If you want to paddle on many waterways you often need a ‘licence’ to do so and the fee collected contributes to its upkeep and maintenance.
The navigation authority for the Suffolk & Essex River Stour is the Environment Agency and their fees apply to a variety of craft whether unpowered or powered, private or business use.
- 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.
HOW TO REGISTER TO USE THE RIVER STOUR
- ENVIRONMENT AGENCY (EA) – click here
- Registration covers the specified craft (powered or unpowered, private or business) within the current season (1 April – 31 Mar) for use on EA waterways.
- PADDLE UK (PUK) – click here
- Membership covers specified person/s for permission to paddle 1400km of UK waterways. This covers the member only and not the craft. If you would like to loan your craft to someone else, then they need to a PUK member or the craft itself needs to be registered.
- RIVER STOUR TRUST (RST) – click here
- Registration covers the specified unpowered, private use craft for use on all EA Anglian Waterways (processed by RST on behalf of the EA). You can choose from daily, weekly, monthly or annual craft registrations. Copies of the Suffolk & Essex River Stour Navigation Guide are also available. Click on ‘Apply Online’ below.