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

Nautical certificates of competency in Germany for non-recreational inland and seagoing navigation are the professional qualifications required under German law to serve as vessel master or deck officer in inland navigation and merchant shipping. Inland navigation and seagoing navigation are regulated separately. Inland navigation qualifications are governed mainly by the Binnenschiffspersonalverordnung (BinSchPersV) and, on the Rhine, by the Rheinschiffspersonalverordnung (RheinSchPersV). Seagoing merchant-shipping qualifications are governed mainly by the Seeleute-Befähigungsverordnung (See-BV), which implements the STCW Convention.

Legal framework

Inland-navigation certificates are issued within the framework of the BinSchPersV and Directive (EU) 2017/2397. On the Rhine, separate personnel regulations apply under the RheinSchPersV.

Seagoing certificates are issued under the See-BV by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH).

Inland navigation

Types of certificates

In inland navigation, a distinction is made between boatmaster certificates, national certificates for specific vessel categories, and additional special authorizations.

Boatmaster certificates

• Union Certificate of Competence (Unionspatent)

Entitles the holder to command inland vessels on waterways falling under the BinSchPersV, in particular Zones 3 and 4, and constitutes the standard professional boatmaster qualification under EU law.

• Rhine Patent (Rheinpatent)

Entitles the holder to command vessels on the Rhine under the RheinSchPersV.

National certificates for specific vessel categories

• small craft license (Kleinschifferzeugnis)

Entitles the holder to command commercial inland vessels up to 20 metres in length where no Union certificate or higher qualification is required.

• small passenger vessel operator certificate (Kleinschifferzeugnis für kleine Fahrgastschiffe)

Entitles the holder to command passenger vessels of less than 35 metres in length carrying not more than 150 passengers on federal waterways outside the Rhine.

• ferry operator certificate (Fährschifferzeugnis)

Entitles the holder to operate ferries only on the specific ferry crossing entered in the certificate.

• Government Vessel Operator Certificate (Behördenschifferzeugnis)

Entitles the holder to command government vessels, fire boats and civil-protection craft on inland waterways of Zones 3 and 4.

• Government Vessel Operator License (Behördenpatent)

Entitles the holder to command government vessels and fire boats on the Rhine.

Additional special authorizations

• special authorization for radar navigation (besondere Berechtigung für Radar)

Required in addition to a boatmaster certificate to navigate a vessel using radar.

Seagoing navigation

Types of certificates

Seagoing certification distinguishes between unrestricted certificates for worldwide merchant service and restricted certificates for near-coastal or national service.

Unrestricted certificates

• Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW) (Nautischer Wachoffizier (NWO))

Entitles the holder to serve as officer in charge of a navigational watch on seagoing vessels in the unrestricted merchant fleet.

• Chief Officer (Erster Offizier (NEO))

Entitles the holder to serve as chief mate on seagoing vessels in the unrestricted merchant fleet.

• Master (Kapitän (NK))

Entitles the holder to serve as master on seagoing vessels in the unrestricted merchant fleet.

Restricted certificates

• Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW) (500 GT) (Nautischer Wachoffizier in der küstennahen Fahrt (BRZ 500))

Entitles the holder to serve as officer in charge of a navigational watch on seagoing vessels of less than 500 gross tonnage in near-coastal service.

• Master (500 GT) (Kapitän in der küstennahen Fahrt (BRZ 500))

Entitles the holder to serve as master on seagoing vessels of less than 500 gross tonnage in near-coastal service.

• Master (100 GT) (Kapitän nationale Fahrt (BRZ 100))

Entitles the holder to serve as master on German-flagged vessels in national service within six nautical miles from the coast, with less than 100 gross tonnage and limited passenger capacity.

Distinction between inland and seagoing navigation

Inland-navigation certificates and seagoing certificates are legally separate systems. Inland certificates apply to inland waterways and, where applicable, to the Rhine. Seagoing certificates apply to merchant shipping under the STCW-based German maritime system.

See also

• List of recreational boating certificates in Germany