Colombia
- Who issues it
- Dirección General Marítima (DIMAR), Ministerio de Defensa Nacional [General Maritime Directorate, Ministry of National Defence].
- Buoyage
- IALA region B
- Collision rules
- Reglamento Internacional para Prevenir Abordajes en el Mar (COLREGS 72)
Do you need a licence?
Yes, sports skippers need a licence for open sea, a boat over 6 metres, or more than 3 people aboard.
Under legacy rules, yacht deck and engine crew need licences. Motorcraft operators must be 18, and passenger-class jet skis need a DIMAR card.
Operador Deportivo navegación a vela · Recreational sailing operator
- What it lets you do
- This is the sailing rank named in Decreto 1063/2024, but the permitted boat sizes and waters are unconfirmed.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Operador Deportivo Motonáutico · Recreational motor-watercraft operator
From 18
- What it lets you do
- You need a DIMAR card for passenger-class jet skis, and sports-area rules keep you within 1 nautical mile of shore.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Patrón Deportivo · Sports-boat skipper
- What it lets you do
- This legacy licence lets you command a small sports vessel, known as a nave menor deportiva.
- How you get it
- You need to pass an exam under the legacy rules, but its format and pass mark are unconfirmed.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Patrón Deportivo Básico · Basic recreational skipper
- What it lets you do
- This basic skipper rank is named in Decreto 1063/2024, but the permitted boat sizes and waters are unconfirmed.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Patrón de Yate · Yacht skipper
- What it lets you do
- This legacy licence covers small recreational vessels on regional voyages only.
- How you get it
- You need professional exams under the legacy rules, but their format and pass mark are unconfirmed.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Patrón Deportivo Avanzado · Advanced recreational skipper
- What it lets you do
- This advanced skipper rank is named in Decreto 1063/2024, but the permitted boat sizes and waters are unconfirmed.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Capitán de Yate · Yacht captain
- What it lets you do
- This is also a 2024 rank. As a legacy licence, it covers recreational yachts of any tonnage on regional or seagoing voyages, subject to the licence restrictions.
- How you get it
- You need professional exams under the legacy rules, but their format and pass mark are unconfirmed.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Professional deck titles
Marinero que forma parte de la guardia de navegación en buques de arqueo bruto igual o superior a 500
STCW II/4- What it lets you do
- You can work as a deck rating forming part of a navigational watch on ships of 500 GT or more.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Marinero de Primera de Puente en buques de arqueo bruto igual o superior a 500
STCW II/5- What it lets you do
- You can serve as an able seafarer in the deck department on ships of 500 GT or more.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Oficial encargado de la guardia de navegación
STCW II/1, II/3- What it lets you do
- You can hold separate certificates for ships of 500 GT or more under II/1, or for ships below 500 GT on near-coastal voyages under II/3.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Capitán de naves de arqueo bruto inferior a 500 dedicado a viajes próximos a la costa
STCW II/3- What it lets you do
- You can be master of ships below 500 GT on near-coastal voyages.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Primer Oficial de puente
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can hold separate chief-mate certificates for ships between 500 and 3,000 GT, and ships of 3,000 GT or more.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Capitán de naves
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can hold separate master certificates for ships between 500 and 3,000 GT, and ships of 3,000 GT or more.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Radio certificates
Radio Operador restringido GMDSS
ROC- What it lets you do
- You are qualified as a restricted GMDSS radio operator. The precise national sea-area limits are unconfirmed.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Radio Operador General
GOC- What it lets you do
- You can work as a general operator of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Ready to study for it?
The Academy is free with an account: lessons for every topic, timed mocks marked like the real exam, and your progress saved.
Official sources: Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo / Función Pública — Decreto 1070/2015, legacy articles 2.4.1.1.8.27–36 · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores — Decreto 1070/2015, updated with Decreto 1063/2024: recreational and radio ranks · DIMAR — Circular CR-20240142, legacy procedures pending implementing regulations · DIMAR — Resolución 1205 of 21 October 2026: maritime-transport certificates and STCW rules · DIMAR — REMAC 4, updated 2 October 2026: IALA Region B, COLREGS and recreational safety · DIMAR — Resolución 0733/2025: motorcraft age, jet-ski card and light-sailing rules