Licence, papers and gear for German coastal waters
1The lesson in plain words
You need the SBF See above 11.03 kW combustion or 7.5 kW electric. Private boats have no general safety-gear checklist; required lights and sound gear still apply.
When you need the SBF See
To skipper an engine-equipped pleasure boat, you normally need the SBF See (Germany's coastal motorboat licence). No licence is needed up to 11.03 kW (15 hp) maximum power for combustion engines, or 7.5 kW continuous power (power it can sustain) for electric motors. The fitted engine counts even when off: a yacht with a more powerful auxiliary engine (an engine supporting sail power) needs the licence under sail. There is no length limit at sea. An engineless sailing boat needs no sea licence.
Age and carrying your licence
The minimum age for the SBF See is 16. Carry your licence when you are the skipper and show it on request. You may steer under the licensed skipper's constant supervision without becoming the skipper. You may carry SKS (coastal skipper certificate), SSS (offshore skipper certificate) or SHS (ocean skipper certificate) instead of the SBF See.
Visitors
If you live outside Germany and visit for no longer than one year, you need no German licence under the visitor rule. If your country of residence requires a certificate or applies UNECE Resolution 40, the UN standard for international boating certificates, you must hold its relevant certificate or a suitable ICC (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft). Otherwise, this visitor exemption requires no certificate.
Papers and registration
At sea, only jet skis must carry an official mark. German seagoing ships required to fly the German flag must enter the sea-ships register above 15 m hull length. Smaller ships may register voluntarily. A flag certificate or IBS (international boat certificate) provides boat documentation without sea-register entry. A marine VHF needs a ship's radio licence. On a German pleasure boat, the skipper needs the appropriate radio certificate, such as the SRC (Short Range Certificate) for VHF with DSC (digital selective calling).
Gear
Private pleasure boats have no general statutory safety-gear checklist. Carry the required lights and sound equipment, and choose safety gear for your voyage. Navigation lights normally use electricity; rowing boats and sailboats under 20 m without enough electrical power may use non-electric navigation lights.
Small-boat lights
A sailboat under 12 m or a rowing boat unable to carry normal KVR lights must show a white all-round light. If it cannot, or a motorboat under 7 m cannot carry its required lights, do not sail while lights are required, except in an emergency. Then keep a white torch or lantern ready and show it in time to prevent collision.
2Key data
- Licence-free engine
- Up to 11.03 kW combustion or 7.5 kW electric
- SBF See minimum age
- 16
- Length limit at sea
- None for the SBF See
- Sea-ships register
- German seagoing ships required to fly German flag: over 15 m hull
3Key points
- 1
SBF See above 11.03 kW (combustion) or 7.5 kW (electric) fitted; a boat with no engine needs none.
- 2
SBF See minimum age 16. Carry your licence as skipper; supervised steering does not make you the skipper.
- 3
SKS, SSS or SHS may be carried instead of the SBF See.
- 4
Visitors up to one year: certificate requirements depend on your country of residence, including Resolution 40.
- 5
Private pleasure boats have no general legal safety-gear list; required lights and sound equipment still apply.
4Frequent mistakes
Wrong: A 15 hp outboard always needs the SBF See.
Right: The limit is the maximum power: up to 11.03 kW (15 hp) is licence-free. Only above it do you need the SBF See.
Wrong: German law lists the lifejackets and flares every pleasure boat must carry.
Right: No such general list exists for private boats. Carry good safety gear anyway; hire and training boats follow separate rules.
Wrong: My yacht's 20 kW diesel is off while I sail, so I need no licence.
Right: The rule looks at the engine the boat is fitted with. Above 11.03 kW you need the SBF See, under sail as well.
5Practice case & exam keys
You live in Hamburg and hold no licence. A club offers a boat rated at 8 kW continuous electric power or an engineless 6 m dinghy. The dinghy cannot carry normal sailing lights but has an electric white all-round light. You plan to return after sunset. Which boat may you use?
Show the answer
The electric boat needs the SBF See because it exceeds 7.5 kW. The engineless dinghy needs no sea licence and may use the small-sailing-boat white all-round-light exception. Check that the light works and that the trip suits your experience and conditions.
Exam keys
- SpFV § 4–5: SBF See needed with engine > 11.03 kW (combustion) or > 7.5 kW (electric, continuous power).
- SpFV § 6: minimum age 16 for the SBF See.
- SpFV § 12: carry the licence; SKS, SSS or SHS may be carried instead of the SBF See.
- German seagoing ships required to fly the German flag: sea-ships register compulsory above 15 m hull length. Smaller ships may register voluntarily; flag certificate or IBS is documentation, not register entry. Only jet skis need an official mark at sea.
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