A major reference moves away from print
The Yacht Harbour Association is preparing to release the eighth edition of its Marina Code of Practice, replacing the seventh edition with a digital-only resource. British Marine highlighted the change on 5 October 2026 and advised current members to arrange access. The code is aimed primarily at marina businesses, but the standards it discusses affect everyday boating experiences across small coastal and inland craft.
The updated resource addresses marina planning, design and operation. Keeping a current digital edition available to staff can help operators consult the same guidance when decisions are made about berth layouts, equipment or site management. The transition is about professional practice rather than a new regulation taking immediate effect for every private boat owner.
Online access and staged publication
TYHA says the initial release will be delivered through the Digify platform before a dedicated website is expected in early 2027. The association plans additional material addressing superyacht marina and boatyard requirements later in 2027. The new volumes are intended to replace existing guidance, but members should confirm which sections are available at each stage.
Access to the new edition is restricted to fully paid TYHA members. Operators have been asked to supply email addresses for staff who require entry to the digital resource. It should not be represented as a free public handbook or as a document already available to every boater.
What small-boat users can expect indirectly
A marina handling RIBs, trailer boats, dinghies and modest cruisers has to balance different vessel movements and shore facilities. Safe pontoons, usable access routes and reliable information about tides and berth arrangements can influence whether a newcomer finds the visit straightforward. Professional guidance may inform how operators design and manage those environments.
The code can also help businesses assess the consistency of their own procedures. Owners should continue to ask each marina directly about visitor berths, lifting limits, charging services, access rules and emergency arrangements. A professional code does not guarantee that every marina offers every facility.
A resource for the people running marinas
TYHA credits Marina Projects and other contributors with supporting the revision. The shift online is intended to give members easier access to current information from phones and computers. Its real value will depend on how operators use the guidance and whether it supports improved decisions at individual facilities.
For small-boat owners, the significance of the announcement is that the sector is updating a central professional reference. It remains important to distinguish such guidance from statutory safety obligations, local harbour rules and the owner's responsibility to berth and operate safely. For clubs that operate a few visitor berths alongside their racing programme, the change illustrates why periodic reviews of access, signage and emergency information remain worthwhile. Smaller operations face different budgets from full-service marinas but still need procedures appropriate to their facilities.