REGISTER TO PADDLE EA ANGLIAN WATERWAYS
If you want to paddle on many waterways you often need a ‘licence’ to do so. The navigation authority for the Suffolk & Essex River Stour (and other waterways) is the Environment Agency.
- Powered and/or business craft? Apply directly to the Environment Agency – click here
- “Powered boat” means a boat which is mechanically propelled by a combustion engine, steam engine or electric motor.
- “Business boat” means a boat kept or used on a waterway which is not kept or used solely as a private boat. The River Stour Trust is unable to process business boat registrations.
- Unpowered and private use craft? See registration options below.
- “Unpowered open boat” means a boat that is not mechanically propelled; and is either open to the elements with no enclosed or decked accommodation space (including a rowing boat, dragon boat, punt, dinghy with or without sail, canoe, paddle board, light inflatable) or the occupants are only protected by a spray deck (including a kayak).
- “Private boat” means any boat that is kept and used on a waterway solely for private leisure purposes, and not for the purposes of generating income for any organisation or business or for providing a service to others.
Unpowered registrations are valid for use on all Environment Agency waterways. You have three options to register your craft whether it is a kayak, canoe, stand up paddleboard (SUP), rowboat and/or inflatable.
Valid Waterways
The EA annual registration for an unpowered open boat allows that boat to be used on any of the Environment Agency waterways as follows:
- Anglian waterways – Great Ouse System, River Nene, River Stour, River Ancholme, Black Sluice, River Welland and River Glen (including backwaters, marinas and private moorings).
- River Thames – every part of the non-tidal River Thames between Cricklade Bridge and Teddington Lock, and the short section of the tidal River Thames between Teddington Lock and the Port of London Authority’s boundary, including backwaters and marinas.
- Medway Navigation – between Allington Lock and the Leigh Barrier at Tonbridge, including backwaters and marinas.
- Rye Harbour – The port of Rye is a fully operational commercial harbour with a large fishing and leisure fleet. There are a number of navigation aids in place to assist you.
EA UNPOWERED CRAFT REGISTRATION
Annual Season: 1 April – 31 March
Order Process
- Click on relevant button for your chosen registration type:
- Daily – valid for up to 24 consecutive hours
- Weekly – Valid up to 7 consecutive days
- Monthly – Valid up to 31 consecutive days
- Annual – Valid between 1 Apr – 31 Mar
- Complete and submit online application and payment.
- Online applications are processed automatically and it is not possible to retrospectively amend paddling dates and times.
- Copes of River Stour Navigation Guide can also be added to order during the application.
- Please type email address carefully as this is used for electronic receipt.
- Please check spam/junk folders for confirmation emails because you need these to show a river inspector until you receive your disc.
- Only monthly/annual craft registrations and/or the Navigation Guide will also be sent by post.
- Please allow up to 10 working days for postal receipt of maps or discs (only issued for monthly or annual). There can be delays during busy periods, particularly if any information is missing or we need further details to process your application.
- Any issues- please email administrator@riverstourtrust.org
- please note: we can only respond to during weekday office hours
Please note: You will need to pay any additional amount, which may be due, if it is found that the boat has been registered incorrectly based on the information you have provided.
Refunds – As an agent to process registrations applications on behalf of the EA, we are bound by their terms. There are no refunds for short term registrations (daily/weekly/monthly). Click here to read the EA terms and guidance regarding refunds for annual boat registrations. You can find out if you qualify and, if so, what you need to do.
RIVER STOUR NAVIGATION GUIDE
An indispensable guide printed on damp proof paper with map of the entire navigable route, details and locations of the portages, launching sites, riverside campsite and contact information for relevant organisations). Size A5 when folded but opens up to size A2.