Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976

18 Licensing of pleasure boats and boatmen

(1) In subsection (1) of section 94 of the [1907 c. 53.] Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1907 (which among other things relates to the licensing of boatmen and persons assisting in the charge or navigation of pleasure boats) for the words " boatmen or persons assisting in the charge or navigation of " there shall be substituted the words " persons in charge of or navigating ".

(2) In subsection (3) of the said section 94 (which among other things prohibits the carrying of passengers for hire in a boat or vessel for which no licence is in operation) for the words from " for hire in " onwards there shall be substituted the words " for hire in any pleasure boat or vessel unless—

(a) the boat or vessel is so licensed and the licence is not suspended; and

(b) the person in charge of the boat or vessel and any other person navigating it is so licensed and his licence is not suspended and the conditions of his licence are complied with ".

(3) At the end of subsection (4) of the said section 94 (which provides that a licence under that section is not required for a boat or vessel licensed by or under regulations of the Secretary of State) there shall be inserted the words " or for a person in charge of or navigating such a boat or vessel ".

(4) At the end of subsection (6) of the said section 94 (which penalises contraventions of that section) there shall be inserted the words " ; but a person shall not be guilty of an offence under this subsection by reason of a failure to comply with such conditions as are mentioned in subsection (3)(b) of this section if it is shown that there is a reasonable excuse for the failure ".