The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has launched a 12-week call for evidence on the definition of pleasure vessels, seeking views from mariners, owners, operators and other stakeholders on how the current definition is understood and applied in practice. The exercise opened on Tuesday 10 November 2026, with responses due by 1 February 2027.

The MCA said the feedback sought includes whether there are situations where the distinction between pleasure and commercial use is unclear. Those definitions determine different regulatory safety requirements, such as lifesaving equipment, training, inspections and certification. The listening exercise was prompted by a Marine Accident Investigation Branch report into a fatal incident off Cowes, Isle of Wight, in October 2022, which recommended a review of the definition.

Esmé Flegg, the MCA's Innovative Technologies Lead – Code Vessels, said the agency wants to hear from a range of groups and individuals about the definition, whether it is ambiguous and how it influences operations. She said the exercise is not a consultation on regulatory changes but a call for evidence, and that the findings will help the MCA better understand how the current definition operates.