The requirement for 7m – 18m is between 300mm – 750mm.


b. c.


In the case of a vessel with a continuous watertight weather deck which may be stepped, recessed, or raised:


The requirement for 7m – 18m is between 200mm – 400mm.


in the case of an open boat, have a clear height of side: The requirement for 7m – 18m is between 400mm – 800mm.


The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS)


Examples of inland waterway guidance where freeboard requirements are:


All hull openings need to be watertight above the normal laden waterline to at least 10" (250 mm).


Self-draining cockpits do not need to meet the 250 mm if they have a sill of 150mm.


Weedhatches need to be watertight to at least 6" (150 mm).


The are a lot of variables in freeboard measurement and most of them are dependent on the design category. Unfortunately, the majority of Inland Waterways Craft have not been allocated a design category.


By way of a slight diversion, this next section is an extract from a much longer article written for the 98th edition of The Report magazine, December 2021. It brings to light some of the issues with the Categorisation of UK Vessels both Recreational Craft and Small Commercial Vessel - (up to 24m).


11.


‘Inland Waters’. Waters listed in MCA notice MSN 1776(M) or its Amendment 1872 as falling within the categories A to D, or waters not so listed but falling within the definitions given in MSN 1776(M), or controlled waters as defined in the Water Resources Act 1991.


‘Inland waters’ includes any area of water not categorised as ‘sea’ - e.g. canals, tidal and non-tidal rivers, lakes, and some estuarial waters (an arm of sea that extends inland to meet the mouth of a river). Inland waters are classified as one of four categories:


• 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 1.5 metres or more and where the significant wave height could not be expected to exceed 0.6 metres at any time.


• Category C - tidal rivers, estuaries and large, deep lakes and lochs where the significant wave height could not be expected to exceed 1.2 metres at any time.


• Category D - tidal rivers and estuaries where the significant wave height could not be expected to exceed 2 metres at any time.


Some Inland Waterways Vessels do proceed “To Sea”. Therefore, we must also consider this. MGN 200 definition “To Sea” Means Beyond Category D waters, or Category C waters if there are no category D waters. Cat D Waters: ‘Sheltered waters’- significant wave height up to and including 0.5 meters.


Cat C Waters: ‘Inshore’ significant wave height up to and including 2 meters.


(Interpretation: Cat C Inland = in excess of Cat D Sea and Cat D Inland = the same as Cat C Sea, if you don’t go beyond Cat D waters or Cat C water if there are no Cat D waters you are not going to sea).


Inland waterways and categorisation of waters – the UK government documentation can be found at https://bit.ly/4h8BmZ1.


To view and browse a detailed list of UK categorised waters by location go to https://bit.ly/4ai9waz.


The RCD (Recreational Craft Directive) under ISO 12217 (Stability) designates Private Recreational Craft as suitable to operate in the following Categories:


“Design Category” means a description of the wind and sea conditions for which a vessel is considered suitable under the EU Recreational Craft Directive 94/25/ EC of 16th June 1994 and is used for the application of relevant ISO and CEN standards.


See table on following page. Design category wind force significant wave height (Beaufort scale) (H 1/3, metres).


A B


C D


- 'Ocean'. Exceeding 8 Significant Wave Height Exceeding 4.


- 'Offshore'. Up to, and including, 8, Significant Wave Height Up and including 4 metres.


- 'Inshore'. Up to, and including, 6 Significant Wave Height Up and including, 2 metres. (This would be MCA CAT D).


- 'Sheltered waters'. Up to, and including, 4 Significant Wave Height Up and including, 0.5 metres (This would be MCA CAT C).


The MCA currently accept these categories as evidence of suitability when considering their own SCV (Small Commercial Vessel Code) categories.


3.2.1


A vessel may be considered for the


issue of a Small Commercial Vessel certificate allowing it to operate in one of the following areas:


Area Category 6: To Sea, within 3 miles (beyond CAT D or CAT C waters where there are no CAT D) from a nominated departure point(s) named in the certificate and never more than 3 miles from land, in favourable weather and daylight;


Area Category 5: To Sea, within 20 miles (beyond CAT D or CAT C waters where there are no CAT D) from a nominated departure point named in the certificate in favourable weather and daylight.


Area Category 4:


Up to 20 miles from a safe haven, in favourable weather and in daylight;


Area Category 3:


Up to 20 miles from a safe haven; Area Category 2:


Up to 60 miles from a safe haven; Area Category 1:


Up to 150 miles from a safe haven;


Area Category 0: Unrestricted service.


104 | ISSUE 111 | MAR 2025 | THE REPORT


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