Online boat checker

As the diligent type, for a long time boaters have been reporting boats they’ve spotted that may not be licensed. As a result we created this online checker to make the process of voluntary reporting more efficient for both boaters and the Canal & River Trust.

This system saves us valuable time making the manual checks on ad hoc reports, which often reveal that the boat is in fact licensed (but not displaying). It’s not just for boaters either – anyone can use this facility. We haven't yet had the opportunity to transfer it here, to the Trust's new website so, please read the information below, and then visit the boat checking webpage to record your sighting. 

We now regularly patrol every stretch of waterway using handheld computers and whenever we find an unlicensed boat, we create a 'notification' for the enforcement teams to investigate. Additional sightings made by waterway users can provide a useful supplement to this process. Where you tell us about an unlicensed boat we weren't already aware of, we also create a notification.

To check whether a boat is licensed, enter its index number.

If the boat is not licensed, you will be able to report your sighting to us. Each fully completed form will be logged in our 'sightings' database and assigned a priority for action.

The information we display on this site is permitted under our Data Protection Acts registration.

It’s worth knowing that we don’t issue licenses to our workboats. A separate fleet management system includes ensuring that all our boats comply with safety requirements.