Kapitän (NK)

The Kapitän (NK) is a German certificate of competency for service as master in the deck department of seagoing ships. It forms part of the German system of professional maritime qualifications and is issued under the Seeleute-Befähigungsverordnung (See-BV). Under section 29 of the ordinance, Kapitän NK is listed as one of the certificates of competency for the nautical service.

Legal basis

The legal basis of the Kapitän (NK) certificate is the German Seeleute-Befähigungsverordnung (See-BV), which implements the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) in German law. The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) is the competent authority responsible for maritime certificates of competency in Germany.

Scope

Under section 29 of the See-BV, the certificate Kapitän NK is the master-level certificate within the nautical service. The same provision also lists the subordinate certificates Nautischer Wachoffizier and Erster Offizier and states that the higher certificates include the powers of the lower ones.

BSH publications and official notices also refer to Kapitän NK as a current certificate category, including in notices concerning eligibility for German sea pilot training, where possession of a valid Kapitän NK certificate without restriction is used as a formal requirement.

Requirements

According to section 29 of the See-BV, a candidate for the Kapitän NK certificate must, in addition to the seagoing service required for the lower certificates, complete further seagoing service in the deck department and meet the professional requirements laid down in the ordinance.

The same section distinguishes between the unrestricted Kapitän NK certificate and limited certificates for near-coastal service, such as Kapitän NK 500.

Examination

The requirements for obtaining the certificate are governed by the examination and training framework established by the See-BV. These include demonstration of competence in navigation, ship command, safety, and related operational duties in accordance with the standards for the nautical service.

Administration

The Kapitän (NK) certificate is issued within the German maritime certification system under the supervision of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH). BSH provides the official administrative framework for the issue, recognition, and extension of validity of maritime certificates of competency.

Position in the German certification system

The Kapitän (NK) certificate belongs to the professional maritime qualification framework and is distinct from recreational boating certificates such as the Sportbootführerschein See, the Sportseeschifferschein, and the Sporthochseeschifferschein.

Within the German nautical certification system, it is the certificate above Nautischer Wachoffizier and Erster Offizier and represents the master-level qualification in the deck department for seagoing service.

See also

• Nautical certificates of competency in Germany for commercial inland and seagoing navigation