Polski
STEP I. Before you proceed with your intention
In this particular case, the form and purpose of shipping and any other activity involving the use of ships, boats, canoes and other boating equipment is important.
This is because the law in this case distinguishes between use for the satisfaction of personal needs and the so-called special use, which would be the use of water for navigation in the course of business.
That is, whether you need a water permit will be determined by whether kayaking is for commercial purposes or for your personal use.
Remember!
If your intention is to serve a commercial purpose, you must have a water permit for the use of water for navigation.
STEP II. Necessary documents
Gather the necessary documents and apply for a water permit to use water for navigation. A water permit, according to Article 389 of the Water Law, is required for special use of water, or in this case, for navigation. In addition, you may need a permit for the construction of water facilities, that is, for example, for the construction of a pier, marina or other facility that you have planned for your business. You will read about these permits in issues of Water Issues.
A water permit is issued upon application for a water permit. You will obtain them from the relevant unit of the Polish Water Authority – the nearest catchment area board.
The fee for issuing a water permit is PLN 250.00 and should be paid to the account of the Polish Water Authority.
The application for a permit shall be accompanied by a water supply operation, prepared in writing, in descriptive and graphic form, and on computer data storage media as a text document.
The operative must meet the requirements set forth in Art. 409 of the Water Law, and the descriptive part should be tailored to the type of activity to which the water permit applies. Operat mark the date of its execution. It is also important to include a description of the project that does not contain specialized terms.
Remember!
An important part of the operative will be the determination of the start and end points of the swim. The boating water permit must include the boat’s berth and the route’s starting and destination points.
This is important! If the boat stop is related to an investment in the construction of a new pier or marina, it will be necessary to obtain a water permit for these water facilities as well.
A water permit is not required for navigation on inland waterways. According to Article 395 of the Water Law, navigation on waterways is exempt from the permit requirement. Waterways – there are few in Poland and include major rivers. Check if you plan to operate on one of them.
STEP III. Works and operation
Once you have obtained the necessary water consent and decisions under other regulations, you can proceed with your business.
A fee is usually paid for the use of water for boating purposes. If you operate on a waterway or a section of a waterway, or on a water facility, such as a dam reservoir owned by the State, you will incur a so-called “water damage”. the amount due for use. This fee is not related to the need to have or not have a water permit. Its amount depends on the number of passenger seats and the length of distance traveled per trip. The amount of the amount due will be determined by the competent water board on the basis of the submitted declaration and will be provided to you in the form of information, which also includes the method of its calculation. You pay the fee to the bank account of the Water Authority within 14 days from the day you receive the information.
Remember!
By the 15th of each month, you independently submit a declaration for the previous month to the Water Authority, the relevant catchment area board. The document should include data on, among other things, the number of voyages and the number of sluices.
The exemption from incurring this fee, according to Article 313 of the Water Law, is extended to small vessels – vessels up to 15 deadweight tons or those used to carry no more than 12 passengers.
