The Department for Transport is running a consultation and call for evidence on decarbonising smaller vessels. The deadline has been extended to 8th September 2025. Please respond to ensure the voices of Bargee Travellers are heard. Here is a suggested response to questions 115, 117,118 and 119:
Q115 – “Inland and coastal waterway vessels especially those that are people’s permanent and only homes.”
Q117 – “Disagree”.
Q118 – “To covert all inland waterway diesel powered boats to electric is totally impractical as the infrastructure does not exist. The only viable transitional fuel is Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil in the short term. It is also an alternative in the long term as building the infrastructure for electric charging would have a catastrophic environmental impact.”
Q119 – “Agree”
The consultation is online here https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/decarbonising-smaller-vessels/decarbonising-smaller-vessels
You can respond online here https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/K0WCLQ/ or see https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/decarbonising-smaller-vessels