Barry Sheerman MP urges boaters to safeguard against carbon monoxide poisoning, following suspected case in Cumbria

Requirements, Examinations & Certification

Learn how the BSS Examination and certification process works, which requirements apply to different types of boats, and what boat owners need to do before and after the examination.

Arranging A BSS Examination

How to arrange your Boat Safety Scheme Examination – guidance on when and how to book, what to prepare, examiner costs, certification validity, and recent changes to examination procedures.

Private Boat Requirements

The complete list of BSS requirements including all checks are available to view and download on this page. These examination checking procedures are for privately-owned, privately managed boats in private use.

Hire Boats Requirements

The information on this web-page is for hire boat operators and sets out essential and useful information for complying with BSS Hire Boat Requirements.

Non-private Boat Standards

The checks and information about the non-private boat standards are covered here. Which Examination Checking Procedures apply to your boat?

Boats with gas

This section outlines very briefly what you must think about for the BSS examination if you use gas aboard your boat. If you use portable gas equipment, some of this information is still relevant and could keep you safe.

Warning Notices

When are notices issued and why. During the course of a BSS examination, the BSS examiner may observe a problem of a type or severity that will prompt him or her to issue a BSS Warning Notice; and some circumstances make a Hazardous Boat Notification.

Q & A on BSS Examinations

People new to boating and some existing boaters, fresh to inland waters where the BSS Certification is required, often have questions about the concept of the Boat Safety Scheme. Here are the answers to some of the more common questions.

10 most common fails

Owning a boat is a rewarding experience, but it also comes with essential safety responsibilities. This page highlights the most common mandatory safety standard failures that we find in 21,000 BSS Examinations we carry out each year.