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• A member of the Association of Boat Safety Examiners (ABSE), I am committed to working with owners to ensure the Scheme's standards are explained clearly and simply. Where required I can also discuss effective and inexpensive ways in which the standards may be met. Click on the image to visit the ABSE site.
   

The Boat Safety Scheme is used by the navigation authorities to help prevent fires, explosions and pollution through a four-yearly mandatory boat examination to determine that craft meet the requirements.

 Although it is important and deserves careful preparation, don't be daunted by the examination. Examiners are thorough, professional and friendly. A lot of us also have boats of our own!

I'm always prepared to provide BSS information to individual owners, clubs and societies. Recently, this has varied from owners working on project boats, those preparing for their first examination, to informal talks at boat clubs and representing the Boat Safety Scheme at boat shows and festivals.  

In addition, I also deliver training for hire fleets and boatbuilders to help staff understand the scheme's standards and common failures.  I see this as an integral part of an examiner's role in promoting safe boating and it is always provided in a friendly and informal way.

Preparing for the examination

Here are 5 practical steps to help towards a successful examination:

• Notify landowners, marina managers etc. that your examiner is visiting. This will ensure access to your mooring.
• Have to hand the existing Certificate and Appliance Record.
• Ensure all the boat systems work. Have a fully charged battery and gas and water to enable a 15 minute test to be run on the system.
• Provide full access to all gas joints and pipework so that they can be inspected. The examiner can  use a torch and mirror where necessary.
• Gas lockers should be unlocked and boards and panels removed to give access where necessary. 

 Signs   Signs indicating the location of emergency control valves for LPG, engine and appliance fuel control valves and battery master switches form part of the examination. Often, the omission of these signs can delay the issue of a Boat Safety Scheme Certificate. I carry a supply of suitable self adhesive signs to meet most eventualities.

Click here to visit the Boat Safety Signs website, view the range of signs and make a purchase, or buy those you need, from me, on the day of the examination. 

What it costs and what you get

Following the withdrawal of funding by British Waterways and the Environment Agency, the Boat Safety Scheme became self-financing on the 1st April 2007.  In April 2010 Certificates were raised in price to £34.08. In turn, I have increased my charge to owners.

My standard fee is £130.00 and includes the following:

• A thorough, professional and friendly Boat Safety Scheme Examination.
• The Boat Safety Scheme Certificate, Appliance Record and Examination Report Form. The report can be emailed to owners if required.
• An annual service of on-board fire extinguishers.
• Trained as a volunteer with the Green Blue project, I'm able to provide information on environmentally sound practices for boaters.
• Travelling expenses.
• I'm pleased to offer a discount if there are other boats, in the same area, that need an examination.

Customers' comments: 

Many thanks again for the helpful and informative inspection.  Your expertise and advice were very much appreciated. R.B. London

Many thanks for your kind attention (& for the kind words in your report). R. M West Sussex

We have now fitted the plugs, double insulated and tidied the wiring that comes close to fuel lines and secured the fuel line where required.
Can I take this opportunity to once again thank you for the help and advice you gave us on the day. We certainly will not hesitate in recommending your services to anybody. P. M. Swindon
 

Just a short note of thanks following my application for a safety certificate for my boat Andrhia. Firstly, for your speedy response to my emails, secondly, for your visit to my home address to give advice and finally for your detailed explanation as to what you were doing and what you were looking for during the examination. See you in 4 years. Thanks again. A.E. Lower Gornal 

Many thanks for your diligent examination and comprehensive email. I.T., Exeter

Thank you very much for your time, courtesy and complete professionalism in surveying my boat. It was, as I said at the time, a real pleasure to meet you and you may feel free to use my comments in any way you see fit. G. F., Stourbridge

I would like to say that the service received was at all times professional, courteous and efficient. I am left with the feeling that our boat has been inspected by a highly competent & diligent inspector. The added value of your expertise in fire safety and fire fighting equipment was also a bonus. I will have no hesitation in recommending your services to fellow boaters in the future. A. C., Cheshire

I was pleased and very impressed with the way and manner you performed this task. P. J., Surrey

Thank you for being so thorough - it gives us more confidence in the boat, especially when used by the family. R.A., Wiltshire

I did find it informative and reassuring to have things explained as you did it A.V., West Midlands

Your presentation and explanation of the examination procedures was most helpful and informative, and showed the Boat Safety Scheme working at its best. Few boat owners can claim to be entirely unconcerned about the prospect of a safety survey, but I can honestly say that I am looking forward to the next occasion in four years time. Dr D. H. Kidderminster
 

Being naturally inquisitive, I asked if it would be all right if I watched whilst you were conducting the examination. Your response was that you were very happy for me to be involved, and indeed it was something you actively encouraged of boat owners. Then, if problems were identified, it would be far easier to explain where something was not compliant, and what needed to be done to rectify the problem. I must say, throughout the whole examination, and indeed the lead up to it (and subsequent re-examination), your approach was professional, thorough and extremely helpful. Where things were found to be non-compliant, your explanations and suggested solutions were such that I understood exactly what was wrong and why. Although I will probably not need your services as a BSS Examiner for another four years, I would have no hesitation in recommending you to other boat owners in need of a BSS Examination. Once again, thank you very much for your expertise, professionalism and helpfulness. M. W., West Midlands

Thank you so much for your email, it was a pleasure to do business with you, as this was our first BSSC examination we were unsure what to expect but we needn't have worried as you made the whole process so easy and straight forward. We would have no qualms about recommending you to anybody requiring your services. D. & D., Rugby

I am currently in the process of fitting out a narrowboat as a liveaboard. This is my first experience with narrowboating and I was unsure what to expect of a safety examination on my part completed craft. Andrew was nothing but helpful throughout and not only confirmed the confomity of the existing build, but suggested many ways of ensuring the future work would be compliant. An absolutely excellent service, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend theoldmainline to anyone. I. H., Hockley Port

I recently asked Mr Andrew Phasey to examine our boat for the BSS certificate. I was full of trepidation about all the things our boat could fail on (try reading the examiners manual), when we met as arranged I was took back by his professional manner  and friendly approach and his invite to be there while he went through the examination. He explained all the relevant sections and explained them and other points in a manner that was easy to understand, I have no hesitation what so ever in recommending Mr Andrew Phasey to any one who requires a BSS examination. A. H., West Midlands

I email you in my capacity as a manager for Sherborne Wharf and as a private customer. Firstly, on behalf of Sherborne Wharf I would like to thank you for your involvement in our business, both as a Boat Safety Scheme Examiner and servicing all of our fire equipment. We have found you to be most efficient in the way that you handle our requirements in all aspects.

Secondly, as a private customer I found that when you examined my boat to be most thorough and helpful leaving ' no stone unturned' having identified certain problems, then went on to suggest the most expedient way of resolving them, again most efficient and helpful.

I have no problem in recommending your services to anyone and will gladly do so. I wish you every success in your business in the future. Best wishes, J. H., Sherborne Wharf. 

If I knew you would be this helpful, I'd have asked to borrow £50. Thanks ever so much. J. G., West Midlands 
 

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