In recognising that it is not possible to eliminate all safety risks, the BSS is employed to help reduce them in a way that balances the responsibilities of the navigation authorities and the responsibilities of individual boat owners.
In detail, the role of the BSS is to:
- introduce, maintain, review and develop a set of Boat Safety Standards for adoption by UK navigation and harbour authorities to help those authorities reduce risks linked to the use of boats. And likewise introduce maintain, review and develop a supporting set of BSS Examination Checking Procedures to assess the condition of boats against those Standards and to have and maintain a record of BSS Examinations, which is made available to the above authorities; and,
- educate boat owners and users about the BSS Standards and promote safety and environmental protection related to the use of boats to help reduce the risks linked with the use of boats in the UK; and,
- to design, deliver and maintain an adequate training, registration and authorising programme for the registration of BSS Examiners to carry out the BSS Examination Checking Procedures. Authorised BSS Examiners will determine a boat’s compliance, or otherwise, against the Boat Safety Standards and issue Certifications when a vessel is found to be compliant. And to have in place and maintain the BSS Examiner Conditions of Registration and monitor the compliance of Examiners and the undertaking of Examinations against those Conditions of Registration; and,
- actively facilitate and encourage all inland navigation and statutory harbour authorities in the United Kingdom to adopt the BSS common technical safety and environmental standards for boats used on inland waterways in the UK; and,
- the above activity is supported by the BSS researching and sharing information relating to technological advancements and in developments in best practices to help reduce risks associated with the use of boats.