Mooring FAQs

If we do not have a suitable mooring available, you can join our waiting lists by completing our online moorings enquiry form available here.

You can make an application for your boat to be on the waiting list for a maximum of three sites for the Caledonian and Forth & Clyde canals and two sites for the Crinan and Union canals. You may make applications to more than one Scottish canal. Your positions on each mooring site waiting list are independent of each other. 

You can find our waiting lists terms and Conditions here.

A maximum number of offers of a suitable mooring will be made to you, this is limited to a maximum of three offers for the Caledonian and Forth & Clyde canals and a maximum of two offers for the Crinan and Union canals.

If you decline/refuse the maximum number of offers, your name will be removed from all waiting lists for that canal. 

Waiting lists vary from site to site and are naturally longer for the more popular sites. When you have reached the top of the waiting list and a mooring becomes available, we will make a formal offer by e-mail.   

We review our waiting lists by contacting customers and asking you to confirm your interest in the mooring sites. If you do not respond within 28 days, we will assume that that you are no longer interested, and we will remove your name from all our waiting lists.

Once we make you an offer of a mooring you have 14 days to accept or decline. 

You can pay to reserve the mooring. 

You can accept the mooring and remain on the waiting list for your preferred location. If we have made the maximum number of offers you can apply to join the waiting list for your preferred location. 

Leisure moorings are for occasional weekend and holiday use, spending short periods aboard at your mooring or cruising the canal. If you want to spend any periods living aboard, you will need a residential mooring.  

Residential moorings are for customers who wish to live aboard their boat as a temporary or permanent place of residence. 

Commercial moorings where you may trade commercially using your boat are available on some waterways, subject to negotiation of a trading agreement.  

No, your licence does not permit you to operate the vessel for hire, for carrying goods or passengers for payment, as a B&B or for any other commercial purpose. These activities require a business licence and a trading agreement with Scottish Canals.

We offer long term mooring berths for rental for periods of three to twelve months.
If you have an annual mooring we will write to you before your contract expires and ask if you would like to renew your mooring with us.
Short term moorings are for a minimum of three months and subject to availability.  

Winter moorings are available from 1st October to 31st March. Please complete a waiting list application form in the first instance and contact the local moorings team for further information.

A serviced mooring has access to water and electricity. The water bollard may be shared with other boaters but the electricity connection is allocated to yourself.

Moorings fees are charged from the 1st of the month and are subject to an annual inflationary uplift. Please see our current price lists here.

Short term moorings are payable in full.

The Navigation Licence is payable in full and is non-refundable and non-transferable.

You may pay annual mooring fees by direct debit, subject to credit check. 

You need a Scottish Navigation Licence to keep and use a boat on our Waterways in Scotland. 

If you simply wish to visit our Waterways for a short period, please see the separate information for Scottish Canals Transit and Short Term Licences.

The licence is valid for the duration of your mooring permit, up to a maximum of twelve months, and covers our Highland Waterways (Crinan and Caledonian canals) and Lowland Waterways (Forth & Clyde and Union canals).

Short-term licences are for people visiting the canals and are available for periods up to 30 days.

Insurance

You must have in force an insurance policy for the Boat, which covers third-party liabilities for at least two million pounds. It should also cover costs of recovery if your vessel takes on water or sinks. A valid copy must be provided before entry on to the canal and a copy sent through to the moorings team annually on renewal.  

Boat Safety Certificate

The Boat must comply with the Boat Safety Scheme requirements and have a Boat Safety Certificate within 28 days of its arrival on the Scottish Canals system. Alternatively you may present a correctly completed Declaration of Conformity with the EEC Recreational Craft Directive (applicable to boats less than 4 years old) or an MCA certificate. Copies of certificates must be supplied to the moorings team. 

We have an obligation to ensure that all boats are safe to travel on the canals. The Boat Safety Scheme, or BSS, is a public safety initiative owned by Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency. Its purpose is to help minimise the risk of boat fires, explosions or pollution harming visitors, staff or any user of the inland waterways.

It is mandatory that all craft on the Scottish Canals have either a current BSS Certificate, an MCA certificate or a signed declaration whilst on the network. We are also able to accept a Declaration of Conformity for craft that are less than 4 years old. 

The Boat Safety Certificate shows that, at the time of the examination, the Boat satisfied the Boat Safety Scheme requirements and must be renewed after 4 years. You are responsible for making sure that the Boat is maintained so that it continues to meet the requirements.

You should not, therefore, regard the Boat Safety Certificate as evidence of the Boat’s condition at any other time. Any alterations, modifications or a lack of good maintenance after the date of issue may mean the certificate is not valid. See www.boatsafetyscheme.org or call 0333 202 1000 for further information.

A copy of your valid certificate must supplied to the moorings team.

Yes, tell us as soon as your boat is issued with a new certificate so we can update our records. 

Scottish Canals can issue you an Index Number, please contact your local Moorings Team who will issue you with one.

You can renew your Boat Safety Certificate up to two months before it expires without losing the current end date. It’s best to get the new examination done as early as possible, so any work required can be completed before your mooring and licence expire. To be issued with a new licence you have to have current Boat Safety and insurance certificates.  

If you are not arriving at one of the sea locks, there are a few options to getting your boat on the canal depending on the canal and type of boat. Please contact the local moorings team for further advise.

If your boat is coming direct from another freshwater mooring it must be steam cleaned to a temperature of at least 40degrees so it kills off any invasive species.

Our Canals are very different so before coming you need to make sure that your boat is suitable. Canal and craft dimensions are available on the skipper’s guides.  

Visitor moorings are for short term use and overnight stops when cruising. Most are for 24 hours and charges may apply at some locations. When not cruising your boat must be returned to your home mooring. 

No, long term use of the Highland and Lowland Waterways without a home mooring is not permitted.

Yes, you may visit other Scottish Canals waterways for a maximum of 30 days during the licence period, subject to agreement and suitable mooring space being available. Please contact the local Waterway office to book your visit. Local visitor mooring terms and conditions will apply.

Yes, your licence covers you for the use of the Falkirk Wheel. Early booking, through our Boat Movements Operatives, is essential, especially during the summer season when it gets very busy.

Licence discs are normally issued by the second week of the month of renewal. If you have not received these by post by the end of the month, please contact your local Moorings Team.

Please contact your local mooring team and advise of the changes required.

No major works, such as welding, cutting, angle grinding, flooring, lining, ballast removal etc. shall be done to a vessel whilst at the mooring.

A key is supplied once your account is set up which gives you access to all boaters’ facilities across the Scottish Canals network.

Yes, please contact your local Operations team. Please note that a charge will apply.

If you have been allocated a mooring with access to electricity, please speak to the local team who will confirm your payment options and take a note of the start date and reading. 
 

Invoices are issued quarterly.

No, not all sites have Elsan Disposal facilities. The matrix on the skipper’s guide shows where these can be found on the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals. There is no Elsan disposal on the Caledonian or Crinan canals.

On the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals, please contact the Boat Movements Operatives who can arrange Pumpout or advise where the nearest self-service facility is.

On the Caledonian Canal there is a pumpout at the top of Muirtown locks. Please liaise with the local team.

There are no Pumpout facilities on the Crinan Canal.

Not all moorings have water points, however you can use the one nearest to fill up your tanks or containers. You will need to provide your own hose.

Storage sheds are for residential customers only.  If you are a residential boater you can apply to go on the waiting list for a unit.

Only residential mooring customers may have mail delivered.    

You will need to make your own arrangements for parcels. 

You are not permitted to drive on the towpath. Cars must be parked in the dedicated parking areas or roadside.   

Yes, you can have domestic pets on board if they are well behaved and cause no nuisance to other boaters. All waste must be collected and disposed of responsibly.

We will need to check that your new boat is suitable for the mooring and you will need to make a new licence application. 
If the new boat is too big for the mooring, you will need to join the waiting lists and wait until a suitable mooring is available. 

No. You may not assign the mooring to any person or transfer it with the sale of the boat.

You may terminate your mooring by giving one month’s written notice to the moorings team.
When the boat leaves and you return the licence discs, we will make a part refund of your Mooring fees as set out in the price list. The mooring fees include the notice period and are calculated at the summer and winter monthly rates.

The licence charges are non-refundable.

If you wish to retain the mooring, you will need to maintain payments.  

Our terms and conditions can be found here.

You can report any navigation issue to reportanavissue@scottishcanals.co.uk. Please give the precise location and include as much detail as possible.

The Environmental department at the local council will be able to advise on pollution. If you let the moorings team know the name of the boat we can also contact the owner and advise they are causing a nuisance. 

Under Section 18 of the Clean Air Act 1993, there are Smoke Control Areas where specific restrictions apply. Within smoke free zones, boaters may only use authorised burners and ‘smokeless’ fuels.

Yes, the speed limit on the canal is 5knotts/4mph.

You will have to phone the local boat Movements number to arrange passage.

If you let the mooring team know what the fault is, we will log it in our reporting and works planning system.

If you spot any navigation issues on and around the canal network, please email reportanavissue@scottishcanals.co.uk.