Iceland
- Who issues it
- Samgöngustofa [Icelandic Transport Authority]
- Minimum age
- 16 years
- Buoyage
- IALA region A
- Collision rules
- Alþjóðasiglingareglur
Do you need a licence?
Yes, you need a recreational skipper's licence from 6 metres of registered length.
You don't need one for:
- a recreational boat below 6 metres of registered length
The minimum licence age is 16. From 24 metres, professional skipper qualifications apply, and your certificate must cover the boat type and navigation area.
Skemmtibátaskírteini – strandsigling og sigling á takmörkuðu farsviði · Pleasure craft certificate – coastal and restricted waters
From 16
- What it lets you do
- You can use boats under 24 metres registered length in coastal or restricted waters. Coastal means within 50 nautical miles of land, with sail or motor categories endorsed.
- How you get it
- Your theory minimums are 7 in navigation and collision rules, 5 in other subjects, and 6 overall. An examiner assesses you in a practical test.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Skemmtibátaskírteini – sigling á ám, vötnum og vatnaleiðum innan Evrópu · Pleasure craft certificate – European inland waterways
From 16- What it lets you do
- You can use boats under 24 metres registered length on European rivers, lakes and inland waterways. It is valid for the endorsed sail category, motor category, or both.
- How you get it
- You take CEVNI theory and a boat practical. If you already hold an Icelandic ICC, you can add inland waters by passing CEVNI theory.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Skemmtibátaskírteini – ótakmarkað farsvið, úthafssiglingar · Pleasure craft certificate – unrestricted ocean navigation
From 16
- What it lets you do
- You can use boats under 24 metres registered length on unrestricted ocean voyages, for the endorsed sail category, motor category, or both.
- How you get it
- You take theory and a boat practical for ocean navigation. Unrestricted professional qualifications can exempt motorboat applicants.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Professional deck titles
Aðstoðarmaður í brú
STCW II/4- What it lets you do
- You can work as a rating forming part of a navigational watch.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Sérhæfður þilfarsliði
STCW II/5- What it lets you do
- You can work as an able seafarer qualified for deck duties.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Stýrimaður / yfirstýrimaður / skipstjóri í strandsiglingum
STCW II/3- What it lets you do
- You can serve as coastal mate, chief mate or master on ships under 24 m near Iceland or under 500 GT. The legacy 65 GT class is also included.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Yfirmaður siglingavaktar
STCW II/1- What it lets you do
- You can be the officer responsible for a navigational watch, with no tonnage limits.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Yfirstýrimaður
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can serve as chief mate in the 500–3,000 GT class or at unlimited tonnage, depending on your certificate.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Skipstjóri
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can be master in the 500–3,000 GT class or at unlimited tonnage, depending on your certificate.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Radio certificates
Takmörkuð réttindi talstöðvarvarðar
- What it lets you do
- You can hold the radiotelephone certificate listed for vessels under 24 m in STK and A1 under Regulation 53/2000.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Almennt talstöðvarvarðarskírteini
- What it lets you do
- You can hold the radiotelephone certificate listed for vessels under 24 m in STK, A1 and A2 under Regulation 53/2000.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Takmarkað skírteini fjarskiptamanns (ROC)
ROC- What it lets you do
- You can carry out GMDSS radio operations in sea area A1 and Iceland's restricted coastal area, STK.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Almennt skírteini fjarskiptamanns (GOC)
GOC- What it lets you do
- You can carry out radio operations in GMDSS sea areas A2, A3 and A4.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Ready to study for it?
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Official sources: Reglugerðasafn — Regulation 944/2020, Articles 17 and 20 (current consolidated text) · Samgöngustofa — Spurningar og svör vegna skipstjórnarskírteina á skemmtibáta (July 2021) · Reglugerðasafn — Regulation 676/2015, Annex II, Table I and transitional provision IV · Reglugerðasafn — Regulation 53/2000, Articles 15 and 24 (radio operator certificates) · Siglingastofnun Íslands / Samgöngustofa — Siglingareglur: Alþjóðasiglingareglur · US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — Sailing Directions, Pub. 180, Arctic Ocean (2026), Iceland: Buoyage System