REGISTER TO PADDLE EA ANGLIAN WATERWAYS
The navigation authority for the Suffolk & Essex River Stour (and other waterways) is the Environment Agency. You need a waterways licence from one of the options below:
- PADDLE UK (PUK) – click here
- ‘On the Water’ membership covers the specified person in an unpowered craft for over 4500 km of waterways, with passengers in the same craft also covered. Membership benefits include public liability insurance, offers and rewards with a year of membership from the date of joining.
- ENVIRONMENT AGENCY (EA) – click here
- Register the specific craft (powered or unpowered / private or business craft) for use on all EA Waterways. Each craft needs to be registered for the chosen period within the season. Annual registrations expire at the end of the season on 31st March each year.
- RIVER STOUR TRUST (RST) – apply below
- as an agent for the EA, we process online applications for unpowered and private use craft only. Annual registrations expire at the end of the season on 31st March each year.
VALID WATERWAYS
- 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.
TYPE OF CRAFT
- Unpowered and private use craft
- “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.
- 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.
River Stour Trust can assist with registrations for unpowered and private use craft only.
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. 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.
ISSUES/QUERIES? Please email info@riverstourtrust.org or call 01787 313199 (we will respond during weekday office hours)
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.