Heritage Afloat

Campaigning on legislation - European and UK

The majority of historic ships have to work to earn a living - they get no funds other than the money they earn from passengers or trainees or visitors. More and more regulations and other legal requirements apply to these working vessels and few of these rules take into consideration the special problems of historic craft.

The Kingswear Castle, still working after 79 years

Heritage Afloat campaigns for a fair deal for historic vessels and raises issues with regulatory bodies both in the UK and Brussels. These include the MCA, the British Waterways Board and the European Parliament. In addition, Heritage Afloat represents the UK at European Maritime Heritage. See Barcelona Charter.

We cannot usually intervene in individual cases but, where a rule or proposal significantly affects a class or type of vessel, we will consider getting involved.

Contact us if you believe that proposed regulations would adversely affect historic vessels.

Link to Barcelona Charter - which sets basic international standards for those who seek to operate and preserve historic vessels.