List of certificates for operators of pleasure craft explained

This article contains information about licences to operate pleasure craft. For the international licence also known as ICC, see International Certificate of Competence.

Europe

StateInland watersClose coastal watersClose offshore Extended offshoreOffshoreICC included
data-sort-value="Germany" GermanySportbootführerschein Binnenvalid on inland waters[1] Sportbootführerschein See valid for offshore up to 3 miles and the channels marked by lateral marks up to 12 miles from the coastSportküstenschifferscheinvalid for offshore up to 12 milesSportseeschifferscheinvalid for offshore up to 30 miles and North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and English Channel, Bristol Channel, Irish Sea, Scottisch Seas[2] Sporthochseeschifferscheinvalid for offshoreyes
data-sort-value="Austria" Austriavalid for offshore up to 3 miles valid for offshore up to 20 miles valid for offshore up to 200 miles valid for offshore yes
Spain[3] Licencia de Navegación
  • Sailable Distance: Up to 2 nm from a port or place of shelter.
  • Boat Length: Up to 6 meters.
  • Water Scooter: Up to Type C.
  • Navigation Time: Daylight only.
Patrón de Navegación Básica
  • Sailable Distance: Up to 5 nm from a port or place of shelter.
  • Boat Length: Up to 8 meters.
  • Water Scooter: No limit.
  • Navigation Time: No limit.
Patron de Embarcaciones de Recreo
  • Sailable Distance: Up to 12 nm from the coast.
    • Expandable for navigation to the Balearic Islands.
  • Boat Length: Up to 15 meters.
    • Expandable up to 24 meters.
  • Water Scooter: No limit.
  • Navigation Time: No limit.
Patrón de Yate
  • Sailable Distance: Up to 150 nm from the coast.
  • Boat Length: Up to 24 meters.
  • Water Scooter: No limit.
  • Navigation Time: No limit.
Capitán de Yate
  • Sailable Distance: No limit.
  • Boat Length: Up to 24 meters.
  • Water Scooter: No limit.
  • Navigation Time: No limit.
?
data-sort-value="Switzerland" SwitzerlandSchiffsführerausweis [<nowiki/>{{ill|Schiffsführerausweis|de|vertical-align=sup}}]valid for inland watersHochseeausweis [<nowiki/>{{ill|Schiffsführerausweis|de|vertical-align=sup}}]valid for Offshoreyes
data-sort-value="United Kingdom" United KingdomBoat Masters License (BML) Day Skipper valid for Coastal Waters during daylightYachtmaster Coastalvalid for Coastal WatersYachtmaster Offshorevalid for Offshore up to 150 milesYachtmaster Oceanvalid for offshoreyes
data-sort-value="Israel" IsraelGrade 30 Authorization to operate a boat in coastal watersvalid for coastal waters[4] Grade 60 Authorization to operade a boat on international voyagesvalid for offshoreno
data-sort-value="Netherlands" NetherlandsKlein Vaarbewijs Ivalid for LOA > 15m max.25m

or speed > 15 km/hvalid for channels and lakes except IJsselmeer, Markermeer, IJmeer, Waddenzee, Westerschelde, Oosterschelde, Eems and Dollard


Klein Vaarbewijs II

valid for LOA > 15m max.25m

or speed > 15 km/h
valid on all inland waters including IJsselmeer, Markermeer, IJmeer, Waddenzee, Westerschelde, Oosterschelde, Eems and Dollard[5]

GPb (Grootpleziersvaarbewijs)

valid for LOA max.40m

International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft issued by CBR

ICC

Klein Vaarbewijs II

LOA >15m max. 25m

or speed > 15 km/h

valid for offshore up to 3 miles

ICC

GPb(Grootpleziersvaarbewijs)

valid for LOA max.40m

International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft issued by CBR

ICC

Klein Vaarbewijs II

LOA >15m max. 25m

or speed > 15 km/h

valid for coastal waters

offshore up to 12 miles (territorial zone)

ICC

GPb(Grootpleziersvaarbewijs)

valid for LOA max.40m

To sail the Contiguous and the coastal Exclusive Economic zone an ICC certificate is not obligatory although comprehensive knowledge is strongly recommendedTo sail the International waters (outside territorial waters) an ICC certificate is not obligatory although extensive experience is strongly recommendedyes
data-sort-value="Czech Republic" Czech RepublicVůdce malého plavidla (Small Boat Skipper)Mezinárodní průkaz vůdce malého plavidla (International Small Boat Skipper)limits: within 3/4 mile from coastal line, wind below 4 bf, LOA < 20mYachtmaster grade Climits: within 20 miles from coastal line, wind below 6 bf, LOA < 16mYachtmaster grade Blimits: within 200 miles from coastal lineYachtmaster grade Aunlimited
RomaniaInternational Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft Class Dvalid for:
  • I - Inland waterways;
  • M - Motorized crafts;
  • S - Sailing crafts.

Pleasure craft not exceeding 24 m in length.

International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft Class C

valid for:

  • C - Coastal waters up to 6 Nm;
  • M - Motorized crafts;
  • S - Sailing crafts.

Pleasure craft not exceeding 24 m in length.

International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure CraftClass B

valid for:

  • M24 - Maritime waters up to 24 Nm;
  • M - Motorized crafts;
  • S - Sailing crafts.

Pleasure craft not exceeding 24 m in length.

International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft Class A

valid for:

  • All Zones - unlimited;
  • M - Motorized crafts;
  • S - Sailing crafts.

Pleasure craft not exceeding 24 m in length.

yes
RussiaУдостоверение на право управления маломерным судном / Certificate for operators of small craft [{{ill|Категории_транспортных_средств#Удостоверение_(права)_на_управление_водным_транспортом|ru|vertical-align=sup}}]

Certificate is issued by subdivisions of the State Small Vessels Inspectorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations

if there is the mark "внутренние воды" in the certificate - it's valid on inland waters without organized navigation

if there is the mark "внутренние водные пути" in the certificate - it's valid on inland waterways (inland waters with organized navigation) and inland waters without organized navigation

Categories (types of small crafts):

  • personal watercraft (water scooter)
  • motorized craft (motorboat with inboard or outboard engine)
  • sailing boat
  • motor-sailing boat
  • hovercraft
  • special craft (airboat, submarine, wing-in-surface-effect ship and others)

Small craft should not exceeding 20 meters in length (regardless of the type). [{{ill|Маломерное_судно|ru|vertical-align=sup}}]

Удостоверение на право управления маломерным судном / Certificate for operators of small craft

Certificate is issued by subdivisions of the State Small Vessels Inspectorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations

if there is the mark "внутренние морские воды и территориальное море" in the certificate - it's valid on internal maritime waters and territorial sea (limits: within 12 nautical miles from coastal line)

Categories (types of small crafts):

  • personal watercraft (water scooter)
  • motorized craft (motorboat with inboard or outboard engine)
  • sailing boat
  • motor-sailing boat
  • hovercraft
  • special craft (airboat, submarine, wing-in-surface-effect ship and others)

Small craft should not exceeding 20 meters in length (regardless of the type).

Удостоверение на право управления маломерным судном / Certificate for operators of small craft

Certificate is issued by subdivisions of the State Small Vessels Inspectorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations

if there is the mark "внутренние морские воды и территориальное море" in the certificate - it's valid on internal maritime waters and territorial sea (limits: within 12 nautical miles from coastal line)

Categories (types of small crafts):

  • personal watercraft (water scooter)
  • motorized craft (motorboat with inboard or outboard engine)
  • sailing boat
  • motor-sailing boat
  • hovercraft
  • special craft (airboat, submarine, wing-in-surface-effect ship and others)

Small craft should not exceeding 20 meters in length (regardless of the type).

Удостоверение на право управления маломерным судном / Certificate for operators of small craft

Certificate is issued by subdivisions of the State Small Vessels Inspectorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations

if there is the mark "морские воды IV категории сложности I разряда" in the certificate - it's valid on marine coastal waters (limits: within 20 nautical miles from coastal line)

Categories (types of small crafts):

  • personal watercraft (water scooter)
  • motorized craft (motorboat with inboard or outboard engine)
  • sailing boat
  • motor-sailing boat
  • hovercraft
  • special craft (airboat, submarine, wing-in-surface-effect ship and others)

Small craft should not exceeding 20 meters in length (regardless of the type).

The sailing in marine waters over 20 nautical miles from coastal line requires the professional certificate.

The sailing in marine waters over 20 nautical miles from coastal line requires the professional certificate.no
HungaryNemzetközi kedvtelési célú hajóvezetői bizonyítvány (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft)Inland

valid for:

  • I - Inland waterways;
  • M - Motorized crafts;
  • S - Sailing crafts.[6]

Pleasure craft not exceeding 20 m in length.

Nemzetközi kedvtelési célú hajóvezetői bizonyítvány (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft)

Class IV: 3 nm from coastal line

valid for:

  • C - Coastal waters;
  • M - Motorized crafts;
  • S - Sailing crafts.

Pleasure craft not exceeding 20 m in length.

Nemzetközi kedvtelési célú hajóvezetői bizonyítvány (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft)

Class III: 12 nm from coastal line

valid for:

  • C - Coastal waters;
  • M - Motorized crafts;
  • S - Sailing crafts.

Pleasure craft not exceeding 20 m in length.

Nemzetközi kedvtelési célú hajóvezetői bizonyítvány (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft)

Class II: 200 nm from coastal line

Pleasure craft not exceeding 20 m in length.

Nemzetközi kedvtelési célú hajóvezetői bizonyítvány (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft)

Class I: unlimited

Pleasure craft not exceeding 20 m in length.

yes
CanadaPleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC)Valid for operating all recreational motorized vessels in Canada. No limit to the pleasure craft size or power that can be operated with the Canadian PCOC.Can be obtained online from a Transport Canada accredited Pleasure Craft Operator Card provider.[7] No limit to pleasure craft size or distance from shore.No limit to pleasure craft size or distance from shore.No limit to pleasure craft size or distance from shore.No limit to pleasure craft size or distance from shore.no

East Asia

Non ICC included

References

  1. Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und Stadtentwicklung: Sicherheit auf dem Wasser. Wichtige Regeln und Tipps für Wassersportler. , p. 8 and 9.
  2. Elektronisches Wasserstraßen-Informationssystem: Verordnung über den Erwerb von Sportsee- und Sporthochseeschifferscheinen und die Besetzung von Traditionsschiffen (Sportseeschifferscheinverordnung - SportSeeSchiffV)
  3. Web site: BOE.es - BOE-A-2014-10344 Real Decreto 875/2014, de 10 de octubre, por el que se regulan las titulaciones náuticas para el gobierno de las embarcaciones de recreo.. 2021-05-27. www.boe.es.
  4. Syllabus for small craft operators, State of Israel, Ministry of Transport, Administration of Shipping & Ports
  5. http://www.vaarbewijs.nl/index.php?id=8,0,0,1,0,0 Information for Vaarbewijs
  6. https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=a0100015.kov 15/2001. (IV. 27.) KöViM rendelet a hajózási képesítésekről
  7. Web site: Official Boating License Canada Get Certified Today - [$20 OFF ] ]. 2024-04-13 . MyBoatCard.com® Official Canadian Boating License . en-US.