# The Merchant Shipping (Boatmasters' Qualifications, Crew and Hours of Work) Regulations 2015, Regulation 14: Boatmasters' licences: authorised operations


Subject to regulations 15 to 17, a class of boatmasters' licence or endorsement specified in column (1) of Table 2 authorises a person to serve as master—
(a) of a vessel of a description,
(b) for the purposes of operations of a type, and
(c) in the waters,
specified in column (2).
Table 2
Boatmasters' licences: classes and endorsements
(1) Class of licence and endorsement
(2) Vessel operations and waters for which licence and endorsement is valid
A. Tier 1 boatmasters' licences
A.1 Tier 1 boatmasters' licences without endorsements
Tier 1 (level 1) without endorsement
Vessel operations: (i) vessel operations for which an endorsement is not required (but including emergency towing assistance or rigid pushing operations).
Waters: (i) waters of categories A and B and (ii) waters of category C if not linked to any other waters, except waters where a relevant local knowledge endorsement is required.
Tier 1 (Level 2) without endorsement
Vessel operations: (i) vessel operations for which an endorsement is not required (but including emergency towing assistance or rigid pushing operations in waters of category A or B or waters of category C if not linked to any other waters).
Waters: all waters appropriate to the class of vessel except waters where a relevant local knowledge endorsement is required.
A.2 Endorsements required on Tier 1 boatmasters' licence
A passenger operations (general) endorsement
Vessel operations: operation of passenger ships carrying not more than 250 passengers.
Waters: waters otherwise authorised.
A large passenger vessel endorsement
Vessel operations: operation of passenger ships carrying more than 250 passengers.
Waters: waters of categories A, B, C and D.
A towing and pushing endorsement
Vessel operations: vessels engaged in specialist towing and pushing operations.
Waters: as otherwise authorised.
A cargo endorsement
Vessel operations: operations involving the carriage of general cargo and bulk cargo.
Waters: as otherwise authorised.
An oil cargo endorsement
Vessel operations: operation of an oil tanker.
Waters: as otherwise authorised.
A chemical cargo endorsement
Vessel operations: operation of a chemical tanker.
Waters: as otherwise authorised.
A liquefied gas cargo endorsement
Vessel operations: operation of a liquefied gas carrier.
Waters: as otherwise authorised.
A dredging endorsement
Vessel operations: vessels engaged in dredging operations.
Waters: as otherwise authorised.
A radar endorsement
Vessel operations: operations which are otherwise authorised and the vessel is navigated using radar.
Waters: as otherwise authorised.
A Ro-Ro endorsement
Vessel operations: operation of a Ro-Ro vessel.
Waters: waters of categories C and D and the limited coastal area.
A fast craft endorsement
Vessel operations: operation of a fast craft.
Waters: as otherwise authorised.
A relevant local knowledge endorsement
Vessel operations: as otherwise authorised.
Waters: those local waters specified by the Secretary of State in accordance with regulation 17 to which the endorsement relates.
B Tier 2 boatmasters' licences
Tier 2 (Level 1) (passenger-carrying operations)
Vessel operations: passenger-carrying operations on vessels on which the licence holder has completed the qualifying service.
Waters:
(a) category A canals, and
(b) such (i) other waters of categories A and B, and
(ii) category C waters, if not linked to any other waters,
which (having regard to the nature and length of the licence holder's qualifying service) are specified in the licence.
Tier 2 (Level 1) (other operations)
Vessel operations: vessels and operations, other than passenger-carrying operations, on which the licence holder has completed the qualifying service.
Waters: (a) category A canals, and
(b) such (i) other waters of categories A and B, and
(ii) category C waters, if not linked to any other waters
which (having regard to the nature and length of the licence holder's qualifying service) are specified in the licence.
Tier 2 (Level 2) (passenger carrying operations)
Vessel operations: (i) passenger-carrying operations on vessels carrying not more than 250 passengers on which the licence holder has completed the qualifying service.
Waters: such waters within the following categories of water as are specified in the licence—
(i) category C and/or D waters (excluding the River Thames below Teddington Lock)
(ii) the limited coastal area; and
(iii) category A and/or B waters adjacent to the above waters.
Tier 2 (Level 2) (other operations)
Vessel operations: vessels and operations, other than passenger-carrying operations, on which the licence holder has completed the qualifying service.
Waters: such waters within the following categories of water as are specified in the licence—
(i) category C and/or D waters (excluding the River Thames below Teddington Lock)
(ii) the limited coastal area; and
(iii) category A and/or B waters adjacent to the above waters.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/410/regulation/14 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-boatmasters-qualifications-crew-and-hours-of-work-regulations-2015/regulation-14
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.