The Boat Safety Scheme, or BSS, is a public safety initiative owned by the Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency. Its purpose is to help minimise the risk of boat fires, explosions, or pollution harming visitors to the inland waterways, the waterways' workforce and any other users.

The Canal & River Trust (formerly British Waterways)

EA manages nearly 1000km of Britain's rivers

The Waterways Ombudsman investigates complaints about the Canal & River Trust and includes complaints about their subsidiaries.

PLA operations cover 95 miles of the tidal River Thames up to Teddington Locks. PLA work to keep commercial and leisure users safe, protect and enhance the environment and promote the use of the river for trade and travel.

The rivers and broads are excellent for sailing and there are many yacht clubs in the area. There is also a large hire boat industry which caters for holiday-makers.

The Chelmer Canal Trust aims to preserve the waterway, and it's associated conservation area, from Chelmsford to the sea