united-kingdom
Can I sail my boat down the Thames?
<p>If I want to commute to work on my own boat, do I have to carry documents, special permits or whatever to sail down the River Thames?</p>

<p>If you want to boat on any inland waterways in the UK you are required to have a boat registration (aka licence).</p>

<p>Unlike a driving licence there is no need to pass a competency-based assessment.</p>

<p>However, you must have a <a href="https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">boat safety scheme</a> certificate (BSSC) and boat insurance (at least third party).</p>

<p>The Thames is overseen by the Environment Agency. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/river-thames-boat-registration-and-application-forms" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This page</a> on the Environment Agency website has a contact phone number for the registration team and links to the forms you may need.</p>
