Licences and permits
The permissions a business needs before it can trade, each one tied to the law that creates it and to the body that issues it. We point at GOV.UK for fees and forms, and never copy them.
19 of 426 licences for Marine and marine transport
Choose from all 48 activities
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Boat hire licence (Scotland)
Get a boat hire licence to let out a boat or use it to transport up to 12 passengers for a fare - exemptions, …
Your council · Scotland
Boatmasters' licence
Apply for a boatmasters’ licence, once you have completed the necessary training, to operate on certain vessels on inland waters or “limited” coastal operations.
MCA · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Business craft used on inland waterways (Northern Ireland)
To use commercial craft on inland waterways in Northern Ireland you must be registered with Waterways Ireland
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
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Dispose of waste in sea (Scotland)
You may need a licence from Marine Scotland if you want to deposit substances or articles within Scottish waters, either in the sea or …
Scottish Government · Scotland
Diving contractor registration (Northern Ireland)
You must be registered to operate as a diving contractor in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
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Marine dredging licence (Northern Ireland)
How to get a licence so you can get rid of waste materials at sea around the coast of Northern Ireland
Your council · Northern Ireland
Marine engine operator licence
Apply for a marine engine operator licence (MEOL) to work in certain engineering roles on merchant vessels.
MCA · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Marine operator licence limited to small vessels
Apply for a marine operator licence limited to small vessels (MEOL SV) to work in certain engineering roles on merchant vessels.
MCA · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Marine works consent (Scotland)
You need consent to carry out work that could be detrimental to the navigation of waters
Your council · Scotland
Move firearms or signalling apparatus to or from a ship, aircraft or aerodrome (Northern Ireland)
You need permission from the police to move firearms to or from a ship, or signalling apparatus, to or from an aircraft or aerodrome …
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
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Seabed lease (England and Wales)
You need a seabed lease from The Crown Estate to operate a marine fish farm in coastal waters
HM Treasury · England and Wales
Senior marine engine operator licence
Apply for a senior marine engine operator licence to work as a chief engineer officer on vessels of less than 750 kW power, without …
MCA · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Ship sanitation certificate (Northern Ireland)
You need a ship sanitation certificate if you own a ship that operates between countries or offshore
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
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UK engineering fishing class 1
Apply to get a class 1 fishing licence to work as a chief engineer on a vessel over 750kW (approximately 1,005HP).
MCA · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
UK engineering fishing class 2
Apply for a class 2 fishing licence to work as a second engineer on a vessel over 750kW (approximately 1,005HP).
MCA · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Using a boat on inland waterways
You usually need to register your boat to use it on inland waterways, such as rivers and canals.
Environment Agency · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
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We have not yet mapped an enabling instrument for 6 licences on this list. That is a gap in our graph, not a statement about the law, and those pages say so rather than guessing.
Checking approvals more broadly?
A licence is one of several things you may need before your first day of trading. The pre-trading quick check walks the registrations, insurances and approvals alongside it.
Not sure which of these apply to you?
Our guides on finding a licence and dealing with your local council walk through the questions that decide it.