Contacting consultees before you apply for a marine licence

Discuss your proposed works with consultees as early as possible before you apply.

Consultees will advise you on how to resolve any issues before you submit your application to us.

We will ask you to upload copies of your correspondence with consultees to your marine licence application.

Who you must contact

You must have confirmation that your proposed works will not pose a risk to others.

You must contact both:

• Maritime and Coastguard Agency: navigationsafety@mcga.gov.uk
• Trinity House: navigation@trinityhouse.co.uk

Give them the following information:

• location of the works - on a nautical chart or a satellite/map image where possible
• timing and duration of the works, and whether they will take place at night when visibility is low
• a brief description of the activities including:
  • any scaffolding or heavy equipment used
  • whether works will take place from land or the water
  • if you will use any vessels
• any potential impacts on the safety of navigation (such as closing off a waterway or reducing overhead clearance under a bridge) and what risk mitigation measures you propose to put in place
• whether the works are within a Statutory Harbour Authority jurisdiction - you should check with the local harbour/marina if there is one.

Removal work or beach management

If your works involve any kind of removal (such as boreholes or sediment sampling) or beach management, you must have confirmation that no archaeological features will be adversely affected by what you want to do.

As well as contacting Trinity House and the MCA, you must contact both:

• Heneb – Archaeology for Wales – Home of the four Welsh Archaeological Trusts
• the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW): nmr.wales@rcahmw.gov.uk

Give them the following information:

• location of the works - on a nautical chart or a satellite/map image where possible
• specific coordinates in latitude and longitude format
• timing and duration of the works
• brief description of the activities
  
  

Get advice about potential impact on the marine environment

For works up to 12 nautical miles, you should discuss your proposals with the NRW advisory team marine.advice@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk. 

For works offshore (12 nautical miles or more out to sea), you should consult with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

Both can assess whether there is any potential impact on the marine environment.

Give them the following information:

• location of the works - on a nautical chart or a satellite/map image where possible
• timing and duration of the works
• brief description of the activities
• who will be carrying out the activities
  
  

Other consultees

Depending on the activities you want to do, and where you want to do them, you might want to consult with other organisations before you apply for a licence, including:

• Local planning authority
• Local harbour authority
• Local port
• Chamber of Shipping
• Ministry of Defence
• National Air Traffic Services
• Public Health Wales
• Cadw
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
• Royal Yachting Association
• Crown Estate
• Welsh Fishermen’s Association
• National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations

If you think your project may attract public interest, engage with communities before you apply for a licence.

Consultee charges

Some consultees may charge for advice. Get in touch with them as early as possible so that you are aware of their costs.