Some of our members have asked me if they need to have any documentary evidence of competence when going abroad.
In some countries the answer is definitely “yes”. However, for our local cruises to France Holland & Belgium this is not so important & I have extracted the relevant information from the RYA website relevant to those countries that we will be visiting in the future.
For the full details log on to the RYA website at: –
https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/boating-abroad/icc/Pages/acceptance-of-the-icc.aspx
RYA Advice
The RYA’s advice (intended for British recreational boaters) on where evidence of competence is necessary is based both on what we understand the law to say and boaters’ experiences in the country. The RYA recommends carrying the ICC as evidence of competence in other European countries, but you may find that other certificates are also acceptable in these countries.
In very general terms an ICC is recommended for the inland waterways of Europe and for inland and coastal waters of Mediterranean countries. For the coastal waters of Northern Europe, the ICC is generally not required, however to all of these generalisations there are exceptions.
| Belgium | Coastal: not required
Inland: ICC required for vessels over 15m in length or capable of more than 20km/h (approx. 11 knots), otherwise not required |
| France | Coastal: not required (although useful in the Mediterranean)
Inland: required for most inland waters. ICC recommended as it demonstrates knowledge of the CEVNI regulations |
| Netherlands | Coastal: not required
Inland: ICC required for vessels over 15m in length or capable of more than 20km/h (approx. 11 knots), otherwise not required ^ |