Safety Boat Hire UK
Crewed safety boat cover for construction, bridge, rail, maintenance and waterside projects across the UK.
Professional Safety Boat Cover for Work Near Water
FPS Pontoon Hire provides safety boat hire for contractors, engineers and project teams carrying out work on, over or beside water.
Our boats can support bridge inspection and maintenance, pontoon installation, scaffold works, rail projects, environmental surveys, waterside construction and other activities where a dedicated safety craft forms part of the project controls.
Where required, boats can be supplied with an appropriately qualified and experienced helm, with additional crew and water-safety equipment incorporated into the agreed scope.
For customers who only require a craft without an FPS operator, see our Bareboat Hire page.
Mobilisation, Access & Launch Planning
Our boats are trailer-mounted and can be mobilised to projects throughout the UK.
Launch and recovery arrangements are planned around the actual site, including restricted access, available slipways, bank conditions, water depth and the project programme. Where lifting is required, suitable lifting arrangements can be considered as part of the mobilisation plan.
For planned works, we recommend confirming the site, dates, required cover, crew requirements and operating environment as early as possible so the most suitable boat and mobilisation method can be selected.
Safety Boat Cover for Construction & Infrastructure Projects
Safety boats can form part of the control measures for many projects where operatives are exposed to a risk of entering the water.
Typical applications include bridge inspections and repairs, scaffold erection and dismantling, pontoon installation, rope-access works, environmental surveys, rail and highways projects, waterside maintenance, demolition and temporary works.
The required boat, crew, rescue arrangements and operating limits should be selected around the site-specific risk assessment rather than treated as a one-size-fits-all service.
Safety boats can provide dedicated on-water cover for bridge inspections, maintenance, rail structures, highways works and other infrastructure projects where operatives are working above or beside water.
The position of the workface, water conditions, access points and rescue requirements are considered when planning the cover.
Safety boat cover can support the installation, positioning, use and dismantling of modular pontoon systems where the project risk assessment identifies a requirement for a dedicated rescue craft.
The boat can also assist with access, communication and positioning where agreed within the scope.
Projects involving scaffold erection, rope access or other work at height above water may require dedicated water-rescue arrangements.
The safety boat plan should reflect the work method, likely rescue scenario, available recovery points and the number of people exposed.
Safety cover can be provided for environmental surveys, ecological work, inspections and other activities undertaken on or close to rivers, canals, reservoirs and lakes.
Boat selection is based on the waterway, access, working area and project controls.
Where FPS provides the safety boat service with a helm, the crew arrangement is agreed around the project requirements and operating environment.
Additional crew can be provided where the task, rescue plan or client requirements call for more than one person in the boat.
Safety boat cover should be integrated into the project RAMS and rescue arrangements.
We can provide information on the proposed boat, crew and operating setup so the client or principal contractor can incorporate the service into the site-specific rescue plan.
Flow, water depth, changing levels, wind, visibility, obstructions and access all affect the suitability of a safety boat operation.
These conditions are considered during planning and must remain within the agreed operating limits while the service is in use.
Where conventional slipway access is unavailable, we can review alternative launch and recovery arrangements based on the craft, site access and available lifting options.
The final method is agreed before mobilisation.
Different projects require different craft. The correct boat depends on factors such as water depth, current, access, required manoeuvrability, number of crew and the rescue scenario being planned for.
We will recommend a suitable option based on the information provided for the site.
Life jackets and other agreed water-safety equipment can be supplied alongside the boat service where required.
See our Life Jacket Hire page for additional equipment options.
A safety boat is provided primarily for dedicated safety and rescue cover, while a work boat is generally used for access, transport, positioning and project support.
If your requirement is mainly operational rather than rescue cover, see our Work Boat Hire page.
We review the location, work activity, number of people exposed, water conditions, launch access, operating hours, crew requirement and site programme before confirming the proposed safety boat service.
FPS can provide UK-wide boat delivery, agreed crew, mobilisation and demobilisation, together with related water-safety equipment and support where required.
The final scope is confirmed around the project-specific risk assessment and rescue arrangements.
Discuss Your Safety Boat Requirements
Tell us the location, work activity, number of people, water conditions, access and programme and we can review a suitable safety boat arrangement.
Call 01253 921 352 or contact FPS Pontoon Hire to discuss your project.
Why Work With FPS?
- UK-wide mobilisation for planned construction, infrastructure and waterside projects
- Boat and crew arrangements selected around the site-specific risk assessment and operating conditions
- Appropriately qualified and experienced helms where crewed cover is required
- Life jackets and supporting water-safety equipment available where required
- Safety boat provision planned around the project RAMS, rescue arrangements and agreed operating limits
