Small Commercial Craft and Registry
To ensure the safety of navigation, persons and property in the harbour, Poole Harbour Commissioners seek to ensure that all commercial craft operating within Poole Harbour are properly maintained, equipped and manned and used only for purposes for which they are capable.
All operators of commercial vessels working in Poole Harbour are required to register their craft with Poole Harbour Commissioners by completing the Small Commercial Craft Registration form here. Registration must then be renewed on a minimum annual basis and following any changes to the vessel. Any vessel that is certificated for commercial use under any:
- Small Commercial Vessel Code;
- Workboat Code; or
- Passenger Boat Code
or licensed by BCP Council under section 94 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1907 must provide the Harbour Master with a copy of the relevant certificate of compliance or licence as part of their submission.
Regulations
Where a commercial vessel is not certificated for commercial use under any of the above codes of practice or licensed by Poole Borough Council, Poole Harbour Commissioners may, if deemed appropriate, conduct inspections of such craft and request owners to provide copies of manufacturer’s handbooks or other similar information. Where such an inspection indicates that a vessel is not properly maintained, equipped (by reference to MGN 469 or any subsequent replacement or amendment) or manned (by reference to MSN 1853 or any subsequent replacement or amendment) or is being used for a purpose for which it is not capable this, and any proposed restrictions on the vessel’s use, will be recorded and discussed with the vessel’s owner and/or operator and, where appropriate, Poole Borough Council and/or the MCA.
Commercial vessels for the purposes of this Direction mean any vessel which is less than 24 metres in load line length and is not a “pleasure vessel” by reference to MGN 469 (or any subsequent replacement or amendment) which defines a Pleasure Vessel as either:
1) Any vessel which at the time it is being used is (a) in the case of a vessel wholly owned by an individual or individuals, used only for the sport or pleasure of the owner or the immediate family or friends of the owner OR (b) in the case of a vessel owned by a body corporate, used only for sport or pleasure and on which the persons on board are employees or officers of the body corporate, or their immediate family or friends. It must also be on a voyage or excursion which is one for which the owner does not receive money for or in connection with operating the vessel or carrying any person, other than as a contribution to the direct expenses of the operation of the vessel incurred during the voyage or excursion.
OR
2) Any vessel wholly owned by or on behalf of a members’ club formed for the purpose of sport or pleasure which, at the time it is being used, is used only for the sport or pleasure of members of that club or their immediate family, and for the use of which any charges levied are paid into club funds and applied for the general use of the club
In either case above, no other payments are made by or on behalf of users of the vessel, other than by the owner.
Anyone who fails to comply with this general direction shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.