It’s getting hard to keep up with the amount of new regulatory information Waterways Ireland is producing (not that I’m complaining: it’s good that (a) systems exist and (b) information be made public). Today it has put up a page about commercial operating licences with downloadable PDFs for new applicants and for renewals.
WI says that
Waterways Ireland will give consideration to applications for permission to carry on commercial operations on the waterways which would serve to encourage their use and contribute towards a vibrant waterway environment.
But getting a new licence is not easy. As well as describing the proposed business, you have to have registered the boat with WI and got a Passenger Certificate for from the Marine Surveyor’s office of the Department of Transport (which ain’t easy). If you want to sell alcohol, you have to have a Passenger Vessel
Licence from the Revenue Commissioners.
You have to provide a copy of your insurance policy:
Waterways Ireland requires that vessels carrying passengers hold adequate levels of insurance and appropriately indemnifies [sic] Waterways Ireland […].
And after that you have to show that your business has a chance of surviving:
Waterways Ireland is required to satisfy itself of the financial and economic standing of entities with whom it proposes to contract. In order to make this assessment, please provide relevant information such as recent accounts or Business Plan (including resources, financing, programme for delivery, target market, etc.).
And you have to supply a current Tax Clearance Certificate.
It seems that folk without capital (including working capital) need not apply.
Irish waterways history 