Guidance

Marine licensing: Definitions

Definitions of some commonly used terms in marine licensing.

Applies to England and Northern Ireland

Jurisdiction

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is responsible for marine licensing in English inshore and offshore waters and for Northern Ireland offshore waters.

MMO Jurisdiction (1)

바카라 사이트˜English waters바카라 사이트™ is a term used to describe the inshore and offshore area. The inshore area is the area of바카라 사이트¯sea바카라 사이트¯within 12 nautical miles of the English coastline. This is also called the territorial limit. The offshore area is the area of sea beyond the territorial limit but which is in the designated the English Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and within the UK sector of the바카라 사이트¯continental shelf.바카라 사이트¯This is up to 200 nautical miles from the coast. The definition of English waters excludes the waters of the devolved administration of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 

바카라 사이트˜Northern Ireland offshore waters바카라 사이트™ is the area of sea beyond the territorial limit. It is the area designated as the Northern Ireland Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and within the UK sector of the바카라 사이트¯continental shelf.바카라 사이트¯This is up to 200 nautical miles from the coast. The definition of Northen Ireland offshore waters excludes the waters of the devolved administration of Scotland and Wales, and the administration of England.

MMO Jurisdiction (1)

Mean High Water Springs

Monthly tides are defined two ways. They are called 바카라 사이트˜Springs바카라 사이트™ or 바카라 사이트˜Spring tides바카라 사이트™ when the tidal range is at its highest and 바카라 사이트˜Neaps바카라 사이트™ or 바카라 사이트˜Neap tides바카라 사이트™ when the tidal range is at its lowest. In spring tides, the height of Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) is the average of two successive high waters during a period of 24 hours in each month.

Mean High Water Springs (1)

It can be difficult to determine the Mean High Water Springs if you do not have access to specialist equipment (for example, a Leiker gauge).  We recommend you treat an area as being below바카라 사이트¯MHWS바카라 사이트¯if it is made wet from the normal ebb and flow of the tide or if there is evidence such as marking or growth that would suggest the tide has reached a point in the past. 

If you바카라 사이트™re still unsure, we recommend that you undertake an independent survey to confirm the position.

Normal Tidal Limit

The Normal Tidal Limit (NTL) describes how much a body of water is affected by the ebb and flow of the tides. This may encompass rivers and their estuaries, including those areas that are controlled by locks.

Mean High Water Springs (2)

What do we mean by 바카라 사이트˜The Sea바카라 사이트™?

바카라 사이트˜Sea바카라 사이트™ includes any area which is submerged at바카라 사이트¯Mean High Water Springs. It also includes the waters of every estuary, river or channel where the tide flows at Mean High Water Spring tide up to the바카라 사이트¯Normal Tidal Limit. 

Waters in areas which are closed (such as docks) but where seawater can flow into or out of are included in the MMOs Jurisdiction. These areas can be closed permanently or occasionally; by a lock or other artificial means, against the regular action of the tide. Seawater can be flowing into or out from the area, either continuously or from time to time.

In or over the sea, on or under the seabed

바카라 사이트˜In바카라 사이트™ the sea is a location within any relevant body of water. 

바카라 사이트˜Over바카라 사이트™ the sea is a location directly above or overhanging the sea. This could be a bridge, open piled structure or cantilever. 

바카라 사이트˜Seabed바카라 사이트™ is the ground under the sea. It includes anything resting on the seabed, such as a shipwreck.

In or On the sea, On or Under the Sea Bed

Anywhere else in the world

The바카라 사이트¯MMO바카라 사이트¯is also responsible for marine licensing in other parts of the world for certain activities. Use our to find out if you need a marine licence.

Updates to this page

Published 30 May 2019
Last updated 27 January 2025 show all updates
  1. Text amends

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