Offshore license

When do you need an offshore extension sea license?

• To operate motorboats, day and night, with an engine power greater than 6 HP, beyond 6 nautical miles from a safe haven.

• To be able to take your sailing license, i.e. the offshore extension sea boat license, you must already hold the coastal sea boat license.

How does the offshore extension boat license training take place?

• The offshore extension boat license training does not include any practical on-water training.

• Theoretical courses take place at our premises, either as evening classes or half-day sessions.

• The training is based on 12 to 20 hours of coursework.

• The theoretical exam takes place during the week at the administration’s premises. The exam lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes and consists of chart-based problems and multiple-choice questions (MCQs).

What is the offshore pleasure boat license used for?

The offshore sea license is an extension of the coastal license. You must therefore have passed the coastal license to be eligible for the offshore license. It authorizes its holder to operate a pleasure motorboat with an engine power greater than 6 horsepower beyond six nautical miles from a safe haven.

Clarification on the notion of a safe haven

For legislators, the term “safe haven” refers to a place where a vessel can either dock or anchor safely and depart again without assistance.

According to this definition, the notion of a safe haven can vary depending on weather conditions. Indeed, a bay that is sheltered at a given time may no longer be so a few hours later if the wind changes direction. It is therefore up to the boater to assess the quality of the chosen haven based on the evolution of wind and sea conditions.

Although it is not mandatory to operate a sailboat, the offshore sea license can be useful for boaters who wish to deepen their knowledge of maritime regulations, with a specialization in chart navigation. Holding an offshore sea license is a real asset when renting a sailboat.

How does the offshore extension boat license training take place?

The offshore extension boat license training does not include any practical on-water training.

Theoretical courses take place at our premises, either as evening classes or half-day sessions. The training is based on 12 to 20 hours of coursework.

The theoretical exam takes place during the week at the administration’s premises.

The exam lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes. It consists of chart-based problem solving and a multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ).

What is the program for the offshore extension boat license?

The theoretical program includes:

• Reading and interpreting a nautical chart
• Fixing a position using several bearings or alignments and plotting it on the chart;
• Calculating various parameters useful for navigation such as variation, wind drift, current drift, compass heading, true heading, and course over ground
• Dead reckoning navigation
• Identifying lighthouses
• Becoming familiar with the use of electronic navigation aids and their precautions for use
• Calculating tides relative to a main port using the rule of twelfths
• Knowing how to simply interpret a marine weather chart and understand the symbols used
• Knowing the mandatory safety equipment required beyond 6 nautical miles.

Where can you take the license?

Since the offshore sea license is purely theory-based, several schools offer this training, even outside coastal areas.

How much does it cost?

Expect around €400 depending on the training organization.

Note: the offshore license is an extension of the coastal license and does not include the fees incurred for the latter.