French Polynesia
- Who issues it
- Direction polynésienne des affaires maritimes (DPAM) [Polynesian Directorate of Maritime Affairs].
- Minimum age
- 16 years
- Buoyage
- IALA region A
- Collision rules
- RIPAM (Règlement international pour prévenir les abordages en mer)
Do you need a licence?
In PF's internal and territorial waters, French-flagged motor pleasure boats over 6 hp need a licence, issued from 16. Sailboats with auxiliary engines and motorboats up to 6 hp are exempt. From 14, accompanied driving is allowed within a companion's licence limits if held for at least 3 years.
Carte mer · Sea card
From 16
- What it lets you do
- Motor pleasure boats over 6 hp and no more than 2 gross register tons; daylight only, less than 5 nautical miles from shelter.
- How you get it
- 10-minute theory: 15 multiple-choice questions, at most 2 errors; practical test after passing theory.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Permis mer côtier · Coastal sea licence
From 16- What it lets you do
- Motor pleasure boats over 6 hp, day or night, up to 5 nautical miles from shelter.
- How you get it
- 15-minute theory: 20 multiple-choice questions, at most 3 errors; practical examination after passing theory.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Permis mer hauturier · Offshore sea licence
From 16- What it lets you do
- Motor pleasure boats over 6 hp, day or night, without a distance limit.
- How you get it
- 90-minute navigation test: at least 10/20 overall and 7/14 on chartwork. Without a coastal/A licence, also take coastal theory and practical tests.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
More exam guides
Permis bateau en Polynésie française : côtier et hauturier
Le permis mer côtier permet de naviguer de jour comme de nuit jusqu’à 5 milles nautiques d’un abri. Le permis mer hauturier permet de naviguer au-delà, sans limite de distance. Ces permis concernent la plaisance à moteur, pas la navigation professionnelle.
Professional deck titles
Certificat de matelot de quart passerelle
STCW II/4- What it lets you do
- Deck rating forming part of a navigational watch, including on ships of 500 GT or more.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificat de marin qualifié pont
STCW II/5- What it lets you do
- Able seafarer deck: watchkeeping and specialised deck duties, including on ships of 500 GT or more.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Brevet de capitaine 200
STCW II/3- What it lets you do
- Master of merchant ships below 200 GT, within 20 nautical miles of the coast.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Brevet de capitaine 500
STCW II/3- What it lets you do
- Master of merchant ships below 500 GT, within 200 nautical miles of the coast.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Brevet d'officier chef de quart passerelle
STCW II/1- What it lets you do
- Officer in charge of a navigational watch on merchant ships, without a tonnage ceiling.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Brevet de capitaine 3000
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- Master of merchant ships below 3,000 GT, without a coastal distance restriction.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Radio certificates
Certificat restreint de radiotéléphoniste du service mobile maritime (CRR)
SRC- What it lets you do
- Maritime radio; the Polynesian syllabus covers VHF, MF/HF and DSC.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificat spécial d'opérateur (CSO)
- What it lets you do
- GMDSS in all sea areas, restricted to the vessel types and voyages listed in national rules.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificat restreint d'opérateur (CRO)
ROC- What it lets you do
- Professional GMDSS radio in sea area A1; additional fishing-vessel privileges apply.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificat général d'opérateur (CGO)
GOC- What it lets you do
- Professional GMDSS radio operation in all sea areas.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Certificat de radioélectronicien de 1re classe du service mobile maritime et du service mobile maritime par satellite (CR1)
- What it lets you do
- GMDSS radio operation and maintenance of GMDSS installations in all sea areas.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Ready to study for it?
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Official sources: DPAM — Arrêté n° 668 AM du 8 juillet 1993, consolidated: recreational motorboat driving in French Polynesia · DPAM — Arrêté n° 1527 CM du 14 septembre 2009, consolidated: Carte mer, coastal and offshore examinations · Ministère chargé de la mer — Formation professionnelle maritime: national certificates and STCW rules · Légifrance — Décret n° 2015-723, Annexe II: professional deck and radio certificate privileges · ANFR — Manuel de préparation du CRR maritime, Polynésie française · Légifrance — Arrêté du 30 novembre 2017: maritime buoyage system, Annexe I, section 2.2