Personal accident insurance is NOT provided and MUST be taken out by groups.

For safety reasons, and to comply with our insurance, SMOKING IS NOT PERMITTED ANYWHERE ON BOARD.  Anyone smoking will be put ashore.

Accommodation on board New Petra is limited to a maximum of 12 persons, including team leaders.  

Each group MUST have 2 adult leaders in charge. KVB will provide a qualified skipper and cook/ 2nd hand.

If there are 6 or less fee paying group members there may be 1 leader in charge, solely at the discretion of KVB.

Bookings are from 1600 Hrs to 0900 Hrs.

To confirm the booking a non-refundable deposit of £100 is required and the balance of the hire charge is due 8 weeks before departure date.  If booked within 8 weeks of the start date, the full cost is due at the time of booking.

Charges apply if you have to cancel your booking.  From 8 to 6 weeks before the start date 75% will be refunded.  From 6 weeks to 4 weeks 50% will be refunded.  After 4 weeks there will be no refund.  All refunds refer to calendar weeks.

For food hygiene and safety reasons New Petra can only be hired on a fully catered basis, with the crew carrying out catering duties in association with the group.

For your comfort air conditioning is installed below decks and the accommodation is secured with a code lock on the main door.  The windows do not open.

The vessel complies with EC safety regulations, has been measured for and assigned a Netherlands load line, and flies the Dutch flag.  Life jackets are provided for everyone.

There is a large fully enclosed sun deck for the exclusive use of the user group and unless boarding or leaving the vessel when moored alongside you must remain inside this area except with the permission of the skipper and wearing a life jacket.

There are 2 diesel generators and electricity is available at 230v AC.  There is a double socket in each cabin and several in the salon, which are of the “continental” type, and adaptors are needed for English 3 pin plugs.  For safety, the lighting system is 24v DC.

Below decks there are 7 cabins each arranged with 2 bunk beds.  On the starboard side cabins 1 and 7 are en-suite and reserved for leaders in charge.  They are both fitted with safes - though no responsibility can be accepted for items stored therein.

There are 3 further showers/Wcs for use of the youngsters.

The crews accommodation aft of the sun deck, and the deck area around it, is out of bounds to all.

Static bookings are available for a maximum of 15 persons including leaders in charge.  Ask for details.

We are a non-profit making charity whose aim is to assist young people to enjoy a unique experience on the waterways of northern Europe.  As such we enjoy a special relationship with SeaLink and NorfolkLine and are pleased to offer our user groups an unbeatable deal if crossing with a minibus or in private cars.  Please ask for details and how to make a booking, or take the hassle out of the crossing using our cost effective door to door minibus service.

Our normal base is Oostende, but if crossing with a minibus further horizons are available. We moor by midday to give the youngsters a chance to explore and enjoy a structured curriculum.  

In association with the leaders in charge we normally divide the youngsters into 3 watches to help with the catering, navigation duties and at leisure or arranging the days curriculum.

New Petra has recently been converted to a high standard and at great expense. Accordingly a damage and condition deposit of £200 must be paid on arrival. This can be by cash or cheque with guarantee card, which will be returned on satisfactory completion of the inventory and condition report.

Whilst the skipper is responsible for the overall safety and running of the barge the leaders in charge accept responsibility for the safety, behaviour and control of the youngsters in their care.  KVB cannot be held responsible, and will not be liable for, the actions of third parties or anyone outside their control.   This includes mechanical or other breakdown, canal closure, weather conditions, change of itinerary and acts of God.