British Marine Inland proudly represents the diverse interests of the inland boating and boatbuilding industries across Canals, Rivers and The Norfolk Broads.
Why join?
British Marine Inland is an active group association within British Marine, representing companies across the UK’s 3,500 miles of navigable canals and rivers, including the Norfolk Broads. Our members include businesses offering river and canal holidays on hire boats, day boats, hotel boats, and passenger vessels, as well as companies engaged in leisure boatbuilding, repair, and marine services.
As part of the wider Inland Association, we also operate specialist steering groups, including a Technical Group and a Norfolk Broads Group, ensuring focused representation and expertise for key areas of the inland marine sector.
Representing the inland waterway industry by consulting with navigation authorities, government departments, and other official bodies on regulations that affect safety, environmental standards, and the use of rivers and canals.
We work closely with:
In addition our members build and refit boats, and offer a full range of maintenance services, sell fuel, gas and chandlery and provide safe and secure moorings. The membership also includes other activities such as supply chain, engine manufacture, surveyors, marine consultants, insurance, chandlery, marketing and information technology.
For 70 years British Marine Inland and its predecessors BMIB and APCO (Association of Pleasure Craft Operators) has represented its members in working for the benefit of holiday-makers and boat owners in campaigning for better facilities, safety and higher standards on the inland waterways. The association initiated and helped develop the Hire Boat Code, Boat Grading Standards and the Hire Boat Handover Scheme. In November 2025 British Marine Inland welcomed members in from the Broads Hire Boat Federation.
Our customers can therefore be confident that British Marine Inland companies are aware of and comply with the latest legislation, and are committed to providing a safe, quality holiday. All British Marine Hire Boat members are regularly independently audited for their Hire Boat Handover procedures and compliance with the Hire Boat Code.
You’ll get peace of mind knowing you’ll be buying from a member who:
- Works to recognised professional standards
- Is a member of a recognised trade body
- Works to recognised codes of conduct
- Has insurance for your protection
Edward Helps - Chair
Russell Chase - Co Vice Chair
Simon Vayro - Co Vice Chair
Paula Syred
Carl Onens
Ann Davies
Russell Fletcher
Steve Furniss
Robert Parton
Paul Grange
Emma Fearnley
Mike Jeffrey
Heather Hewitt
Ryan Day
Dave Taylor
Ray Bowern
Simon Boyde
David Walker
As part of the wider Inland Association, we operate specialist steering groups to ensure focused representation and technical expertise. These include:
- Technical Steering Group – Convened by Ed Tuite - Head of Technical Services, British Marine
- Norfolk Broads Steering Group – Convened by Ryan Day, Hoseasons
To find out more information or to be a part of any of these subgroups, please email Lisa Jupp - LJupp@britishmarine.co.uk.
Who We Are
British Marine Inland is an active group association within British Marine, representing companies across the UK’s 3,500 miles of navigable canals and rivers—including the Norfolk Broads. Our members include businesses offering river and canal holidays on hire boats, day boats, hotel boats, and passenger vessels, as well as companies engaged in leisure boatbuilding, repair, and marine services.
Members also provide essential services such as boat refits, maintenance, fuel and chandlery sales, and secure moorings, alongside a wide range of professional services including surveying, insurance, consultancy, marketing, and IT.
A Stronger Association Than Ever
British Marine Inland Boating (BMIB) celebrated its Platinum Anniversary in 2024, marking 70 years of dedicated service to the inland waterways leisure industry. Our direct predecessor, APCO (Association of Pleasure Craft Operators), was founded on 6 December 1953 as an independent trade association representing the interests of the hire boat industry. APCO joined the British Marine Federation in 1990 and, in November 2024, changed its name to British Marine Inland to better reflect the wide range of UK inland waterways companies we represent today.
For seven decades, we have been an association run for and by our members, working tirelessly to protect and promote the inland waterways leisure sector. BMIB maintains close relationships with navigation authorities and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), and has led the way in raising safety standards, improving holiday quality, embracing new technology, and enhancing the comfort of inland waterway boats.
Over the last 20 years, BMIB has initiated and helped develop key industry standards, including:
- The Hire Boat Code
- Boat Grading Standards
- The Hire Boat Handover Scheme
We work closely with the British Marine Secretariat, including the Technical Team and Training Department, to meet the challenges and expectations of a changing UK holiday market.
Recent Milestones
- November 2024 – Welcomed Inland Boat Building members, expanding expertise and representation in boat construction and refit.
- November 2025 – Welcomed members of the Broads Hire Boat Federation, creating a dedicated Norfolk Broads subgroup and strengthening our voice for this iconic waterway.
These milestones make British Marine Inland stronger than ever, uniting operators, builders, and service providers under one banner to advocate for the inland marine sector.