BSS examiners

[Graham_Wright]

There is a shortage in Scotland and I understand the number of examiners available will soon be smaller.
Researching on behalf of my son, I find that there will be ne examiner training courses in 2024.
What's going on?

 

[ylop]

Very few boats in Scotland need a BSS. Essentially only those permanently resident in the Crinan, Forth and Clyde, Union, and Caledonian Canals. Its expensive to train, and keep certified you'd need to be convinced there was enough work for you(r son) to justify the investment.

 

[dunedin]

There is a shortage in Scotland and I understand the number of examiners available will soon be smaller.
Researching on behalf of my son, I find that there will be ne examiner training courses in 2024.
What's going on?

Try asking Scottish Canals, because as ylop says, AFAIK it only applies to boats resident in their canals

 

[Boathook]

Is it a backdoor way to saving money by closing the canal as no one uses it ?

 

[ylop]

Is it a backdoor way to saving money by closing the canal as no one uses it ?

Don't think so. The BSS is a "UK" scheme. Scottish Canals are very much about "Place making" which centres around the canals being in use and active. The permanent residents who are subject to the BSS are not the bulk of the traffic in Scotland (at least outside the F&C/Union Canal) but pay sizeable fees for keeping their boat in the canal and Scottish Canals seem to encourage these with provision of new facilities - the through traffic is exempt from the scheme so even if there were no permanent residents the demand for Crinan and Caledonian Canal to stay open would remain.

 

[NormanS]

Very few boats in Scotland need a BSS. Essentially only those permanently resident in the Crinan, Forth and Clyde, Union, and Caledonian Canals. Its expensive to train, and keep certified you'd need to be convinced there was enough work for you(r son) to justify the investment.

I think you will find that if you want to keep your boat in a Scottish canal for more than one month, a BSS certificate is required. That was certainly the case some years ago, when we had a boat which wintered in the Caley canal. I don't know what the position is at the new pontoonery at Corpach, but there were a lot of presumably long term boats berthed there, earlier this week when I passed.

 

[Sandy]

I think you will find that if you want to keep your boat in a Scottish canal for more than one month, a BSS certificate is required. That was certainly the case some years ago, when we had a boat which wintered in the Caley canal. I don't know what the position is at the new pontoonery at Corpach, but there were a lot of presumably long term boats berthed there, earlier this week when I passed.

If you mean the pontoons at Corpach they are in the sea.

 

[ylop]

I think you will find that if you want to keep your boat in a Scottish canal for more than one month, a BSS certificate is required. That was certainly the case some years ago, when we had a boat which wintered in the Caley canal. I don't know what the position is at the new pontoonery at Corpach, but there were a lot of presumably long term boats berthed there, earlier this week when I passed.

You are quite right, although I think the difference between permanent resident and overwintering is perhaps pedantic, you are quite right it’s for people staying over four weeks - so my point was it’s not for those transiting. (The boats which transit to Cairnbaan and get lifted out there for winter do not need BSS - assuming they are not lingering in the canal on way in / out)

The Thomas Telford marina at Corpach is outside the canal: no BSS required. Bellanoch is inside the canal but has about 40 boats there, I think Caley Marina is similar sized. Boats < 4 yrs old, OR which are MCA coded, OR which are open boats with no inboard engine are exempt from BSS (at least in Scottish Canals).

 

[Momac]

The BSS are quite picky about the experience/qualifications of potential surveyors.
Not only are candidates expected to pay handsomely for training but they also have to hand over a fee to BSS for every certificate issued, They also need relevant insurance .
I expect examiners have to inspect some pretty grotty boats and I imagine they are at the receiving end of abuse and are often not paid if they fail to award a pass.
I doubt any surveyor makes a living out of BSS inspections.
So not surprising if BSS examiners are declining in number. Perhaps no training is planned because no suitable candidates have applied ,

 

[Graham_Wright]

My son's intrest stems from a friend who is a current inspector and is overloaded. He is desperate to share the load.
Facts are worth a lot more than speculation.
The current fee is around £6000.

 

[Momac]

My son's intrest stems from a friend who is a current inspector and is overloaded. He is desperate to share the load.
Facts are worth a lot more than speculation.
The current fee is around £6000.

Plus VAT plus 2.5 weeks training away from home on no pay plus ongoing coaching . All quite a big financial commitment even if a candidate is accepted in the first place.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Plus VAT plus 2.5 weeks training away from home on no pay plus ongoing coaching . All quite a big financial commitment even if a candidate is accepted in the first place.
View attachment 168917

I know all that!