Europe charts course to introduce universal recreational boat licence

If resolution 40, as the draft legislation is called, is approved, the International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft, also known as the ICC, could become recognised as a Europe-wide recreational boater’s licence.

To gain an ICC accreditation, boaters have to sit an approved course to show that they know how to navigate waterways, including plotting a course to account for the tide, and a practical test of bumping in and out of berths, recovering someone from the water and general ability to sail or steer a boat.

Alternatively, recreational boaters can complete a UK-based Royal Yachting Association day or coastal skipper course to gain accreditation for an ICC.

Once a skipper is issued with the ICC it is valid for five years. The ICC is not a licence, but instead is evidence to authorities that the skipper has reached a certain level of skill 

Not every country in Europe recognises the ICC accreditation, though, although some mandate that a recreational boat skipper needs it before they can navigate their waters. Skippers who don’t have accreditation risk having their boats seized at international borders as they try to cross them.

Resolution 40, if it is introduced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, will allow boaters to visit 21 mainly northern European countries, as well as South Africa, and have a valid boat licence.

However, some European countries, such as France, Spain, Italy and Greece, are not yet part of the more modern version of the certification scheme, making things tricky for foreign-flagged recreational boaters.

The EC has launched a survey that it says will help it “explore the pros and cons of potentially recognising private boater’s licences for recreational boating across Europe”.

It aims to gather the “views and experiences” of everyone from jet skiers to motor yacht owners to “better understand the current situation of boating skipper’s certificates for recreational boat operators”.

However, not everyone is happy about the plan to standardise recreational skipper licences. The European Boating Association has argued the introduction of an EU-wide mandate for skippers will increase the cost of participating in boating for anyone who wants to hit the water in the union.

Australian boating licences are not recognised in Europe, meaning anyone heading overseas on their boat will need to hold an ICC.

Australian skippers may also need to hold a separate internationally accredited VHF radio licence as the certificate of competence issued to radio operators here is not recognised overseas. 

Recreational boating licensing requirements in Europe vary widely from country to country.