Rural and countryside

Services

  • Check current river conditions, restrictions and facilities

  • Register or license a boat for use on the UK's inland waterways or at sea - which authority to register with, the UK Ship Register and Small Ships Register, penalties and fines

  • Check what safety requirements and insurance are needed to use a boat on UK rivers, canals, or at sea - boat safety certificates, safety regulations and equipment, disposing of old flares

  • Rights of way and right to roam - access rights of way, open access and permissive access land, use common lands, the Countryside Code, report problems.

  • Application form to register a powered boat for an annual registration on the River Thames, Anglian Waterways or Medway Navigation.

Guidance and regulation

News and communications

Research and statistics

Policy papers and consultations

Transparency and freedom of information releases