Maintain coastal structures and equipment
When you need a licence
You need a licence to maintain coastal structures and equipment, provided the work:
- lasts less than twelve months
- costs less than £1 million
- does not include fundamental alterations to the use of a structure
- happens in the area we license
The marine area we license
We licence activities:
- in the Welsh sea - such as a marker buoy or a pontoon
- over the Welsh sea - something above or over-hanging the sea such as a bridge or cantilever
- under the Welsh sea - the ground under the sea and anything resting on it such as a wreck
The 'Welsh sea' reaches from average high tide (called 'mean high water springs') to the Welsh territorial limit.
Harbour authority works
You do not need to apply for a licence to maintain harbour works if you are a harbour authority or working on behalf of one. This is called an exemption. It only applies to maintenance you carry out within the existing boundaries of the harbour works.
Maintenance activities
You can carry out minor maintenance including repairing, replacing or reasonably improving within the original design.
This could include work on:
- bolts
- flaps
- valves
- cathodic protection
- access covers
- grills
- joints
- decking on a pier or pontoon
- health and safety equipment
- other ancillary equipment attached to existing structures
The work must be within the existing boundaries of the structure or assets you are maintaining.
What we charge
This type of licence is called a band 1 licence. Applying for it costs £600. We will send you a request to pay when we receive your application.
When to apply
Submit your band 1 application at least two months before you want to begin the work.
We will make a decision within 6 weeks of receiving a complete application and the fee.
How to apply
Find out what information you need to prepare to submit an application to us.
Other permissions you might need from us
As well as applying for a band 1 marine licence, you might need other permissions from us, including:
These must be in place before you begin the work.