Union certificate of qualification as a boatmaster (large licence)
Do you work in commercial shipping on Dutch inland waterways? With a Union certificate of qualification as a boatmaster, you are authorised to operate all types of vessels for commercial purposes. Do you operate only certain types of vessels or on certain inland waterways? If so, you may need a specific certificate or permit.
Union certificate of qualification as a boatmaster
You need a Union certificate of qualification as a boatmaster (EU kwalificatiecertificaat schipper) if you want to sail on Dutch rivers, canals, and lakes with:
- vessels of 20 metres or longer
- vessels with a volume of 100 m3 or more
- passenger vessels
- floating equipment
and tug and push boats:
- for vessels of 20 metres or more
- with a volume of 100 m3 or more
- of floating equipment
- which carry vessels of 20 metres or more linked alongside
- which carry vessels of 100 m3 or more in volume linked alongside
- which carry floating equipment linked alongside
You can apply for the Union certificate of qualification as a boatmaster (in Dutch) to the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen, CBR). You need to have the right diplomas, a marine radio certificate, a recent medical certificate, and the required sailing time.
Large licence exchange
The Union certificate of qualification as a boatmaster replaces the Large Licence and the Rhine patent. You are still allowed to sail with a valid (conditional) large licence A or B or Rhine patent until 17 January 2032. You can exchange a valid Rhine Patent or an A or B large licence for a Union certificate of qualification as a boatmaster until January 2032 (in Dutch).
When to renew the Union certificate of qualification as a boatmaster
The Union certificate of qualification as a boatmaster is valid for 13 years. After that, you must renew the certificate with CBR (in Dutch). You must also renew the certificate when you turn 60, 65, and 70. Fromthe age of 70, you have to renew the certificate every two years.
Specific permit on the Union certificate of qualification
To sail the Dutch inland waters with certain vessels, you need to have specific permits added to your Union certificate:
- Specific permit maritime waters (Specifieke vergunning maritieme wateren, in Dutch) for sailing on inland waters, inlcuding Western Scheldt, Eastern Scheldt, Wadden Sea, Ems, Dollard, IJsselmeer, IJmeer and Markermeer.
- Specific permit for sailing on the Rhine (Specifieke vergunning voor het varen op de Rijn, in Dutch) for sailing a vessel on certain parts of the Rhine.
- Specific permit for sailing by radar (Specifieke vergunning voor het varen met behulp van radar, in Dutch) for sailing with a radar on all Dutch inland waterways and the entire Rhine.
Union certificate of qualification as a LNG expert
Does your ship use LNG as fuel? Then the skipper and all crew members involved in loading fuel (bunkering) must have a Union certificate of qualification as a LNG expert You can apply for the Union certificate of qualification as a LNG expert to CBR (in Dutch). You have to take an LNG course for this. The certificate is valid for 5 years, after which you must renew it.
Union certificate of qualification canal boat skipper
The union certificate of qualification canal boat skipper of the Amsterdam canal type, allows you to sail on all inland waterways of zone 3 (only with permission of the waterway authority) or zone 4. You can apply to the CBR for the certificate canal boat skipper of the Amsterdam canal type (in Dutch).
Exemption certificate exchange
You may continue to sail until 18 January 2032 with a valid exemption certificate for canal boat skippers of the Amsterdam canal type. The qualification certificate skipper of Amsterdam canal boats with limited sailing area replaces the exemption certificate. If your exemption certificate has expired and you renew it, you will receive the qualification certificate from the CBR.
Sailing licence
You must have a sailing licence if you sail on a sailing vessel:
- that is intended for commercial transport of more than 12 passengers,
- that is longer than 20 metres and intended for the commercial transport of passengers (does not matter how many),
- and you do not have a Union certificate qualification as a boatmaster.
You can apply for the sailing licence to the CBR (in Dutch). The sailing licence is valid for 13 years. After that, you must renew the certificate with CBR (in Dutch). You must also renew the certificate when you turn 60, 65, and 70. From the age of 70, you have to renew the certificate every two years.
Floating construction
A Union certificate of qualification as a boatmaster is obligatory for skippers or operators of floating constructions. Floating constructions and any other ships used for construction are to be subject to the same regulations as inland shipping vessels.
You can find more information on diplomas, documents, and licences at the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (CBR, in Dutch).