IWA welcomes the endorsement by the Commission on the Future of Boat Licensing of four of the five main points put forward in its submission: a simpler licensing framework, the encouragement of more cruising across the whole network, the discontinuation of the term ‘continuous cruising’, and more thought to be given to the wider issues of residential boating.
Some of the other major recommendations by the Commission are also welcome, including clearer and simpler definitions, appropriate strengthening of enforcement powers, and the need to improve the reputation of the Trust among boaters.
The point made by IWA in its submission which was not included in the recommendations was the desirability of the review covering licensing for all navigation authorities, as a step towards a joint system. While it is understandable that the Commission did not feel able to address this in its review, Canal & River Trust (CRT) waterways nonetheless form a part of the overall network, and a consistent approach across all navigation authorities would be very beneficial.
The Commission has set out recommendations and guidance for further consideration, but specific ways forward have been left to CRT to consider and consult on. There is much work still to be done to get to implementation, especially if as suggested legislative changes prove to be needed.
The independent Commission was established by CRT at the start of 2025 to review the legal framework around boat licensing, to explore its continuing appropriateness in view of the changes in use of the waterway network over the last 30 years. The Commission was tasked with reporting to the CRT Board of Trustees, who will decide whether and how to take the recommendations forward.
The Commission ran a survey of boaters and other stakeholders in March and April 2025, covering both user experiences of the boat licensing system and any desired changes. IWA submitted a response to the survey and representatives of IWA’s Navigation Committee discussed the submission in a meeting with the Commission members in May.
The report produced by the Commission was published on 19 November 2025. Although slightly delayed from the timescale originally set out, IWA welcomes the prompt publication as soon as the report had been submitted to CRT’s Board of Trustees, in advance of their consideration of it.
