ABOUT

Tom Keeling BA MSc CEng CMarEng MIMarEST began working on the Inland Waterways in 1995, working in all areas of the holiday industry but particularly as an engineer and boat fitter for many years. Tom has been self-employed and running this business since 2005. Tom has owned, refitted and lived on his own boats in the past. Tom has sea and inland experience and is a boater himself previously owning a Hardy Navigator 18, various dinghies and 50' narrowboat (not all at once). 

Tom has the following professional accreditation:

Chartered Engineer (CEng, Engineering Council Reg. No. 702414)

Chartered Marine Engineer (CMarEng, Chartered by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology)

Full Member of IMarEST (Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology)

MSc Engineering for Marine Professionals - MLA College / Plymouth University 

BA (Hons) - English and Philosophy with Psychology and Geology - University of Keele - go Keele..

Diploma in Marine Surveying – Lloyds Maritime Academy

Gas Safe Registration (No. 300458)

CRT/EA Registered Boat Safety Examiner

RYA Inland Waters Helmsman Instructor

RYA Powerboat Instructor, RYA PB2, RYA PB Intermediate, RYA Safety Boat, VHF SRC

Swiftwater Rescue Technician, MREW Fall Equipment Inspector

ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT 

Small Craft Services Ltd has made the following environmental commitments. It's a start...

  • The offices of Small Craft Services Ltd at the registered business address are powered by electricity from 100% renewable sources.
  • The workshops of Small Craft Services Ltd are powered by electricity from 100% renewable sources 
  • The BSS is to continue to be consulted about reducing examiner journeys and officially endorsing video and photographic retests (as of Aug 2021 they do not have a formal policy but do widely condone and acknowledge the practice is widespread). 
  • Tom Keeling undertakes to continue to reduce journeys by combining work in areas, and in particular continuing to work with hire fleets to split journeys and share between companies with bases in the same locality. 
  • Tom Keeling undertakes to reduce journeys made to private boats by tightening the work area radius further and combining retests and visits to marinas into single visits to localities. 
  • In Sept 2021 Small Craft Services became an entirely paperless business (unless a customer can not access the internet and requires important documentation in paper format). Reports and invoicing have been electronic for longer, and this now continues with all field notes being written electronically and all filing being completed electronically, from 1 Sept 2021 onwards. 
  • Tom Keeling will continue to encourage hire operators and new private boat buyers to look only at serial hybrid or sole electric propulsion, and continues to work with the market leaders to promote and develop this opportunity.
  • In marine surveying, Tom Keeling will continue to promote repair and rebuilding over replacement where this is possible, with a view to promoting sustainability and reuse within the industry. This of course includes promoting prevention and maintenance best practice with colleagues and industry partners, of which Tom has been a driving force for many years. 
  • Finally, Small Craft Services Ltd will work towards adoption of an electric vehicle (or alternative liquid-fuel) for all company works from (the latest) 2025. Tom Keeling asserts that he will take the appropriate environmental decision regarding vehicles when his current conventional diesel vehicle becomes due for replacement. Tom's household were early adopters of electric vehicles, having one in the household since 2020. 


TRADER INFO

Understanding that there is a fundamental difference in need for waterways traders, Tom works with the most prolific names in the industry to ensure safety and standards are paramount. His foundation years in the holiday hire business gives him significant advantage, with his insight into the operational needs of companies ensuring a straight forward and efficient service. Gas Safe Registration enables checking of residential and hire boats without complication, and as Tom applies the 2017 and 2002 BSS Guidelines on a daily basis there can be no grey areas. 

Tom is proud to have a 100% success rate with hire-boat safety and aims to increase your fleet safety significantly - if you have any doubts about your current fleet compliance or safety, clearly something has to change; your reputation and success depends on it. 

Tom is proud to work directly with the following companies and organisations - big or small:

ABC Leisure Group Ltd (Alvechurch Boat Centres Ltd)

AC Marine (Adam Carroll) 

Anglo-Welsh Waterway Holidays Ltd 

Aynho Wharf Ltd 

Avon Boating Ltd (Stratford-upon-Avon)

Avon Leisure Cruises Ltd

Avon Navigation Trust

Avon View Marina (Pershore)

Bancroft Cruisers (Stratford-upon-Avon)

Barge and Quarterdeck and The Ice Cream Boat (Stratford-upon-Avon)

BC Boat Management Ltd

Bidford Boats (Phil and David Bidwell)

Bidford Moorings - River Avon 

Black Prince Holidays Ltd 

Boat Safety Scheme 

Canal and River Trust 

Falkirk Hire Boats 

Charlie Watts Joinery

Droitwich Spa Marina Ltd 

Dusty (the coal boat)

Evesham Marina / Wakering Engineering Ltd. 

Heritage Boats of Evesham Ltd

Kate Boats Warwick Ltd

Kingfisher Cruises (Symonds Yat)

Knowle Hall Wharf Ltd / Ian Taylor 

Martin Brookes / Prestwood Wharf 

Napton Narrowboats Ltd 

Narrowboat Skills Centre (Debdale) 

Ortomarine Ltd

Oxford Cruisers Ltd 

Oxfordshire Narrowboats / Wiltshire Narrowboats / Heyford Wharf Ltd 

Re-Union Canal Boats (Edinburgh)

"Roach" the coal boat 

Stratford-on-Avon District Council

Scottish Canals

Tony Newton (RIP Doughboy, my friend and legend)

Trinity Boats Ltd (Dunhampstead)

Waterways World / WW Magazines 

Welford Boat Station - Chris Fox - River Avon 

Willow Wren Ltd 

White Horse Boats (Devizes)

Wye Valley Cruises (Symonds Yat)