Background and Eligibility Criteria
The Vale of Glamorgan Council has powers under Section 94 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1907 (as amended) to licence pleasure boats and pleasure vessels.
Licences are granted by the Vale of Glamorgan Council for pleasure boats which carry no more than 12 passengers, are under 24 metres in load line length, and do not operate outside of categorised waters (i.e. waters not regarded as ‘sea’).
Categories of water
Category A: Narrow rivers and canals where the depth of water is generally less than 1.5 metres.
Category B: Wider rivers and canals where the depth of water is generally more than 1.5 metres and where the significant wave height could not be expected to exceed 0.6 metres at any time.
Category C: Tidal rivers and estuaries and large, deep lakes and lochs where the significant wave height could not be expected to exceed 1.2 metres at any time.
Small Vessels operating commercially under the British Flag or in British waters must comply with the Merchant Shipping Regulations or an MCA Code of Practice. There are currently four codes for Small (up to 24m) Vessels.
Your attention is drawn to The Safety of Small Vessels in Commercial use for Sport or Pleasure Operating From a Nominated Departure point (the Red Code). This code of practice covers the construction, machinery, equipment, stability, operation, manning, examination, certification and maintenance of vessels of up to 24 metres load line length which are in commercial use for sport or pleasure and carry no more than 12 passengers and do not carry cargo, and operate only in favourable weather and daylight from a nominated departure point.
Please note that applicants must be at least 18 years of age to make application.