Essex Waterways Ltd will provide long term moorings at specified sites along the Navigation in a way that is fair and transparent to all customers whilst safeguarding the rights and property of the Navigation Company, and with due consideration to neighbours, the environment and all visitors to the Navigation.

Key Principles

• The lettings of moorings are governed by commercial contracts between Essex Waterways Ltd and the boat owner. No mooring is to be let without a boat owner agreeing and signing a mooring contract.

• The boat owner is liable for their obligations under the mooring contract until such point as either the vessel is removed from the Navigation or a new contract is signed with a purchaser of the vessel or other responsible party.

• Allocation of moorings is the sole right and responsibility of Essex Waterways Ltd and no boat owner has the right to moor their vessel at any particular mooring or any particular mooring site, save for end-of-garden moorings where the boat owner is also landowner or the relevant mooring.

• As Essex Waterways Ltd is ultimately responsible for the health, safety and welfare or all persons on its land, and the general environment, the mooring agreements will specify rules for activity and conduct that consistent with the current legislation and recommendations of the Health & Safety Executive.

Operational Arrangements

Basis of Charging – Mooring charges are determined by the length of the vessel (other than downstream of the kiosk at Heybridge Basin, where width may be taken into account), the length being inclusive of all fenders, steps and other protrusions (including tenders if not kept alongside or on the vessel). The measurements for all vessels will be checked by an Essex Waterways Ltd employee from time to time.

Boat Safety Scheme – All vessels moored above, or venturing above, Hall Bridge are required to have a valid certificate showing an examination pass under the Boat Safety Scheme. Boats on the hard standing at Heybridge Basin are not required to have an examination whilst out of the water. An administration fee of £50 will be levied without further notice where a boat is without the required certificate for more than three months, and for each three months thereafter.

Change of Moorings and Waiting Lists – Where there is greater demand than the number of vacancies at any particular site, or type of mooring, a waiting list shall be maintained by the Paper Mill office. When a vacancy occurs, either caused by the sale of a vessel or its move elsewhere, the first boat of similar size on the waiting list shall have priority for that mooring provided that vessel is able to take up (or pay and reserve for) that mooring straight away.

Insurance – All vessels with an inboard or outboard engine on the Navigation must provide evidence of third party liability insurance, including wreck removal, other than when on the hard standing at Heybridge Basin. Boats on residential moorings must provide evidence of comprehensive, not just third party, insurance. An administration fee of £50 will be levied without further notice where a boat owner has not provided the required evidence for a period of three months, and then for each three month period thereafter.

Landing Stages – One or more landing stages are provided for each mooring. The company will ensure that each landing stage is safe to use, but the boat owner should keep it clean and not alter it in any way, including not painting it.

Late Payments – An administration fee of £50 shall be applied on each occasion that a mooring fee is unpaid three months after invoice date, and for each three month period thereafter. Payments received are applied to the most overdue debt.

Mooring Fees – The level of fees and category of fees applicable will be determined annually by the board, and notice given to boat owners not less than sixty days before the new fees come into force.

Names of Vessels – Each vessel shall display its name so that it is clearly legible from the towpath when moored and when proceeding along the Navigation – i.e. the name must appear on both sides of the vessel. An administration charge of £50 shall be levied for any vessel failing to display its name, and a further fee for each three month period thereafter.

Residential Moorings – Long term residence on a vessel is only permitted where specific planning permission is in place. Other than for authorised residential moorings, all boat owners will be required to provide proof of their residential address on the setting up of each mooring contract and at periods of not less than five years.

Residential Moorings at Heybridge Basin – vessels used for residential moorings at Heybridge Basin may be sold on the mooring subject to (i) a satisfactory interview with the prospective purchaser and, if appropriate, (ii) an out of water survey on the vessel, and (iii) receipt of a payment (including VAT) of a £5,000 transfer fee.

Sale of Vessels – On the sale of a vessel the mooring charges shall continue to apply until either the vessel has left the Navigation or a new agreement with new owner comes into force. No vessel can be sold with the right to retain the existing mooring (other than for end-of-garden moorings). On a sale, the vessel can only stay at its existing mooring if there are no other vessels of similar size and boat owners on a waiting list, and it is convenient to Essex Waterways Ltd for the vessel to stay at that site.

Storage of Property – All property of the boat owner must be stored either on the vessel or within a single box placed the landing stage. All other property left elsewhere without written authorisation will be considered as abandoned and removed and disposed of without further notice.

Tenders – Each vessel may include a tender, used in conjunction with the vessel for landing or maintenance purposes, provided such tender is kept either on the vessel or alongside in linear moorings where this does not obstruct another mooring or passing vessels. Tenders may not include any vessel with an inboard or outboard engine. Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and other vessels used for recreation in their own right are not considered to be tenders and require their own separate licence. Tenders and other small recreational craft may not be kept ashore unless a separate annual storage fee is paid.