Germany
- Who issues it
- Sportbootführerschein: Deutscher Motoryachtverband e. V. [German Motor Yacht Association] and Deutscher Segler-Verband e. V. [German Sailing Association]. SSS/SHS yacht certificates: their central office at DSV. Inland skipper certificates: Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt [Federal Waterways and Shipping Directorate]. Seafarer certificates: Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie [Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency]. Lake Constance: local shipping authorities, including Landratsamt Bodenseekreis [Bodenseekreis District Office]. Charter certificates: the rental company.
- Minimum age
- 14 years
- Buoyage
- IALA region A
- Collision rules
- Kollisionsverhütungsregeln (KVR)
Do you need a licence?
On federal waters, you need SBF for a combustion engine above 11.03 kW or an electric engine above 7.5 kW under S1; at or below those limits, you are exempt. Inland, this applies to boats under 20 m, while at sea it applies to boats of any length. You can get the motor licence from 16 and the sailing licence from 14; sailing boats above 6 m² need SBF only on listed Berlin and Brandenburg waters, and larger boats and Lake Constance follow other rules.
Charterbescheinigung · Charter certificate
From 16
- What it lets you do
- You can use rented cabin boats under 15 metres, carrying up to 12 people and making up to 12 km/h in still water. It is limited to listed inland routes and the rental period, in daylight and clear visibility.
- How you get it
- There is no licence exam. The rental company checks that you are competent and gives you at least three hours of theory and practical instruction.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Ferienpatent für den Bodensee · Temporary Lake Constance visitor permit
From 14
- What it lets you do
- Your eligible existing licence can be recognised temporarily for Lake Constance, for one continuous period of up to 30 days in a year.
- How you get it
- You do not take a new exam; the authority recognises an eligible existing licence. You must be at least 14 for sail or 18 for motor.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Sportbootführerschein mit dem Geltungsbereich Binnenschifffahrtsstraßen – unter Segel · Inland pleasure-craft licence, sail
From 14
- What it lets you do
- You can sail pleasure boats under 20 metres on federal inland waterways. It is compulsory for sails over 6 square metres on the waterways listed in SpFV Annex 8.
- How you get it
- For your first licence, answer 25 multiple-choice questions in 35 minutes and score 20 points, then complete practical sailing and knots. Existing licences can reduce the exam.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Sportbootführerschein mit dem Geltungsbereich Binnenschifffahrtsstraßen – mit Antriebsmaschine · Inland pleasure-craft licence, motor
From 16- What it lets you do
- You can operate motor pleasure boats under 20 metres on federal inland waterways, including the Rhine, with no upper engine-power limit.
- How you get it
- For your first licence, answer 30 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes and pass the basic section with 5 out of 7 and the inland section with 18 out of 23. You also show practical handling and knots; exemptions apply.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Sportbootführerschein mit dem Geltungsbereich Seeschifffahrtsstraßen · Sea-waterway pleasure-craft licence
From 16- What it lets you do
- You can operate motor pleasure boats of any length and with no upper engine-power limit on German sea waterways, including the Ems estuary regime.
- How you get it
- For your first licence, answer 30 multiple-choice questions and 9 navigation questions in 60 minutes. You must pass basic with 5 out of 7, sea with 18 out of 23, navigation with 7 out of 9, plus practical handling and knots.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Bodenseeschifferpatent – Kategorie D · Lake Constance skipper permit, sail
From 14- What it lets you do
- You can sail on Lake Constance, where this licence is required above 12 square metres of sail. A motor above 4.4 kW also needs category A.
- How you get it
- You take theory and practical sailing tests with knots. Recognised existing qualifications can reduce the tests.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Bodenseeschifferpatent – Kategorie A · Lake Constance skipper permit, motor
From 18
- What it lets you do
- You can use motorboats on Lake Constance, where this licence is required above 4.4 kW. The Hochrhein stretch needs a separate qualification.
- How you get it
- You take theory and practical motorboat-handling tests with knots. Recognised existing qualifications can reduce the tests.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Hochrheinpatent · Upper Rhine skipper permit
- What it lets you do
- This is an additional qualification for the Rhine from the first channel mark below Stein am Rhein road bridge to Schaffhausen–Feuerthalen road bridge.
- How you get it
- You take separate local-waterway theory and practical handling tests on this river stretch. The practical test cannot be waived.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Sportschifferzeugnis · Inland recreational skipper certificate
From 18- What it lets you do
- You can use pleasure boats up to 25 metres on inland zones 3 and 4, and it is recognised on the Rhine for boats under 25 metres. You may need extra route or maritime endorsements.
- How you get it
- You take theory and practical handling. The practical test is waived if you hold SBF Binnen motor, SBF See or certain other certificates.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Sportpatent · Rhine recreational skipper patent
From 18- What it lets you do
- You can use pleasure boats from 20 metres to under 25 metres on the Rhine and other inland zones 3 and 4. You may need extra route or maritime rights.
- How you get it
- You take theory on navigation, rules and waterways, plus practical handling on a boat or approved simulator.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Sportküstenschifferschein · Coastal yacht skipper certificate
From 16- What it lets you do
- This optional private-yacht qualification covers waters within 12 nautical miles of the mainland coast, with motor or motor-and-sail endorsements.
- How you get it
- You complete a written questionnaire and chart work, 90 minutes each, with a possible oral follow-up, then a practical yacht-handling test.
- Where to study
- Read the guideStudy it in Academy
Sportseeschifferschein · Offshore yacht skipper certificate
From 16- What it lets you do
- You can use private yachts within 30 nautical miles of mainland coasts, and on the North, Baltic, Mediterranean, Black, Irish and Scottish Seas and the English and Bristol Channels.
- How you get it
- Your written navigation, law, weather and seamanship sections each need 65%; an oral follow-up is possible at 55% to under 65%. You also take a practical yacht test.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Sporthochseeschifferschein · Ocean yacht skipper certificate
From 18
- What it lets you do
- This optional private-yacht qualification covers all seas worldwide, with motor or motor-and-sail endorsements.
- How you get it
- Your written navigation, law and weather sections each need 65%; an oral follow-up is possible at 55% to under 65%. You also show oral yacht handling and sextant handling, with no practical yacht test.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Zusatzeintrag zum Sportsee- oder Sporthochseeschifferschein zum Führen von Traditionsschiffen · Traditional-ship skipper endorsement
From 20- What it lets you do
- You can operate traditional ships from 25 to 55 metres. Your underlying SSS or SHS sets the sailing area and your sail or motor entitlement.
- How you get it
- An assessment commission reviews your required qualifications and documented experience.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
More exam guides
Sportbootführerschein See (SBF-See)
Der Sportbootführerschein See (SBF-See) ist der amtliche deutsche Führerschein für Sportboote mit Motorantrieb auf Seeschifffahrtsstraßen; die Pflicht richtet sich nach den geltenden Regeln zu Antriebsleistung und Gewässerbereich.
Sportbootführerschein Binnen (SBF-Binnen)
Der Sportbootführerschein Binnen (SBF-Binnen) ist die Fahrerlaubnis für Sportboote unter 20 Metern Länge auf den Binnenschifffahrtsstraßen des Bundes. Es gibt ihn für die Antriebsarten Antriebsmaschine und Segel, einzeln oder zusammen.
Professional deck titles
Kapitän NK 100
STCW II/3- What it lets you do
- You can be master on domestic voyages on ships under 100 GT and with 300 kW or less, up to 6 nm off Germany, and with no more than 12 passengers. This also covers Börteboote.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Nautischer Wachoffizier in der küstennahen Fahrt NWO 500
STCW II/3- What it lets you do
- You can be a navigational watch officer on ships under 500 GT in the legally defined near-coastal trading area.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Kapitän in der küstennahen Fahrt NK 500
STCW II/3- What it lets you do
- You can be master of ships under 500 GT in the legally defined near-coastal trading area.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Nautischer Wachoffizier NWO
STCW II/1- What it lets you do
- You can be a navigational watch officer on merchant ships, or chief mate on merchant ships under 3,000 GT.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Erster Offizier NEO
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can be chief mate on merchant ships without a tonnage restriction.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Kapitän NK
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can be master of merchant ships without a tonnage restriction.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Radio certificates
UKW-Sprechfunkzeugnis für den Binnenschifffahrtsfunk (UBI)
- What it lets you do
- You can operate and supervise inland VHF ship stations. UBI alone does not authorise GMDSS operation.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Beschränkt gültiges Funkbetriebszeugnis (SRC)
SRC- What it lets you do
- You can use VHF voice and VHF GMDSS on recreational vessels.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Allgemeines Funkbetriebszeugnis (LRC)
LRC- What it lets you do
- You can use recreational GMDSS radio, including VHF, MF, HF and maritime satellite communications.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
UKW-Betriebszeugnis für Funker (UBZ)
- What it lets you do
- You can operate VHF voice and VHF GMDSS equipment in German sea areas.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Beschränkt Gültiges Betriebszeugnis für Funker (ROC)
ROC- What it lets you do
- You can operate maritime VHF voice stations and VHF GMDSS equipment.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Allgemeines Betriebszeugnis für Funker (GOC)
GOC- What it lets you do
- You can operate maritime voice and satellite ship stations, as well as all GMDSS equipment.
- 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: Federal Ministry of Justice / Federal Office of Justice — Sportbootführerscheinverordnung (SpFV) · Federal Ministry of Justice / Federal Office of Justice — Binnenschiffspersonalverordnung, §§15, 15a, 39–40 · Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, ELWIS — Sportseeschifferscheinverordnung and exam guidelines · Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, ELWIS — Rheinschiffspersonalverordnung and German implementing regulation · Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, ELWIS — Binnenschifffahrt-Sportbootvermietungsverordnung, §9 and Annexes 4–6 · Landratsamt Bodenseekreis — Bodenseeschifferpatent, with official exam, visitor-permit and Hochrhein pages