Finland
- Who issues it
- Liikenne- ja viestintävirasto Traficom [Finnish Transport and Communications Agency]
- Minimum age
- 15 years
- Buoyage
- IALA region A
- Collision rules
- Meriteiden säännöt
Do you need a licence?
No, a private boat up to 24 metres in mainland Finland normally needs no licence.
You don't need one for:
- a private boat up to 24 metres in mainland Finland
You still need suitable age and skill. For registrable motorboats, usually at least 15 kW or 5.5 metres, you must be 15; pleasure yachts over 24 metres and under 500 GT need an ICC and age 18, while skippered rental boats need a rental-boat operator certificate.
Kansainvälinen huviveneenkuljettajankirja · International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft (ICC)
From 16
- What it lets you do
- You need this for pleasure yachts over 24 metres and under 500 GT, and you must be 18 to skipper them. There are motor and sail endorsements; the inland endorsement needs CEVNI knowledge.
- How you get it
- You cover navigation, rules, drift and current, and weather in theory; Traficom sessions last 2 hours. You need proof of practical skills, while other theory evidence is accepted.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Vuokraveneen kuljettajankirja · Rental boat operator certificate
From 18- What it lets you do
- You need this for skippered leisure charters up to 24 metres and 12 passengers. International voyages also need an ICC.
- How you get it
- You need proof of theory and practical skills. An ICC plus a rental-boat law exam can prove theory, and you also need first-aid training.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Professional deck titles
Vahtimies, kansi
STCW II/4- What it lets you do
- You can work as a deck rating forming part of a navigational watch.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Matruusi; Pursimies
STCW II/5- What it lets you do
- These are separate deck certificates: Matruusi lets you work as an able seafarer, and Pursimies lets you work as a boatswain.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Lähiliikenteen perämiehenkirja; Lähiliikenteen päällikkökirja
STCW II/3- What it lets you do
- These are separate near-coastal mate and master certificates. The master certificate covers Baltic and near-coastal ships under 500 GT.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Vahtiperämiehenkirja
STCW II/1- What it lets you do
- You can be the officer in charge of a navigational watch.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Yliperämiehenkirja
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can serve as chief mate. Your master privileges depend on the ship's size, trading area and your sea service.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Merikapteeninkirja
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can be master of seagoing ships.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Radio certificates
Rannikkolaivurin radiotodistus
SRC- What it lets you do
- You can operate marine VHF radio, including DSC, on pleasure craft.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Avomerilaivurin radiotodistus
LRC- What it lets you do
- You can operate long-range marine radio, including MF/HF, on pleasure craft.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Rajoitettu radioasemanhoitajan todistus
ROC- What it lets you do
- You can carry out professional GMDSS radio operation in sea area A1.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Yleinen radioasemanhoitajan todistus
GOC- What it lets you do
- You can carry out professional radio operation across all GMDSS subsystems.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Yleinen radioasemanhoitajan kelpoisuustodistus
- What it lets you do
- This validates your GOC. You also need it with a foreign GOC when serving on Finnish ships in international service.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Rajoitettu radioasemanhoitajan kelpoisuustodistus
- What it lets you do
- This validates your ROC. You also need it with a foreign ROC when serving on Finnish ships in international service.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Rajoitettu radiopuhelimenhoitajan todistus (vain VHF)
- What it lets you do
- You can use VHF radiotelephony under a certificate recognised in the ship-manning regulation.
- 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: Traficom — Kansainvälinen huviveneenkuljettajankirja · Finlex — Vesiliikennelaki 782/2019, current Finnish text, sections 3, 6, 10, 41 and 110 · Traficom — Vuokraveneen kuljettajankirja · Traficom — Merenkulun pätevyyskirjat · Viestintävirasto / Finlex — Regulation 18 D/2014 M, maritime radio certificates and endorsements, sections 4–9 · Traficom — Utprickning, farleder och sjöfartens säkerhetsanordningar