The Council is recognised by the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA), as a Competent Authority. As such, the authority is responsible for licensing skippers and crews working within the Isles of Scilly.
Before any owner can operate commercially, the skipper (and crew if necessary), must have passed a Certificate of Competency for the appropriate area in which they wish to operate.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have now agreed (10th July 2006) to a Local Knowledge Endorsement under the new National Boatmaster's Licence for the waters around the Isles of Scilly. The grounds for this endorsement are:
- the proposal for local knowledge requirement is based purely on safety;
- the agreed local knowledge criteria are being applied fairly and evenly; and
- the hazards identifies are such that cannot be safely negotiated with the boat handling and navigational skills required for the generic licence.
There are six levels of certification -
- EE - Crew's Licence. This certificate allows the holder to work as a crew member on the Class VI and Class VI A vessels.
- Main licence channel - the holder of this licence may take a commercial pleasure boat or vessel, duly licensed, into and out of St. Mary's Harbour via the North Channel and St Mary's Sound and St. Mary's Roads.
- DD - Quay to Quay. Following a successful navigation test, this licence will allow skippers to operate a commercial passenger vessel between the various quays within the Islands.
- CC - This area covers the Eastern Isles and around St.Mary's.
- BB - The second highest level allows skippers to operate anywhere within the Islands, but not the Western Rocks further than Annet Head.
- AA - All Areas down to Bishop Rock Lighthouse.
Full details of the Licensed areas for operating commercial vessels within the Isles of Scilly are given in the attached document: Boating areas within the Isles of Scilly
For further information about certification, please contact: etourism@scilly.gov.uk
