Venezuela
- Who issues it
- Instituto Nacional de los Espacios Acuáticos (INEA) [National Institute of Aquatic Spaces].
- Minimum age
- 18 years
- Buoyage
- IALA region B
Do you need a licence?
INEA issues four recreational and sport-boat licences. Patrón applicants must be over 18. Exemptions based on boat size, engine power or speed could not be confirmed.
Patrón Deportivo de Tercera · Third-class recreational skipper
From 18
- What it lets you do
- Recreational/sport boats under 10 GRT in the issuing district, subject to Article 282's six-mile coastal restriction.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Patrón Deportivo de Segunda · Second-class recreational skipper
From 18- What it lets you do
- Recreational/sport boats under 40 GRT within the issuing aquatic district.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Patrón Deportivo de Primera · First-class recreational skipper
From 18
- What it lets you do
- Sport boats up to 150 GT in inland waters and jurisdictional waters between the Venezuelan coast, 13°N and 58°–72°W.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Capitán de Yate · Yacht captain
- What it lets you do
- Recreational/sport boats up to 300 GT, worldwide.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Professional deck titles
Patrón de Primera
- What it lets you do
- Master up to 500 GT in the Article 280 zone; passenger ships are limited to inland waters.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Capitán Costanero
- What it lets you do
- Master of ships of 500–3,000 GT within 7°–19°N, 58°–85°W; watchkeeping in that zone.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Tercer Oficial
- What it lets you do
- Deck officer on ships of any size worldwide.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Segundo Oficial
- What it lets you do
- Deck officer worldwide; chief mate below 3,000 GT; master up to 500 GT worldwide.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Primer Oficial
- What it lets you do
- Deck officer worldwide and master of ships up to 3,000 GT.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Capitán de Altura
- What it lets you do
- Master of ships of any size worldwide.
- 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: Gaceta Oficial Nº 6.153 Extraordinario — Ley de Marinas y Actividades Conexas, 18 November 2014, Articles 245–282 (FAOLEX official repository) · National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — Sailing Directions, Publication 140, Venezuela: Buoyage System (official indexed text)