It is common to need to clean a slipway to remove fouling and algae. However, you should be aware that what you use to clean a slipway is regulated.
A marine licence is not required from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) for cleaning a slipway, although you may still require an Environmental Permit to discharge into surface or ground water. There is more information on this here.
Any biocidal products containing active substances with the intention of destroying algae require Health and Safety Executive (HSE) approval. Any such product approved by HSE for use in and around water is accepted by the Environment Agency so long as the product is used in accordance with the conditions on the label. The MMO provide information on this here.
You can check HSE approvals here, although this does not list whether the product has been approved for use in water. Any supplier of a slipway cleaning product should be able to provide you with their certificate from HSE including whether in water use has been approved.
Following conversations with HSE we are led to believe that Natural Solutions Algae Remover (HSE
9515) and Algae
Remover Concentrate (HSE
9815), as well as Keychem AlgaeX (HSE
6064), are HSE approved biocides for use on
harbour steps, piers and slipways.
HSE have indicated to us that Clearway (HSE
9252) and Wet and Forget (HSE
9411) are not authorised for use on slipways, and that they have no
record of authorisation for APT Algae Free
Algae remover or Oleonix
Marine Algae Cleaner.
Please be aware that we have no feedback or experience of these
products, and are merely providing information as to their approval status with
HSE. If you have any further information or feedback on using a slipway cleaner, please contact us at environment@rya.org.uk or fill in the form below.
If you have a moment to provide some feedback on what product you use to clean your slipway, please fill in the form below. Many thanks.
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