Bord Iascaigh Mhara
Marine Tourism Safety Scheme
The Marine Tourism Safety Scheme provides grant funding to improve the safety standards of Irish marine tourism vessels. It is open to owners of licensed marine tourism vessels of 15 metres or less in registered length overall operating in Irish coastal waters.
- Grant range
- Max. €40,000 over three years
- Funding level
- 40%
- Support type
- Grant
- Last checked
- 3 Sept 2026
About this scheme
The Marine Tourism Safety Scheme funds improvements to safety standards on board Irish marine tourism vessels. It is open to owners of licensed marine tourism vessels of 15 metres or less in registered length overall that operate in Irish coastal waters. The grant covers up to 40% of eligible expenditure, subject to per-item maximum spend limits and funding frequency caps set out in a separate eligible/ineligible items list. The scheme falls under the EU de minimis Regulation (EU) 717/2014, capping total fisheries and aquaculture de minimis aid to a single undertaking across a rolling three-year period. BIM checks cumulative de minimis totals both at application and at drawdown, and may reject or reduce funding if the cap would be exceeded. Beneficiaries must retain de minimis aid records for 10 years. Applications are submitted online through BIM's Grants Electronic Management System (desktop only).
Who can apply
- Applicant must own a licensed marine tourism vessel
- Vessel must be 15 metres or less in registered length overall
- Vessel must operate in Irish coastal waters
- Maximum eligible expenditure limits and funding frequency limits apply per expenditure category (see eligible items list)
- Scheme is subject to EU de minimis Regulation (EU) 717/2014 (as amended): total fisheries/aquaculture de minimis aid to a single undertaking is capped at €40,000 over any three consecutive fiscal years
- Applicants must declare any fisheries de minimis aid received from other sources (current year plus previous two fiscal years) on the application form
- Applications with capital items now covered under the EMFAF Sustainable Fisheries Scheme (from 30 Sept 2024) that could not be transferred may be considered via the appeals process
How to apply
- Apply online via BIM's Grant Electronics Management System (GEMS) at bim.flexigrant.com
- Complete the application using a desktop or laptop, as the form is not compatible with mobile devices
- Refer to the "Getting Started with BIM Online Grants System" guide or watch the BIM online grant registration video if help is needed
- For technical queries about GEMS, email BIM's Grant Help Desk
