Sourcing floating work rafts from China
Floating work rafts from China carry 0% UK duty across the inflatable and other floating-structure lines, with no recorded trade remedies. For construction work over water, provide barriers of sufficient strength and stability to prevent falls. Cambridge China Bridge sources floating work rafts.
Zero duty on floating work rafts
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 8907 covers other floating structures, including rafts. Inflatable rafts under 8907 10 00 00 and other floating structures under 8907 90 00 00 carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties and no suspensions. The table repeats commodity lines for different work-raft constructions.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches an import control of fluorinated greenhouse gases to the other-structures line. Confirm the requirement with your customs broker, particularly for foam-filled floats. Products containing banned fluorinated gases must not be placed on the Great Britain market. Both lines also list a cultural-object export licence control. Official guidance states that importing objects of cultural interest into Great Britain has no licensing requirements; ask your broker to confirm the listed control's relevance to your shipment.
Confirm the commodity code using drawings, float construction and intended function, including whether the product is a floating structure or a vessel. These descriptions concern work rafts classified within this heading. For the wider floating-platform family, see floating swimming platforms.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inflatable floating work rafts | 8907 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Modular plastic floating work rafts | 8907 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify buoyancy and concentrated deck loads
Describe the task, personnel, tools and materials carried. Specify raft dimensions, float material, deck construction, distributed and concentrated loads, and freeboard under the agreed loading arrangement. Ask for stability calculations covering uneven loading and for drawings of connections, mooring points and access arrangements. Give the designer the site's current, waves, wind and tidal conditions.
For construction work over water, HSE calls for barriers of sufficient strength and stability to prevent falls from an open edge. Include the proposed edge protection and its attachment details in the design brief. Work-equipment rules also place duties on those who own, operate or control work equipment. Ask for assembly, operating and maintenance instructions suited to the actual installation.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative modular floating work raft package for a contracting business under 8907 90 00 00, invoiced at £48,000 free on board, with £6,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £54,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £54,500, so it is £10,900. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Floats: compare dimensions, wall thickness and weight with the approved drawings; inspect seams, valves or welded closures for leakage.
Loading: observe an agreed controlled load test, measure freeboard and check deck deflection and uneven-load behaviour against the specification.
Connections: trial-assemble modules; check pin retention, lug alignment, fasteners, mooring attachments and edge-protection fixings.
Arrival: inspect for crushed floats, bent frames and coating damage; reconcile loose fittings with the packing list before assembly. Plan checks with our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A buoyancy figure alone can hide a weak deck or an unstable loading arrangement. Heavy tools concentrated near an edge reduce local freeboard; thin floats deform, misaligned lugs prevent assembly, and loose pins allow modules to separate. Agree the loading arrangement and acceptance checks before production.
A display raft sample may omit the mooring fittings, access connection or edge protection needed at the site. Obtain drawings for the complete assembly and ask what foam or blowing agent is used in filled floats before your broker reviews the F-gas control. Use factory verification to check the maker's fabrication and testing capability.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on floating work rafts from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% for inflatable rafts under 8907 10 00 00 and other floating structures under 8907 90 00 00, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Which commodity code covers a floating work raft?
Within this heading, inflatable rafts use 8907 10 00 00 and other floating structures use 8907 90 00 00. Confirm classification from the construction and function, especially where the product may be a vessel.
What load information should I ask the factory for?
Ask for distributed and concentrated deck loads, freeboard under the proposed loading arrangement, stability calculations, and connection and mooring drawings. Include personnel, tools and stored materials.
Does the F-gas control affect foam-filled work rafts?
The tariff attaches this control to 8907 90 00 00. Ask the factory to identify the foam and blowing agent, then have your customs broker confirm applicability and declaration requirements before shipment.