There are two strands to the published regulations guiding Light Hovercraft design and construction.
One strand is the racing craft – these are covered by the World Hovercraft Federation (WHF), Hovercraft Club of Great Britain (HCGB), and European Hovercraft Federation (EHF) regulations. These organisations have personnel and processes for certification of craft, and insurance facilities for participation in competitive events.
The other strand is for craft intended for private cruising that are covered by HCGB regulations for Ultra-Light Craft (up to 500kg unladen) and HCC regulations for Light Craft (up to 1000kg unladen). Those intended to be used commercially in either category should conform to the MCA ‘Hovercraft Code’.
Ultra-Light and Light Hovercraft built for ‘cruising’ may be able to use the facilities of HCGB or HCC to achieve certification, to assist in obtaining insurance. In this case it is generally considered similar to insuring a small boat.
Craft above these two categories, up to 24m in length (Small Hovercraft) can be built to the MCA Hovercraft Code. Smaller craft in this size range may conveniently use the MCA Hovercraft Code, though for such craft it will be necessary to have quality assurance by a certificated person or organisation – see chapter 28. Larger craft in this size range are likely to be designed and constructed according to the IMO High Speed Craft (HSC) code and quality assured by a classification society such as Lloyds Register, DnV, or national certification authorities such as those in Canada and in New Zealand that have specific regulations. Links for these organisations can be found here.
It may be noted that as of July 2025 there are no regulations in place for electrically driven Small, Light or Ultra-Light Hovercraft. Technical development is ongoing by both enthusiasts and manufacturers on a global basis and so it should be the case that guidelines will be developed as soon as possible!
Contents
1 Foreword 6
2 Definitions 11
3 Application 18
4 Construction and Structural Strength 21
5 Weathertight Integrity 25
6 Lift and Propulsion Machinery 27
7 Propeller and Fan Systems 30
8 Electrical Arrangements 33
9 Steering Gear and Rudder Systems 36
10 Loose Water Removal 37
11 Stability 38
12 Freeboard 42
13 Life-Saving Appliances 43
14 Fire Safety 46
15 Fire Extinguishing 49
16 Radio Equipment 51
17 Navigation Lights, Shapes and Sound Signals 54
18 Navigational Equipment 56
19 Miscellaneous Equipment 58
20 Anchoring and Towing 60
21 Clean Seas 61
22 Protection of Personnel 62
23 Medical Stores 64
24 Manning and Requirements Specific to the Use of the Hovercraft 65
25 Procedures, Examination, Certification and Qualifications 68
26 Safety Management 72
27 Accident Reporting 72
28 Compliance Examination and Issue of Permits and Certificate of Compliance 73
APPENDIX 1 Applicable standards 76
APPENDIX 2 Example Certificate 79
APPENDIX 3 Example Hovercraft Builders Certificate 81
APPENDIX 4 Hovercraft Propeller Requirements 84
APPENDIX 5 Manning Of Hovercraft 91
APPENDIX 6 Safety Management 96
These regulations cover a wide range of small hovercraft constructed to operate in the marine environment. They are intended to be used by manufacturers and commercial operators of small hovercraft in the area relatively close to shore. They also provide valuable guidance for those constructing their own hovercraft for private use.
This Code has been developed for Light and Small Hovercraft which are United Kingdom craft and other Light and Small Hovercraft operating within the United Kingdom or United Kingdom waters (at sea and/or inland waters), which are used for reward. A hovercraft surveyed and certified under, and complying with, this Code is exempted from those parts of the IMO High Speed Craft Regulations and the (UK) General Order requiring the hovercraft to be surveyed and certified and comply with the BHSRs and the HSC Code.
The primary aim in developing the Code has been to set standards of safety and protection for all on-board, and particularly for those who are trainees or passengers, which is broadly in line with that of the 2014 MCA Workboat Code.
The Code is applicable to Small Hovercraft being a hovercraft of less than 24 metres in Length, carrying not more than 12 passengers and not more than 15 persons in total. Such a hovercraft is limited to Area Category 2. (Note that typically a 15 person or equivalent payload craft is likely to have a length of 12 to 14 metres and so it is the payload limitation that is most relevant. While not explicitly stated for Small Hovercraft the payload including fuel and baggage/consumables is likely to be less than 2000kg – THS Techsec)
The Code also provides standards for Light Hovercraft, a sub-set of Small Hovercraft further limited to less than 1000kg unladen weight, less than 12 metres in length, not more than eight persons on board, and restricted to Area Category 3 or as further restricted on the Certificate.
This Code additionally provides standards for Ultra-Light Hovercraft which are of less than 500 kg unladen weight, carrying a crew of not more than 4 persons and no other passengers or cargo (other than activity related equipment), operating in Area Category 6 further restricted to no more than 0.5 miles from the shore (beyond categorised waters) or in areas which are not capable of being navigated by conventional ships within 3 miles of a safe landing place or within one mile of an appropriately certified support boat, in favourable weather and in daylight, and of maximum significant wave height of 0.3m.
World Hovercraft Federation (WHF)
The WHF have a suite of regulations and guidelines for craft taking part in championship competitive events.
WHF001, 3, 4, 6, 7, 16, 18 and 19 all relate to operation of competitive events.
WHF002, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17 relate to construction and technical aspects
These documents are either directly used or mirrored by the HCGB, EHF and HCA. This facilitates consistency of technical specifications and racing controls.
The WHF have not (so far) hosted events other than circuit racing and so they have not published regulations or guidelines for ‘cruising’ craft.
Download of these documents is open. The listing can be found on the WHF Internet site here.
For ease of access the documents are listed below with direct links for download. The document selected will download to your computer rather than opening in a new window.
European Hovercraft Federation (EHF)
Two documents – racing regulations that mirror WHF, and construction regulations that mirror WHF are listed on the EHF site, here. EHF site gives ‘not secure’ warning (not HTTPS) so readers may wish to download copies direct from this THS site for reference. Click on the titles and the pdf will open in a new window.
EHF-001 Competition Regulations for European Championship Events
EHF-002 Construction Regulations for Racing Hovercraft
The intent of these regulations is for consistency with WHF and HCGB so that members of any of the European hovercraft clubs can participate in the European Championship.
European National Hovercraft Clubs including Sweden, Germany, and France follow these regulations for their own national events. The EHF (and WHF) Regulations in French can be found here.
Hovercraft Club of Great Britain (HCGB)
The Hovercraft Club of Great Britain has been running race meetings, and recreational cruise meetings since the 1970’s.
Access on the HCGB site to the page links below was from member area so the links below demand that you log on, thus requiring you to be a member. The guidelines and regulations listed below can all be downloaded from the links given once logged on to the site.
We list below the documents that will be important for an individual wishing to enter a hovercraft at an event (there are other guides for event organisation etc.).
Racing Guidelines:
HC177 – Competitor Signing On Record
HC SB06 – Scrutineering Bulletin – Wiring Guidance
HC SB05 – Scrutineering Bulletin – Thrust and Weight Testing
HC SB04 – Scrutineering Bulletin – Lift Fan Guarding
HC173 – Racing Craft Initial Registration & Change Form
HC135 – 2 – New Racing Driver Guidelines
HC SB02 – Scrutineering Bulletin – Lanyard Failure
HC SB01 – Scrutineering Bulletin – Multiwing Fan Hub
HC129 – 3 – Rules And Guidance For The Running Of National Inland Race Meetings
HC154-2019-1 – Scrutineering Form
HC115-2025-1 – Inland Racing Competition Regulations
HC152-2024-1 – Construction Regulations For Racing Hovercraft
These regulations and guidelines are consistent with the WHF regulations.
For cruising events and related craft are as follows:
Cruising Guidelines:
HC133 – Construction Regulations For Cruising Hovercraft
This Construction Regulations for Cruising Hovercraft covers recommendations for the design and construction of an Ultra-Light Cruising Hovercraft that can be operated at Hovercraft Club of Great Britain (HCGB) events.
Ultra-Light hovercraft are defined within The Hovercraft Code as craft with an unladen weight of less than 500kg and designed to carry no more 4 persons on board.
Craft defined as Light Cruising Hovercraft with an unladen weight of less than 1000kg and designed to carry no more than 8 persons are recommended in the HCGB regulations to conform to the requirements of The Hovercraft Code.
This HCGB Construction Regulations for Cruising Hovercraft is also the recommended standard by the HCGB for Ultra-Light Cruising hovercraft to be operated in any area with public access, not involved in HCGB events.
It may be noted that following The Hovercraft Code, or the HCC regulations below for an Ultra-Light Hovercraft would involve providing buoyancy, freeboard, floating stability, and other attributes consistent with the requirements of a cruising craft and would fulfil the requirements of the HCGB Construction Regulations for Cruising Hovercraft.
Hovercraft Cruising Club (HCC)
The HCC Light Hovercraft Code of Practise was developed in parallel to MCA code and aims specifically at craft built and operated by HCC members for their individual use, and at HCC cruising events. The document is open for download at the link, here.
The Hovercraft Cruising Club – Light Hovercraft Code of Practise rev 5a
While this code of practise is applicable for Ultra-Light Hovercraft the focus for HCC is for craft in the Light Hovercraft category, thus up to 1000 kg unladen weight.
This Code has been developed for application to United Kingdom (UK) Hovercraft class Private Light Hovercraft. This Code applies to Private Light Hovercraft which are not being used for hire, reward or commercial purposes.
The code is recommended for application to Private Light Hovercraft of less than 1000kg unladen weight carrying up to 8 passengers which are not engaged in navigation in activities for hire, reward, or commercial activities.
It is the responsibility of the owner/managing agent to ensure that a craft is properly maintained, examined and manned in accordance with the Light Hovercraft Code of Practise. The Code applies whether the owner/ managing agent is corporate, private or of a charitable nature.
Hovercraft Club of America (HCA)
The Hoverclub of America have also published a document ‘Construction Regulations for Light Hovercraft’. These regulations are applicable to Ultra-light Hovercraft (less than 500Kg unladen weight) and intended to regulate craft participating in HCA competitive events. The document follows the same outline as the HCGB 152 – Construction Regulations for Racing Hovercraft.
Where HCA run international events, craft must conform to the WHF requirements (WHF002).
Presently THS has access to a 2002 revision of the HCA document which can be viewed by clicking on the image above.
When an up-to-date revision is available it will be posted for reference.
HCA do not have regulations specific to ‘cruising’ craft though there are several commercial and home built craft that would fall into this category – Light Hovercraft in the MCA categorisation.
If you the reader are based in USA or Canada it is recommended that the MCA Hovercraft Code is a useful starting point and contact with HCA officials may enable arrangement of any necessary expert review/inspection/signoff of the craft once complete and tested. Such certification can assist in obtaining insurance for a craft!
