Boat Safety Scheme renewals extended

They should have extended that by at least 6 months (like the MOT tests) . End of April is no good to anyone.
The lockdown will be until June at the earliest .

I had been in the process of arranging my BSS renewal and the surveyor was told by the BSS to stand down a couple of days before he was due to do the exam (late March)
So there will be a backlog of expired BSS tests now developing and surveyors will we overloaded with enquiries for some time when they can start up again sometime perhaps in June at the earliest (if we are lucky).
 
I do agree that a short extension to 30th April seems quite pointless in the current uncertainty. A six month extension would invite insignificant risk - after all, the certificate is actually only valid on the day of issue and for 4 years after that relies entirely on the continued good faith of boat owners in ensuring they continue to comply. Far more boats around our coasts seem to maintain pretty good safety standards even though they are not required to comply with BSS anyway !

However, to suggest that anyone could/would gain significant financial advantage is a step beyond belief. Payment is usually made, in advance, to individual examiners who, I believe are free to set their own charges for carrying out inspections.
As far as I'm aware, the majority of examiners are not even taking bookings at present and are unable to access boats in many marinas anyway, let alone having concern for their own safety

The Boat Safety Scheme is actually owned jointly by the Canal and River Trust and the Environment Agency. I doubt that they even notice the relatively small financial contribution they possibly derive from BSS activities.

8000 powered craft on the non tidal Thames need to renew every 4 years = 2000 a year @ say £200 per examination (on the high side methinks) = £400k p.a. turnover - guess nobody's getting rich even in the good years !
 
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Perhaps fortunately I don't pay any fees to the EA at my boat's location and my boat is off water so I don't need a C&RT river license to remain legal. My BSS expired in November while the boat was ashore.

I haven't previously paid up front for the BSS exam but would expect to pay before the surveyor updates the online BSS registration. I heard there was one bent examiner who issued the certificates without seeing the boat but I understand he is no longer available.

I expect a clean and tidy boat with relevant hatches clear of obstructions could be inspected in 20 minutes . However I imagine there are some poorly prepared boats that must be a nightmare to inspect.
My surveyor likes to do two or three boats at one visit to the marina.
 
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