the pleasure craft operator certificate is a international valid licence.

The german Sportbootf�hrerschein includes this certificate - diveded in two parts: ... on inland waters or on the waterways navigable by sea-going ships

TRANS/SC.3/147 ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE INLAND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE
Working Party on Inland Water Transport Geneva International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft Resolution No. 40 (as rectified by Corrigendum 1) UNITED NATIONS New York and Geneva, 1998

INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE FOR OPERATORS OF PLEASURE CRAFT

Recalling the effectiveness of measures already taken by Governments and appointed bodies associated in international federations to regulate the issue of documents for operators of pleasure craft including bare boat charter vessels bound for the waters of foreign countries, Considering that there is a need to strengthen this action by the introduction of a European document;

1. Recommends the issue, on request and if the requirements set forth in annex 1 are satisfied, of an international certificate concerning the competence of operators of pleasure craft (�international certificate�) issued to its nationals or residents who are operators of pleasure craft bound for the waters of foreign countries by the competent authority or by bodies approved by Governments.
The international certificate should conform to the models in Annexes 2 or 3 to this resolution and should be made out in the official national language or languages, the title of the document being given, if possible, in two of the three languages English, French and Russian.
2. Requests Governments to inform the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe whether they accept this resolution and its annexes and, if so: (a) within their national shipping police regulations to recognize in their territory the documents issued by the competent authorities or by bodies approved by Governments of other countries, (b) to communicate to the secretariat: - the names of the competent authorities and/or the approved bodies; - the chosen format (Annex 2 or 3) of the international certificate; - that the documents are only issued if the applicant has proved that the requirements of Annex 1 are satisfied; - the procedure for the issue of the international certificate; - the outline police regulations applying to visiting operators of pleasure craft, in particular the limits of recognition of the international certificate.
4. Requests the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe to place the application of this resolution on the agenda of the Working Party on Inland Water Transport every year, to keep the list of the countries applying this resolution up-to-date for the Working Party=s sessions and to supplement or amend the annexes thereto, as necessary.

Requirements for the issue of an international certificate for operators of pleasure craft I. Issue of an international certificate conforming to Annex 2 or 3

1. Upon presentation of an official national certificate of competence its holder can, on request, obtain an international certificate of the country that has issued the national certificate without having to pass another examination, if the requirements of part II of this annex are satisfied.
2. In cases other than those referred to in paragraph 1 an international certificate can be issued to the applicant in accordance with the requirements of part II of this annex only after he/she has successfully passed an examination.

II. Requirements

1. For the issue of an international certificate the applicant must

(a) have reached the age of 16,
(b) be physically and mentally fit to operate a pleasure craft, and in particular, must have sufficient powers of vision and hearing,
(c) have successfully passed an examination to prove the necessary competence for pleasure craft operation.

2. The applicant has to prove in an examination

(a) sufficient knowledge of the regulations concerning pleasure craft operation and nautical and technical knowledge required for safe navigation on inland waters and/or coastal waters and
(b) the ability to apply this knowledge in practice.

3. This examination shall be held with regard to the zones of navigation (i.e. inland waters and/or coastal waters) and must include at least the following specific subjects:

3.1 Sufficient knowledge of the relevant regulations and nautical publications: Traffic regulations applicable on inland waters, in particular CEVNI (European Code for Inland Waterways), and/or in coastal waters, in particular the Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, including aids to navigation (marking and buoyage of waterways),

3.2 Ability to apply the nautical and technical knowledge in practice:

a) General knowledge of craft, use and carriage of safety equipment and serviceability of the engine/sails,
(b) Operating the craft and understanding the influence of wind, current, interaction and limited keel clearance,
(c) Conduct during meeting and overtaking other vessels,
(d) Anchoring and mooring under all conditions,
(e) Manoeuvring in locks and ports,
(f) General knowledge of weather conditions,
(g) General knowledge of navigation, in particular establishing a position and deciding a safe course.

3.3 Conduct under special circumstances:

(a) Principles of accident prevention (e.g. man over board manoeuvre),
(b) Action in case of collisions, engine failure and running aground, including the sealing of a leak, assistance in cases of emergency,
(c) Use of lifesaving devices and equipment,
(d) Fire prevention and fire fighting,
(e) Avoiding water pollution.