History or Canal Boat Numbers

The British Waterways was a public corporation responsible for managing many of the UK's canals and waterways until it was replaced by the Canal and River Trust in 2012. The British Waterways was created in 1963 as a result of the Transport Act, which nationalized the inland waterways of England and Wales. Prior to the creation of the British Waterways, the canals and waterways were owned and operated by a number of private companies.

Under the British Waterways, the management and maintenance of the canals and waterways was centralized, and a number of improvements were made to the infrastructure, including the restoration of historic structures and the introduction of new facilities for boaters and visitors. The British Waterways was also responsible for the enforcement of navigation and safety regulations, including the requirement for all canal boats to display registration numbers.

In 2012, the British Waterways was replaced by the Canal and River Trust, a new charity that was granted a 15-year contract by the UK government to manage the inland waterways of England and Wales. The Canal and River Trust was created to give greater control of the waterways to local communities, boaters, and other stakeholders.

With the change of management, the logo on the canal boat numbers was also updated to reflect the new organization. The old logo, which featured a stylized waterway and the words "British Waterways," was replaced with a new logo featuring a stylized canal lock and the words "Canal and River Trust."

Today, the Canal and River Trust is responsible for the management and maintenance of over 2,000 miles of canals and rivers in England and Wales, and the registration and numbering of canal boats remains an important part of its operations. The organization works closely with boaters, local communities, and other stakeholders to ensure the long-term sustainability of the waterways, and to promote their use and enjoyment by all.