The Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA) is an unincorporated membership organization in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1996, so that issues with the management of waterways could be discussed and a consensus reached. This made it easier to present the collective views of the members to government departments, regulators and other policy makers. Membership is available for navigation authorities in the United Kingdom who have legal responsibility for managing an

inland waterway A waterway is any navigable body of water. Broad distinctions are useful to avoid ambiguity, and disambiguation will be of varying importance depending on the nuance of the equivalent word in other ways. A first distinction is necessary bet ...

which is open and operational.

List of member organizations

In 2025, the following organizations were members of the association. * Avon Navigation Trust * Basingstoke Canal Authority * Bridgewater Canal Company *

Broads Authority The Broads (known for marketing purposes as The Broads National Park) is a network of mostly navigable rivers and lakes in the English counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. Although the terms "Norfolk Broads" and "Suffolk Broads" are correctly used ...

Canal & River Trust The Canal & River Trust (CRT), branded as in Wales, holds the guardianship of 2,000 miles of canals and rivers, together with reservoirs and a wide range of heritage buildings and structures, in England and Wales. Launched on 12 July 2012, the ...

* Cardiff Harbour Authority *

Cheshire West and Chester Council Cheshire West and Chester Council is the local authority for Cheshire West and Chester, a local government district with borough status in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The council is a unitary authority, being a district council w ...

( River Dee) * City of York Council ( River Foss) * Conservators of the River Cam *

Derbyshire County Council Derbyshire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Derbyshire in England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county, which additionally includes Derby. The county council is ba ...

(

Chesterfield Canal The Chesterfield Canal is a narrow canal in the East Midlands of England and it is known locally as 'Cuckoo Dyke'. It was one of the last of the canals designed by James Brindley, who died while it was being constructed. It was opened in 1777 ...

, Derby Canal, and

Cromford Canal The Cromford Canal ran from Cromford to the Erewash Canal in Derbyshire, England with a branch to Pinxton. Built by William Jessop with the assistance of Benjamin Outram, its alignment included four tunnels and 14 canal lock, locks. From Crom ...

) *

Devon County Council Devon County Council is the county council administering the English county of Devon. The council is based at Devon County Hall in the city of Exeter. The area administered by the county council is termed the non-metropolitan county, which is ...

(

Grand Western Canal The Grand Western Canal ran between Taunton in Somerset and Tiverton, Devon, Tiverton in Devon in the United Kingdom. The canal had its origins in various plans, going back to 1796, to link the Bristol Channel and the English Channel by a canal ...

) *

Environment Agency The Environment Agency (EA) is a non-departmental public body, established in 1996 and sponsored by the United Kingdom government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with responsibilities relating to the protection and enha ...

(Anglian, Southern and Thames regions) * Essex Waterways ( Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation) * Middle Level Commissioners *

National Trust The National Trust () is a heritage and nature conservation charity and membership organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Trust was founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley to "promote the ...

( Wey Navigation and Godalming Navigation)

Activity

The association was set up with support from the UK government, who were keen that there should be a single point of contact for issues relating to waterway management. They publish good practice guides and have been responsible for the ''Code for the Design, Construction and Operation of Hire Boats'', jointly produced with British Marine. This was first published in 2009 and updated in 2021. It is a national code for safe practice, and is recognized by the

Maritime and Coastguard Agency The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is an executive agency of the United Kingdom that is responsible for implementing British and international maritime law and safety policy. It works to prevent the loss of lives at sea and to prevent mar ...

. All boats which can carry up to 12 people and which are hired out without a skipper or crew must comply with its requirements.

References

{{Reflist

External links

AINA's official website
Water transport in the United Kingdom Inland waterway authorities Transport organisations based in the United Kingdom