Boating licences

Before applying

All pleasure boats, for example sailboards, rowing boats, canoes, motorboats, pedalos etc need to have a boat licence.

This includes any hired out to customer’s, or those run by you to carry fare-paying passengers.

We only licence boats that can carry up to 12 people and you may only carry the agreed number of passengers onboard. It must also comply with the Marine and Coastguard Agency Inland Waters Small Passenger Boat Code and should have a current Environment Agency River Medway Registration.

Anyone working and helping to run passenger-carrying pleasure boats must have a Boatman’s Licence.

To get a Boatman’s Licence you must have the right training and certification, be fit and able to handle the vessel, and assist passengers safely.

We'll also need to see originals of:

The current inspection report of your boat, as completed by a qualified marine surveyor and
Your Public Liability Insurance certificate up to at least £2 million

You can give them to one of our Licensing Officers in the Maidstone Link between 10am and 1pm, Monday to Thursday or post them to:

Licensing
Maidstone House
King Street
Maidstone
Kent
ME15 6JQ

Boat licences are issued for one year, and are renewed yearly.

To apply for a boatman licence you'll need to send us:

A copy of your Boat Master’s Licence Grade III
A copy of your current medical certificate. This form must be completed by your usual doctor
Two recent photos of yourself

Boat and Boatman Licences are issued for one year, and are renewed yearly.