Captain’s courses

Do you want to drive a boat?

I will show you how to do it and prepare you for the exam. Call 737 237 582

For how much?

3500,- CZK

Where?

Prague

Who?

Ing. Jiří Knap, 49

I have been actively involved in sailing since childhood. I first sat on a sailboat when I was 10 years old and at 14 I started gaining experience on a school tugboat. I gradually worked my way through all the positions – from lifeguard, to boatman and helmsman – until I obtained a captain’s license without restrictions for inland waterways. I also worked as a fireboat captain and subsequently obtained a concession for operating passenger shipping.

After years of active practice, I decided to pass on my experience and start courses for practical verification of knowledge for applicants for boating licenses.

All about the International Recreational Craft Boatmaster’s License

1. Introduction

Without a captain’s license, sailing is permitted in our country (on a river or other inland body of water):

• on a motorboat with an engine power of up to 4 kW (5 hp), when the total weight of the boat does not exceed 1000 kg – it is possible to drive such a boat from the age of 15. on a sailboat with up to 12 m2 of sail area, where the total weight including load does not exceed 1000 kg – without age restrictions.

To drive other vessels, you already need a captain’s license , which allows you to drive the boat in question. (Please note that this also applies to sailing on “motor-powered boards”, i.e. jetsurfs, similar to “submersible hoverboards”, i.e. eFoils, if such a vessel is equipped with an engine with a power of more than 4 kW. Then it is subject to mandatory registration in the register of small vessels, i.e. you already need a captain’s license for such vessels.

1. Basic types of ID cards

The Small Vessel Master’s License (abbreviated as VMP) is valid only for inland navigation in the Czech Republic.

 The International Recreational Craft Skipper’s Certificate  is an international certificate that is recognized on the basis of an international treaty. The abbreviation VMP – Small Craft Skipper’s Certificate has become common for international certificates.

In general, you will not have a problem with Czech international licenses, captains sail with them all over the world and, for example, all our licenses are recognized in Croatia.

• Conditions for issuing a VMP document

• The International Recreational Craft Operator’s License (VMP – the common abbreviation for Small /Recreational/ Craft Operator) is simply a boat driving license issued by the State Navigation Administration (SPS) and in order for the SPS to issue it to you, you need to pass the theoretical and, in some categories, the practical exams (just like with a classic driver’s license).
• The license exams take place at branches of the State Navigation Administration (Prague, Děčín, Přerov, Hluboká nad Vltavou, which is not a branch, but the exams are held there) where you answer the corresponding number of questions on a computer.
• The exam dates are published by the SPS and cannot be influenced in any way. Only the theoretical part of the exams is tested, not the practical part (therefore, for categories M and S, it is necessary to also submit the Verification of Practical Skills in Driving a Small Vessel with the application for the issuance of a navigation document to the SPS, no later than 2 weeks before the exam date).
• The exams themselves are time-limited and you must correctly answer the required number of questions for each category.

In order to pass the SPS exam, you need to fill out an Application for a Navigation Document, where you fill in:

• name and surname, date of birth, permanent address, email, telephone, select the VMP category you are interested in
• you don’t need a photo, the SPS will take it from the register of persons

The following must also be attached to the application:

• a medical certificate of medical fitness (in relation to the operation of a small vessel) according to the conditions of medical fitness; it is issued only by the general practitioner with whom the applicant is registered; the certificate must not be older than 3 months
• administrative fee 500 CZK
• Certificate of Verification of Practical Skills in Driving a Small Vessel issued by an authorized person together with the application for the issuance of a navigation document for applicants of categories M and S.  Verification of practical skills in driving a small vessel, i.e. the “practical exam”, is part of the course for these licenses. You will have this certificate, from me. (in case of a successful practical exam :))

• VMP category:
  •   Motorboats

Category M20 – To drive a vessel with up to 20 kW of engine power, it is necessary to have a category M20 license. (from 4 kW to 20 kW of engine power) – from 16 years of age.

Category M – To drive a vessel with a stronger engine power over 20 kW, it is necessary to have a category M license. (over 20 kW engine power – from 16 years of age – here it is necessary to provide a Verification of Practical Skills in Driving a Small Vessel for the test.

Category M24 – this category has a special status. It entitles you to operate a recreational vessel with a hull length of up to 24 m. Recognition of this category license can only be guaranteed in the Czech Republic, where the navigation rules for this vessel apply to the navigation of large vessels (“steamers”).

•   Sailing boat

category S20 . For sailing boats up to 20 m2 of sails (from 12 m2 to 20 m2 of sail area) – from 16 years old.

category S To drive a sailboat over 20 m2 of sails, then you need S – over 20 m2 of sail area – from 16 years old – here it is necessary to provide proof of practical skills in driving a small vessel for the test.

3.3 Steering a vessel at sea

To drive a vessel at sea, you need category C , which allows you to sail at sea  with restrictions up to 1 nautical mile = 1852 m from the coast and up to 4° Beaufort scale

The categories can be combined in various ways, with the base always being M20 or M, or M24. Additional categories can be added to this.

Examples of VMP certificates:

• M+C permits sailing with a motorboat of unlimited engine power inland, both in our country and abroad, and at sea up to 1 nautical mile from the coast.
• M+S permits sailing with a motorboat with unlimited engine power and a sailboat with unlimited sail size, but only in inland waters in our country and abroad.
• M+C+S permits sailing with a motorboat of unlimited engine power and a sailboat with unlimited sail size in inland waters in our country and abroad and at sea up to 1 nautical mile from the coast.
• Validity of cards

Based on the amendment to Act No. 372/2022 Coll. to Act No. 114/1995 Coll., on inland navigation, the validity of the certificate is determined by age limits (65 years and older) and is subject to the health fitness of the certificate holder. After the expiry of the validity period of the certificate of fitness, a new certificate will be issued based on an application (PDF) and upon submission of a valid medical opinion (PDF) , which must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.

5 Theoretical test conditions

• The basic part intended for categories M and M20 contains 5 test sheets with 7 questions each, a total of 35 questions. The questions are selected from questions from the subjects navigation, basic techniques and basic first aid. The time to complete the test is a maximum of 30 minutes. The test is evaluated by the number of points, 1 point is assigned for each correct answer. The candidate “passed” if he achieved at least 30 points.
• The supplementary part intended for categories S and S20 contains 2 test sheets of 7 questions each, a total of 14 questions. The questions are selected from a set of questions on the basics of sailboat construction, sailing theory and sailing techniques. The time to complete the test is a maximum of 10 minutes. The test is evaluated by the number of points, 1 point is awarded for each correct answer. The candidate “passed” if he achieved at least 11 points.
• Examination for area C – coastal navigation at sea: is intended for holders of at least category M or M20, optionally S or S20. The test contains 4 test sheets with 7 questions each, a total of 28 questions from the subjects of international maritime law and regulations (selected paragraphs of Act No. 61/2000 Coll., selected rules of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea – COLREG 1972), basics of navigation and marking of sea waterways – IALA system, basics of meteorology, basics of safety and saving of life at sea. The time for processing the test is a maximum of 25 minutes. The test is evaluated by the number of points, 1 point is awarded for each correct answer. The candidate “passes” if he achieves at least 24 points.
• Each question has 3 possible answers (a, b, c), only one of which is correct. The test is administered using a computer.

If you accidentally fail the exam, there is a possibility to take a retake exam within four months of submitting the application. However, if you do not manage to do so within four months, a new application must be submitted, which means that it will cost you at least a new administrative fee of CZK 500.

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