The RYA has successfully negotiated with the MCA that the RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman Certificate (IWHC) is included in the recently published General Exemption as an alternative qualification to the Boatmaster licence.

With immediate effect, the IWHC can be used for category A and B waters for vessels carrying not more than 12 passengers, without the need for a commercial endorsement.

However, if a vessel is coded under the MCA’s codes of practice for small commercial vessels, the IWHC is not acceptable and cannot be commercially endorsed.

This acceptance of RYA qualifications is excellent news for the many charities and other voluntary organisations operating narrowboats, whose skippers will not need to go to the expense and trouble of obtaining a commercial endorsement or a Boatmaster certificate.

It should be noted that this legislation does not affect members of the public operating their own leisure craft.

To read the full General Exemption see the link above.