Latvia
- Who issues it
- Ceļu satiksmes drošības direkcija (CSDD) [Road Traffic Safety Directorate] issues recreational licences; Latvijas Jūras administrācija, Jūrnieku reģistrs [Maritime Administration of Latvia, Registry of Seamen] issues professional and radio certificates. The sailing federation certifies racing skippers.
- Minimum age
- 16 years
- Buoyage
- IALA region A
- Collision rules
- 1972. gada Konvencija par starptautiskajiem kuģu sadursmju novēršanas noteikumiem (COLREG-72)
Do you need a licence?
Yes, for a motor or sail craft over 2.5 metres on inland or sea waters.
You don't need one for:
- an open rowing boat with oars or a motor up to 3.7 kW
- a pedal boat
- a surfboard
- a windsurfer
The minimum age is 16. Sport-built sail craft need sports certification, and a child under 14 in a rowing boat inland needs an adult present.
Atpūtas kuģu vadītāja apliecība — iekšējie ūdeņi · Recreational boat licence — inland waters
From 16
- What it lets you do
- You can use craft up to 12 metres with a sailing endorsement, a motor endorsement, or both, on Latvian inland waters and in the coastal strip of 3 kilometres.
- How you get it
- You take a computer theory test only: for sail or motor, 20 questions in 20 minutes with a maximum of 2 errors; for the combined test, 30 questions in 30 minutes with a maximum of 3 errors.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Atpūtas kuģu vadītāja apliecība — iekšējie ūdeņi un teritoriālā jūra · Recreational boat licence — inland and territorial waters
From 16- What it lets you do
- You can use craft up to 12 metres with a sailing endorsement, a motor endorsement, or both, on Latvian inland waters and at sea to the territorial boundary.
- How you get it
- After a safety course, you take a computer theory test only: for sail or motor, 30 questions in 30 minutes with a maximum of 3 errors; for the combined test, 40 questions in 40 minutes with a maximum of 4 errors.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Jahtu vadītājs iekšējos ūdeņos · Inland yacht skipper
From 16
- What it lets you do
- You can use sailing or motor craft up to 24 metres with the relevant endorsement, on inland waters including Latvia’s coastal strip of 3 kilometres.
- How you get it
- You complete a course, then pass all 10 theory questions and a chart task in up to 3 hours. You also take a practical boat-handling exam.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Jahtu vadītājs piekrastes ūdeņos · Coastal yacht skipper
From 16- What it lets you do
- You can use sailing or motor craft up to 24 metres with the relevant endorsement, on inland waters and at sea within 60 nautical miles of shore.
- How you get it
- You complete a course, then get 10 out of 10 in theory and complete a chart task in up to 3 hours. You take a practical test unless you already have an inland ICC, and need 500 nautical miles on the relevant craft type.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Jahtu kapteinis · Yacht captain
From 16- What it lets you do
- You can use sailing or motor craft up to 24 metres with the relevant endorsement, on inland waters and at sea within 150 nautical miles of shore.
- How you get it
- There is no new exam: you need a coastal yacht skipper ICC and evidence of 1,000 nautical miles at sea on the relevant craft type.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Tāljūras jahtu kapteinis · Ocean yacht captain
From 16
- What it lets you do
- You can use sailing or motor craft up to 24 metres with the relevant endorsement, in an unrestricted cruising area.
- How you get it
- There is no new exam: you need a yacht captain ICC and evidence of 2,000 nautical miles outside the Baltic Sea on the relevant craft type.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Burāšanas sacensību noteikumu “R” kvalifikācija · Sailing racing-rules qualification (R)
- What it lets you do
- This racing-rules qualification for sailing skippers is recorded as R on your skipper licence. It does not extend your cruising limits.
- How you get it
- You take a theory test on current World Sailing racing rules with 15 questions, and need at least 70% correct to pass.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Atpūtas kuģu vadītāju drošības pamatkurss · Recreational boat skipper basic safety course certificate
- What it lets you do
- This is added to your skipper licence for domestic commercial use: a national licence inland, or an ICC within its limits. Professional skippers are exempt.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Professional deck titles
Sardzes matrozis
STCW II/4- What it lets you do
- You can work as a deck rating with navigational watch duties.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Kvalificēts sardzes matrozis
STCW II/5- What it lets you do
- You can work as an able seafarer deck, including on navigational watch duties.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Sardzes stūrmanis uz kuģiem, mazākiem par 500 BT
STCW II/3- What it lets you do
- You can serve as a watchkeeping officer on ships under 500 GT in near-coastal navigation.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Sardzes stūrmanis uz kuģiem ar 500 BT un lielākiem
STCW II/1- What it lets you do
- You can serve as a watchkeeping officer in an unrestricted area. Your training programme may set tonnage limits.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Vecākais stūrmanis uz kuģiem ar 3000 BT un lielākiem
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can serve as chief mate on ships of any tonnage in an unrestricted area.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Kapteinis uz kuģiem ar 3000 BT un lielākiem (tālbraucējs kapteinis)
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can be master on ships of any tonnage in an unrestricted area.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Radio certificates
Piekrastes radio operators
SRC- What it lets you do
- You can act as a GMDSS operator in sea area A1 on non-SOLAS IV ships.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Tāljūras radio operators
LRC- What it lets you do
- You can act as a GMDSS operator in sea areas A1, A2 and A3 on non-SOLAS IV ships.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
GMDSS ierobežotais operators
ROC- What it lets you do
- You can work as a GMDSS operator in sea area A1, subject to endorsement.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
GMDSS universālais operators
GOC- What it lets you do
- You can work as a GMDSS operator in sea areas A1, A2, A3 and A4, subject to endorsement.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
GMDSS II klases radioelektroniķis
- What it lets you do
- You can serve as a class II radio-electronics officer in GMDSS sea areas A1, A2, A3 and A4, subject to endorsement.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
GMDSS I klases radioelektroniķis
- What it lets you do
- You can serve as a class I radio-electronics officer in GMDSS sea areas A1, A2, A3 and A4, subject to endorsement.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Ready to study for it?
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Official sources: Likumi.lv / Cabinet of Ministers — Noteikumi par atpūtas kuģu vadītāju apmācību, sertificēšanu un reģistrāciju (No. 619) · Likumi.lv / Cabinet of Ministers — Jūrnieku sertificēšanas noteikumi (No. 895), sections 20 and 41–51 · Likumi.lv / Saeima — Jūrlietu pārvaldes un jūras drošības likums, sections 11 and 59 · Likumi.lv / Cabinet of Ministers — Ceļu satiksmes drošības direkcijā reģistrējamo kuģošanas līdzekļu reģistrācijas kārtība (No. 213), section 2 · Likumi.lv / Cabinet of Ministers — Noteikumi par kuģošanas līdzekļu satiksmi iekšējos ūdeņos (No. 92), sections 9–12 · Latvijas Zēģelētāju savienība — Burāšanas sacensību noteikumu “R” kvalifikācijas sertificēšanas nolikums (7 March 2023)