Forms, fees and payments

Small Commercial Vessels

All UK owned Small Commercial Vessels must comply with the relevant Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Codes of Practice and be certificated by an Authorised Certifying Authority, of which the YDSA Certifying Authority is the largest.

** The MCA has issued MIN 612 in relation to extending certification dates for coding certificates during the Covid-19 situation - See our Coronavirus page for details **

A Small Commercial Vessel is defined as "a vessel in commercial use that:

  • Is up to 24 metres load line length
  • Carries no more than 12 passengers (i.e. excluding crew)

Does my Vessel need to be Coded?

If you charter your boat or use it commercially, you must comply with the Codes of Practice. This includes occasional commercial use as well as permanent use and also includes boats such as sport fishing boats, RIBs used for rides for the public, boats taking workers out to wind farms and oil rigs, etc.  There are many different Codes of Practice that cover:

  • Sailing charter vessels, including skippered and bareboat
  • Motor charter vessels, including angling and dive boats
  • RIBs operating commercially
  • Workboats
  • Pilot boats
  • Police boats
  • Hovercraft
  • Intended Pleasure Vessel (IPV) Code - for occasional commercial use such as sea trials and deliveries for which coding is not required

You will need to use one of our Coding Surveyors to perform an initial Compliance Examination. Along with the appropriate paperwork, this starts a certification cycle lasting five years.  Scroll down for all the forms, fees and payment options.

This five year cycle is subject to annual renewals and will require additional surveys to be performed by your Nominated Coding Surveyor, the frequency of which depends on the Code of Practice and the nature of your boat’s operations.

Overseas Administrations

We are also an authorised Certifying Authority for the following overseas administrations that are part of the Red Ensign Group:

Application fee for the issue of a compliance certificate (1st year)
(Fees in this table are outside the scope of VAT) (If upon review of your application it's deemed to be in a higher price band than you have paid (e.g. you didn't think you required category 1 but it comes to light you do), we reserve the right to issue an add-on invoice for the difference)
Price (£ GBP)
Vessels under 15m LOA and not in the below criteria
155.00
Vessels between 15m and 19m in length
285.00
Vessels under 19m in length operating in Categories 0 and 1
285.00
Vessels under 19m in length carrying 16 or more persons, over 1000 Kg cargo, or engaged in lifting, towing or Pilot Boat operations
285.00
All vessels 19m in length and over
400.00
Light Duty Workboat Fee
75.00
Annual Renewal fee for the issue of a compliance certificate (years 2 to 5)
(Fees in this table are outside the scope of VAT)
Price (£ GBP)
Annual renewal fee for vessels <15m not requiring annual examination by the Certifying Authority
100.00
Annual renewal fee for vessels between 15m and 19m in length not requiring annual examination by the Certifying Authority
185.00
Vessels under 19m in length requiring an annual examination by the Certifying Authority
185.00
All vessels 19m in length and over
205.00
MLC Compliance Fees
(Fees in this table are outside the scope of VAT)
Price (£ GBP)
MLC (Maritime Labour Convention 2006) Compliance
110.00
Vessel Stability Fees
(VAT should be added to fees in this table unless otherwise stated) (If stability documentation is not presented in an approved format, further fees may be charged for additional work)
Price (£ GBP)
Issue of Stability Category (vessels not requiring stability books) (this fee outside the scope of VAT)
85.00
Intact Stability (checking of stability books)
from 550.00
Damaged Stability (checking of stability books)
from 550.00
Sailing Multihulls (checking of stability books)
from 495.00
Stability Book Addendums (to previously approved books)
220.00
Additional Fees
(VAT should be added to fees in this table)
Price (£ GBP)
YDSA Administration fee (e.g. issue of duplicate certificates, 3 month extension)
from 65.00
Retrieval of files from archive (typically vessels that have not been coded for 2+ years)
from 30.00

Compliance Examination - Surveyor's Fees

The fees for the Compliance Examination are negotiated with and paid directly to the Nominated Coding Surveyor. The quoted fee will be on the basis that the vessel is presented for examination already compliant with the Code requirements. An additional charge may be made for a return visit or providing assistance with stability information.

Pay a New Application for 5 Year Examinations
For vessels new to us use this link for payments (remember to send us your completed SCV1)

Pay Annual Renewals
For vessels due for their annual renewal (you may need your invoice/request for payment)

Pay for a 5 Year Cycle Renewal
For vessels due their 5 year renewal use this link for payments (remember to send us your completed SCV1)

Pay Administration Fees
For various administration fees including retrieval and extension fees

Here to help

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Please send all emails regarding Coding to ca@ydsa.co.uk.

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Monday to Friday (except bank holidays).

+44 (0)1730 710490

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