Boat Safety Scheme

[Sneds]

Hi Thought you Thames guys may be able to advise? Does anyone know if you need a holding tank in order to get a new BSS certificate?
Our, soon to be, new boat (2002) only has a sea toilet and no room for a holding tank!
We need a BSS certificate as she is moored in Bristol City Docks and they insist on it, along with the usual insurance and of course, some money. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[byron]

Toilet facilities are not part of the hated BSS.

 

[Sneds]

Great, so I should be ok then?

 

[Captain Coochie]

I thought they where . Don't you need to plug them so they don't pump out into the water ?

 

[Chris_d]

The BSS doesn't apply to toilets, no safety issues /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif But the EA do not allow toilets to discharge into the river, I guess Bristol Harbour authourity say the same. Best solution is to just get a porti potti at about £60 and store the sea toliet in the garage until you sell the boat.

 

[byron]

[ QUOTE ]
I thought they where . Don't you need to plug them so they don't pump out into the water ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well! I can't be certain but I am fairly confident that whilst you are 'supposed' to seal them and use a bucket & chukkit bogs are not part of the hated BSS. The hated BSS is for safety and whilst it is a load of poo it doesn't deal with it.

 

[Doolittle]

Damn shame Ernie Bullock has retired. He made the almost impossible scheme somewhat bareable. I still can't believe that he actually spent several of his own hours producing drawings and sketches of how to replace the gas pipes, fuel lines and filters etc in Doolittle. Furthermore, laid on his belly in the bilge guiding pipe while I fed it through. All this to ensure the job was finished the day before he retired!

Respect to the fella.

'Scuse the thread drift, back on topic; Don't for pity's sake pump shite into the river, I'm quite partial to a swim in it in the mornings. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[Steve Clayton]

[ QUOTE ]
The hated BSS is for safety

[/ QUOTE ]
Disagree!!! It's about making money/taking money from you (not me; not on the river any more!).

Example of their ineptitude. You need a gas test point as close to the cooker as possible. So having one of these fitted introduces 3 new potential leak points in the galley. What brainless prat came up with that!!! (it should be fitted in the gas locker)

Examiner pays a wedge for the examination forms and passes cost onto poor paying punter. Easy to make them available as a download PDF.

 

[pheran]

[ QUOTE ]
You need a gas test point as close to the cooker as possible. So having one of these fitted introduces 3 new potential leak points in the galley. What brainless prat came up with that!!! (it should be fitted in the gas locker)


[/ QUOTE ] Thats why its a great shame that the likes of Bill Kane and John Blake have retired/given up as examiners. They were very experienced boaters who adopted a pragmatic approach and would no doubt have taken the view that the gas locker was the nearest (practical) position to install the test point.

 

[Sneds]

Thanks to all for your responses, although the boat will be mostly moored in Bristol City Docks she will be used also in the Bristol Channel.
I guess if I close the sea-cock to prvent discharge I will be ok?

Cheers

Iain

 

[Sneds]

Certainly would't discharge into the river or the City Docks, just need the BSS certificate to comply with the local requirements in the docks. They are classed as inland and are at the very end of the Kennet and Avon Canal. Next stop the Bristol Channel.
They are non tidal and access to the sea from Bristol is via a large lock followed by 45 minutes down the tidal Avon to Avonmouth.
We have loos on shore at the docks and plenty of pubs to use.

Cheers

 

[boatone]

As others here have already said, the Boat Safety Scheme places no requirements in relation to sea toilets etc. Some authorities (eg the Environment Agency on the Thames) may prohibit the discharge of waste but this is nothing to do with the BSS.

If you want chapter and verse on the BSS you will find it all HERE

 

[Dave_Seager]

Section 9 of the BSS Essential Guide (see Boatone's link) contains specific references to toilet installations. It is open to interpretation, but I think that you might need to make some changes to your set up to obtain a certificate.

 

[Sneds]

I've sent them an e-mail.

Thanks to all for your help.

Cheers

Iain