ICC Licence Explained: What You Need to Charter a Yacht in Europe

If you want to bareboat charter in Europe, "do I need a licence?" is not a yes/no question. It depends on the country, the boat, the engine size, and which certificate you actually hold. Let's untangle it.

What the ICC actually is

The International Certificate of Competence is a UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) document defined by Resolution 40. It's a recognition scheme, not a qualification in itself. Your home country issues an ICC based on your existing sailing/boating credentials.

The UK (through the RYA), Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, and several other European countries can issue ICCs. The US and Australia do not, they issue their own national certificates which are often accepted as ICC-equivalent by foreign authorities.

Where it's required

Mandatory for bareboat charter:

• Croatia: ICC or Croatian boat licence (class B for inshore, class C for offshore) + VHF radio licence. Enforced.
• Italy: Patente nautica for Italian-flagged charter yachts; ICC generally accepted on non-Italian flagged. Enforced.
• Greece: ICC or equivalent + VHF. Enforced.
• France: Permis Plaisance or equivalent. Enforced.
• Turkey: similar requirements (ICC accepted). Less consistent enforcement.
• Spain: PER (Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo) or ICC. Enforced, especially Balearics.

Not required (but chartered as skippered in practice):

• UK: no formal licence required to charter (but almost every broker requires Day Skipper evidence)
• Most of Northern Europe: varies by inland vs coastal waters

Accepted equivalents to the ICC

Most European charter operators accept:

• RYA Day Skipper Practical (UK), the most common credential; de facto ICC.
• RYA Coastal Skipper Practical
• ICC Coastal, issued by the RYA for existing qualifications
• ASA 104 Bareboat Chartering (US), generally accepted; some operators want ASA 103 + 104 bundle
• USCG OUPV / 100 GRT / 6-pack, accepted by Croatian authorities and most European operators
• Croatian Class B / Class C boating licence
• German SBF See + SKS / SSS
• Dutch CWO III / IV
• French Permis Côtier / Hauturier
• Italian Patente Nautica entro 12 miglia / senza limiti

Additional requirement in most countries: a VHF radio operator certificate (SRC, Marine GMDSS, or local equivalent). Some operators waive this in practice; authorities spot-checking do not.

What "accepted" actually means in practice

When you book a charter, the operator asks for:

1. A copy of your licence (photo or scan), front and back
2. A copy of your VHF cert
3. Sometimes a sailing CV (mileage log, previous bareboats)

On arrival you present originals to the handover skipper. In Croatia, coast-guard patrols can board and check, it's infrequent but it happens. Operating without proper papers voids your contract, insurance, and security deposit. Fines ~€500-2,000.

Who actually needs this

If you plan to skipper the boat yourself, yes. No exceptions.

If you plan to hire a professional skipper, no. The skipper's licence covers the boat; your crew can be complete landlubbers.

How to get an ICC (UK route)

The cleanest path for most English-speakers:

1. RYA Day Skipper Theory, 40 hours of online or classroom study, covers navigation, weather, Colregs. £350-500.
2. RYA Day Skipper Practical, 5 days on a boat with an instructor. £600-900. You come out qualified to skipper up to 20 m in tidal coastal waters by day.
3. Apply for ICC via RYA, free if you have the Day Skipper Practical. Turnaround ~2 weeks.
4. Short Range Certificate (SRC) VHF, 1-day course + £70 exam fee.

Total cost: £1,200-1,600. Total time: ~7 days of training spread over 6-12 weeks.

How to get a Croatian Class B licence (fast track)

If you just want to charter in Croatia and don't care about UK-qualification clout:

• Book a 5-7 day licence course in Split/Trogir with a school (Croatia Yacht Service, Sea the World, etc.)
• Theory exam + on-water assessment
• Cost: ~€300-500 all-in
• Valid in Croatia plus accepted in most of the Mediterranean as an ICC-equivalent

Fastest route to a legal bareboat.

US to Europe: what works

American citizens who want to charter in Europe usually go one of three routes:

1. USCG 6-pack: already have it for work? Perfect, accepted almost everywhere.
2. ASA 103 + 104 bundle: the American Sailing Association's bareboat track. Widely accepted.
3. IYT International Bareboat Skipper: more explicitly international-branded.

Bring the original licence plus VHF GMDSS certificate. A letter from the issuing school on letterhead helps if Croatian authorities are being picky.

Sailing CV: what it actually shows

Beyond the licence, operators increasingly ask for a "sailing CV", a 1-page document showing:

• Your ICC / equivalent
• Boats you've skippered (make, length, dates)
• Total miles sailed
• Areas cruised (Med, Atlantic, UK coast, etc.)

You don't need to be a world sailor, 3-4 previous week-long charters in the Med is enough for most operators to release a 45 ft bareboat. For larger boats (>50 ft) or catamarans, they want more specific evidence.

The grey areas

• Sub-6 m boats, sub-15 HP engines: many European countries don't require a licence. Doesn't apply to charter yachts.
• "Inland" vs "coastal" ICC, if your licence says "inland only" (Rhine, Dutch canals), you cannot charter coastal Croatia. Get the coastal endorsement.
• Power-only licences: an ICC Power doesn't cover sail, and vice versa. Charter operators checking sailboats want the sail endorsement.

FAQ

Q: I've chartered in the Caribbean with a friend's boat and no licence ever asked, do European rules apply differently? Yes. Caribbean bareboat operators (The Moorings, Sunsail) accept self-declaration of experience in many island nations. Europe is stricter, Croatian coast guard does not care about your Caribbean adventures.

Q: If my partner has the licence and I don't, can we both sail? Legally, the licensed skipper is responsible for the boat. Day-to-day you can take turns at the wheel, but if something goes wrong (accident, insurance claim), it's the licensed person's liability.

Q: What if I lost my licence card? Your issuing body can provide a replacement (RYA: £25, 2-week turnaround). A scan alone may not be accepted at handover, bring the physical card.

Q: Is there a single European boating licence I could get? Not really. The ICC is the closest thing, but it's a recognition scheme, not a unified licence. Each country's enforcement varies.

Q: My ICC expires, does it matter? ICCs issued by the RYA have no expiry. Some national licences do. Check yours before travel.

Q: Does my yacht club membership count as a licence? No.