The Irish Passenger Boat Licence (PBL), administered by the Marine Survey Office (MSO), divides passenger-carrying vessels into six Classes — P1 through P6 — based on where they operate. UK MCA coding doesn't satisfy Irish PBL. If you operate in Irish waters, here's the plain-English breakdown of which Class you fall under.
The big picture
The Irish PBL system is built around operating area. Each Class defines a maximum permitted operating envelope — from sheltered inland waters all the way out to sea-going voyages. The further out you go, the more stringent the stability, equipment and crew requirements.
An Irish vessel operating commercially with paying passengers must hold a PBL. The licence specifies the Class, the maximum number of persons that can be carried, and any additional limitations (night operation, weather, distance from shore).
The six Classes
Open inland waters — most sheltered
Operating area: Sheltered lakes and inland waterways, in daylight, fair weather.
Stability: Basic stability declaration. Single-route inclining test usually sufficient.
Equipment: Lifejackets per person, basic first aid, simple distress signalling.
Crew: Holder of MSO-recognised boat-handling certificate, with first aid.
Inland 1–2 mile envelope
Operating area: Larger inland lakes and rivers, up to 1–2 miles from a safe haven, daylight.
Stability: Stability book or simplified inclining; route-specific assessment.
Equipment: P1 plus VHF radio, additional distress flares, basic engine spares.
Crew: Powered Watercraft Licence or equivalent, plus first aid.
Smooth water — coastal sheltered
Operating area: Coastal smooth-water areas (e.g. inside designated headlands, estuaries). Up to 3 nautical miles from a safe haven, daylight.
Stability: Full stability book, inclining experiment recommended, freeboard checked.
Equipment: P2 plus liferaft, EPIRB, more comprehensive first aid, manual / electric bilge pumps.
Crew: RYA Day Skipper Commercial Endorsement or equivalent, ENG1 medical, first aid.
Sheltered water — coastal
Operating area: Coastal sheltered water, up to 5 nautical miles from a safe haven. Daylight or limited dawn / dusk extension.
Stability: Mandatory full stability book signed by a chartered naval architect. This is the threshold Class where the requirement steps up significantly.
Equipment: P3 plus SOLAS-rated pyrotechnics, two VHF DSC sets, electronic chart plotter with backup, comprehensive medical kit.
Crew: Yachtmaster Coastal Commercial or equivalent, ENG1, first aid, plus VHF SRC.
Partial coast — extended coastal
Operating area: Extended coastal voyages, partial-coast operation, up to 20 nautical miles from a safe haven, 24-hour capability.
Stability: Full stability book with damaged-stability assessment.
Equipment: P4 plus SART, fire-fighting equipment with fixed installations on larger vessels, redundant power, watchkeeping arrangements.
Crew: Yachtmaster Offshore Commercial minimum, ENG1, STCW Basic, watchkeeping certified.
Sea-going — unrestricted
Operating area: Unrestricted sea-going voyages. No artificial mileage limit; the licence specifies the trade.
Stability: Full stability book including damaged stability and intact stability across all loading conditions.
Equipment: Full SOLAS-aligned equipment set, life rafts for full complement, EPIRB plus SART, fire suppression systems.
Crew: Yachtmaster Ocean or equivalent professional ticket, full STCW, watchkeeping rota.
Annual MSO inspection
Every PBL-licensed vessel is subject to an annual MSO inspection, regardless of Class. The inspection covers:
- Hull condition (in-water or out-of-water inspection)
- Equipment carriage against the Class schedule
- Crew documentation (medical, watchkeeping, professional tickets)
- Stability documentation up to date and reflecting current loading
- Owner declarations and SMS (where required)
- Previous deficiencies closed out
The MSO surveyor issues a renewed PBL on satisfactory inspection. If deficiencies are raised, they typically have to be cleared within 60 days for the licence to be renewed without restriction.
How this interacts with UK MCA coding
If your vessel operates in both UK and Irish waters, you'll typically need both — the UK Code (SPV or Workboat) for UK operations, and the Irish PBL for Irish operations. UK coding does not satisfy Irish PBL.
The good news: the underlying evidence is largely the same. Your stability book, your equipment service certificates, your crew qualifications — all transfer across. The paperwork doubles, the engineering doesn't. CodedOK tracks both jurisdictions in one vessel record, so each surveyor sees the relevant set for their Code.
PBL-ready and SPV-ready, one record
CodedOK is the only compliance app that tracks Irish PBL Classes P1–P6 alongside the UK MCA Codes. Pick the jurisdictions per vessel; the right schedules load automatically.
Start free →Independent recordkeeping aid. Not endorsed by or affiliated with the Marine Survey Office. Always consult your MSO surveyor on Class-specific questions for your vessel.