Guide to the International Certificate of Competence

About the ICC

Most European countries require a skipper to show an ICC and a marine VHF radio licence. Checking whether a skipper is appropriately qualified is enforced by customs during entry or departure via a sea border, the booking or charter vessel company, or a harbour master.

The RYA International Certificate of Competence (ICC) is a boating passport for bareboat skippers and privately owner boats. In many countries it is a requirement for chartering a bareboat and even for privately owned vessels.

Marine insurance policies often include clauses that require the vessel's operator to be appropriately licensed and compliant with local laws and regulations. Suppose an accident or damage occurs while a skipper is operating a boat without the necessary qualifications or certifications required by the country they are in. In that case, the insurance company may deem this a breach of policy terms. That’s why obtaining an internationally recognised certification like the international boating license is essential.

How to obtain International Certificate of Competence (ICC)

To obtain an ICC, candidates must meet specific requirements. Firstly, applicants must be at least 16 years old and demonstrate adequate theoretical knowledge taught and assessed in our RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Course.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the authorised body for issuing the ICC. To meet the on-water requirements, once a candidate has passed the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Course, they have two options, the suitability of which they decide on is based on their previous skippering experience and seamanship expertise:

Join a five-day or three-weekend RYA Day Skipper practical course to build boat handling and sailing skills (if applicable) in an immersive environment.
Experienced skippers can take a half-day direct assessment to demonstrate their manoeuvring, docking, mooring, anchoring, person overboard prevention and recovery, general safety, and sailing skills if the assessment is also for an ICC sail.

After successfully passing the required assessments, candidates can submit their application to the RYA. The application is submitted to the RYA online; the RYA post the hard copy certificate to the candidate in their country of citizenship, which must be a member country of Resolution No. 40 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom are all member countries of UNECE. This process grants skippers their official ICC certification, valid for use in many international waters.

The course material and online content was really good. I am off to do the practical today and I am much more confident as a day skipper than before the course.

Mark Dawson

Navigation Experience

Whether you are sitting an ICC assessment or a Day Skipper Practical Course the your current level of navigation and passage planning must be at the Day Skipper Shore-based level or higher. You can enrol and learn this with us. Completing an ICC boat license requirement also ensures your competence in practical seamanship and navigation.

Marine Radio Licence

For skippers using an ICC either on a bareboat charter or for a privately owned vessel that has a VHF radio will require marine VHF radio licence (SROCP). For most countries in the Mediterranean Sea it is not possible to clear customs as a skipper or charter a bareboat without producing your internationally recognised marine VHF radio licence.

"Brilliant online skipper course and VHF course.

As someone with minimal boating experience I found the progression throughout my shore based day skipper course scaled up perfectly without being at all overwhelming.

I feel genuinely well prepared. As the first step to chartering a boat overseas, I can't recommend AAB highly enough!"

Katelyn Grimes

SKIPPER TRAINING PACKAGE

European Waters Certification

The best way to prepare for adventures in Europe is the Complete Skipper Course package, which includes the RYA Day Skipper Course and VHF Radio course.

This comprehensive package also provides extensive training to enhance seamanship skills, enabling you to handle and skipper larger vessels confidently.

This preparation is invaluable for a successful ICC assessment, to get the most out of a Day Skipper practical course, and, of course, for your future bareboating adventures.

$895 (AUD) for 1 person.

$1495 (AUD) for 2 people.

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Above & Beyond Boating is an RYA Training Centre.

Mediterranean Mooring Made Simple

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Entering new harbours in the Mediterranean Sea can create a lot of anxiety for even the most experienced of skippers. In this video, Ian and Neil share some of their must have equipment and techniques.

Watch our video to learn some must have equipment and techniques.