You will require this licence if you operate a boat hire business where you allow one or more hire and drive vessels to be hired to people for use on regulated waterways. A hire and drive vessel is a watercraft vessel that is intended to be let, leased, or hired to people, including vessels provided at a holiday establishment for the use of tenants or guests.
Vessels are usually boats with an enclosed engine able to be driven by a person without a boat licence. They may be used for day trips or in the case of houseboats, hired for days or weeks at a time.
Generally, licensing arrangements apply to hire operators of:
- personal water craft (also known as PWCs or jet skis)
- mechanically powered hire and drive vessels capable of ten knots or more.
Please consult the responsible agency for more information and to ascertain the level of compliance (if any) that may be required.