waterways Association (IWA), The Boating Association (TBA), Residential Boat Owners Association (RBOA), Association of Boat Safety Scheme Examiners (ABSSE), Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association (YDSA), International Institute of Marine Surveyors (IIMS), BSS Technical Committee Chair. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is a corresponding member

Membership of BSS Technical Committee

Elected Chair - British Marine (2 reps), Association of Boat Safety Scheme Examiners (ABSSE), Surveyors Group Representative, Royal Yachting Association (RYA), Association of Waterway Cruising Clubs (AWCC), National Association of Boat Owners (NABO), Inland Waterways Association (IWA), Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA), BSS Lead Quality Control Assessor.