By: Riviera Sea School, Your Sea School in the South of France (contact)
What is an ICC (International Certificate of competence)?
An RYA ICC is documentary assurance from the United Kingdom government to another that confirms that the holder has reached a certain level of competence. It should be noted that this is not a qualification in its own right and certification or training must first be obtained prior to applying for the ICC.
In general terms an ICC is required for Inland waterways of Europe and for Inland and Coastal waters of Mediterranean countries. Although it is not guaranteed that the ICC will be accepted by all countries it is a reliable document to possess and carry with you when traveling in foreign waters as it is generally accepted where proof of competence is required. Some countries may also accept the ICC as an alternative to their national qualification, this however should never be assumed and we recommend always checking with the local authorities before visiting the area.
Are you eligible?
The RYA rule sate:
“This certificate is available only to British citizens and bona fide British Residents over the age of 16. Evidence of residency for non-citizens will be required in the form of a photocopy of a driving licence, utility bill, Council Tax bill or bank statement etc. Further authenticated evidence of residency for non-citizens may be required. The ICC is acceptable for British citizens or residents using a British flagged vessel for leisure. Other countries may accept the ICC for their native flagged vessels.”
How can I get my ICC?
For the purpose of this article we will discuss the two most common types of ICC:
For power driven vessels up to 10m in length and navigating in coastal waters
In order to obtain your ICC for the above you have two options:
1. Complete your Powerboat Level II course – this is a two day course, which upon successful completion you will be awarded with your Powerboat Level II certificate.
2. Undertake an RYA Powerboat Level II Direct Assessment – this is an assessment of ones current skills, full and half day assessments can be carried out depending on the experience of the participant. Please contact us to discuss your eligibility for this option. If the participant meets the criteria set out in the Powerboat Level II course syllabus you will be awarded with your Powerboat Level II certificate.
Power driven vessels up to 24m in length navigation in coastal waters
Again, you have two options:
1. Complete the RYA Day Skipper practical course, this is a 4 day course which upon successful completion you will be awarded with you Day Skipper Course Completion certificate.
2. Undertake an assessment – here at RSS we generally run 1,2 or 3 day bespoke training courses which will include the ICC assessment upon completion. Please contact us to discuss your suitability for this option.
The Inland (CEVNI) endorsement
The CEVNI test is a short (10-15 min) multiple choice exam that you will be required to take if you wish to navigate European Inland Waterways. Upon successful completion of the exam you will be able complete the necessary parts of your ICC application to obtain this endorsement.
Further Information
The ICC application is free to all RYA members but there will be a fee of 39 GBP to non-members. To become a member of the RYA there will be a fee of around 35 GBP.
If you require your ICC in a hurry you can pay a small fee to the RYA for an express service which will ensure you receive your ICC within two working days of the date they received it.
Your ICC will last for 5 years after which you will be required to renew it. This will involve just a paperwork exercise, you will not need to be re-examined!
When using your ICC as evidence of competency, if you find that regulations or practices differ from those outlined in these pages please e-mail us with your experiences. We aim to keep our customers furnished with the most up to date and relevant information, details of your personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.
For further information on obtaining your International Certificate of Competence, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the RSS team, contact us.