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The SBF See is the official boat licence for recreational craft in coastal waters and on the open sea. It is required as soon as you wish to operate a motorised boat with more than 15 HP (11.03 kW) you want to operate powered craft on sea shipping routes. In contrast to the Sportbootführerschein Binnen, which applies to rivers and inland waters, the SBF See covers all coastal areas. In practical terms this means: for trips on the North Sea and Baltic Sea, in the Mediterranean or other coastal and sea areas, this licence is your mandatory document provided the engine power of your boat exceeds the 15 hp limit (7.5 kW for electric motors). Unlike in inland waters, there is not.
no length restriction for boats. Important to know: the SBF See applies across both motorboats and sailing yachts with engines. This means that even if you mainly want to sail, you need the SBF See at sea as soon as there is an engine above the stated power threshold on board. Only pure sailing boats without an engine may be operated licence-free at sea.
Requirements for the SBF See
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Minimum age: 16 years of age
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Reliability: Usually proven by presenting your driving licence to be proven. Alternatively (e.g. if no driving licence is held) a certificate of good conduct (polizeiliches Führungszeugnis) it is required.
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Medical fitness: Medical fitness certificate (Tauglichkeitszeugnis) covering eyesight and hearing as well as general health. An eye test and brief check-up with a doctor are sufficient for this.
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Passport photograph and identity document: A recent photograph (35×45 mm) and valid identity card or passport for exam registration. For minors, a declaration of consent from parents or legal guardians is also required
Benefits of the SBF See
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Greater safety through knowledge: SBF See training provides you with comprehensive nautical know-how. You learn to assess risks on the water correctly – from navigation and meteorology to seamanship – and to respond appropriately in critical situations. This knowledge makes you a responsible skipper and ensures that you and your crew are always safely under way.
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Legal freedom: With the SBF See you fulfil the legal requirement to helm sports boats over 15 PS at sea. You avoid fines and operate legally in coastal waters. In short: the licence gives you the freedom to undertake boat trips on the North and Baltic Seas, the Atlantic or the Mediterranean independently – without legal concerns.
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Internationally recognised certificate: The Sportbootführerschein See is issued in the international format as ICC (International Certificate of Competence) issued. In many countries it is recognised as proof of competence, so you can also use it in abroad without difficulty. Whether island-hopping in Croatia or a fishing trip off the Spanish coast – with the SBF See in your pocket the doors are open.
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More charter opportunities: Yacht charter companies frequently require the SBF See, even when the boat formally does not require a licence. With the powerboat licence in hand you can confidently hire various boats – many hire companies rely on this certificate as proof of your competence. This opens up far more opportunities for you to explore new sailing areas under your own keel.
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Foundation for higher licences: Ambitious leisure skippers value the SBF See as the foundation for advanced sailing licences. Building on this coastal licence you can, for example, obtain the Sportküstenschifferschein (SKS) – and later the Sportsee- or Sporthochseeschifferschein – to take on even more sailing freedom and responsibility.
SBF See course: training and examination
The Training for the Sportbootführerschein See combines sound theory with practical training on the water. Through specialist sailing and yacht schools you can book a SBF See course book – entirely according to your preferences as an evening course, weekend crash course or even online learning format. What matters is that you master all exam-relevant content securely. This includes amongst other things:
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Navigation: You learn to read nautical charts, determine courses and establish your position at sea. Basic navigation instruments such as compass, course and plotting triangles are also covered.
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Maritime law & seamanship: Here the focus is on right-of-way rules (avoidance rules), traffic signs on the water, sound signals and the correct manoeuvres. Also seamanship knots and the safe handling of equipment are part of it.
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Weather lore: A good skipper can interpret weather developments. In the course you learn how high- and low-pressure systems form, how to recognise changes in weather and what precautions to take in storm or fog.
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Safety & emergency situations: From lifejackets and distress signals to the Mensch-über-Bord-Manöver – the practical exercises familiarise you with all the important manoeuvres and safety measures. You'll practise arriving and departing in harbour manoeuvres, navigating by compass course and taking the correct action in emergencies.
After the training comes the examination, which consists of a theoretical and a practical part. In the theory examination you answer questionnaires (multiple-choice) on navigation, law, weather and technical matters. In addition, you must complete a chart exercise in which navigation skills are tested practically.
In the practical examination part you demonstrate at the helm of a boat that you have mastered manoeuvres and knots. These include, for example, safe mooring and casting off, the man overboardmanoeuvres (rescue manoeuvres) as well as steering by compass course. Also the most important seamanship knots are also tested – from the bowline to the clove hitch. Once you've successfully completed theory and and practice, you'll soon be holding your Sportbootführerschein See in credit-card format in your hands.
Discover course providers on toernfinder.de
The sailing portal toernfinder.de is your central point of contact for finding the right SBF See course to find. Here you can discover course providers near you and compare offers from different sailing schools with ease. Whether you live in town or by the coast – on toernfinder.de you'll find throughout Germany first-class training opportunities for the SBF See, from experienced yacht schools to flexible online courses. Plenty of user reviews and detailed information about the courses help you make the best choice for your needs.
Take the first step towards your own boating adventure: Discover course providers now and tackle the Sportbootführerschein See Start your maritime adventure – from your first training trip to skippering your own boat independently. Find the right course near you and get started!
Selected SBF See courses
You will soon find courses from sailing schools in your region here. In the meantime, it is worth taking a look at our current sail training trips – checking back regularly is worthwhile.
Sail training for the SKS sailing licence, including SBF practical if desired. Max. 4 participants
ACTIVESAIL
Sailing training for women
Oceans Eleven GmbH
SSS practical training trip from Vrsar Istria, Croatia
Peter Borzucki
SKS practical training from Breege on Rügen
Mola Yachting
Sailing licence yacht with optional free practical training for SBF Max 4 participants
ACTIVESAIL
Sailing licence yacht & powerboat licence in 1 training week with max. 4 participants
ACTIVESAIL
Frequently asked questions about the SBF See
Is the SBF See valid internationally?
Yes, the SBF See is internationally recognised – especially when you present it as ICC (International Certificate of Competence) you will receive. With this certificate, you can legally skipper and charter powerboats on coastal waters in many countries, particularly in Europe. powerboats on coastal waters It is usually accepted without problems in popular sailing areas such as Croatia, Greece or Spain.
What requirements must I meet to obtain the SBF See?
To obtain the SBF See, you must be at least 16 years old. You also need a medical fitness certificate (including an eye test) and proof of your reliability, for example a driving licence or a certificate of good conduct. In addition you must submit a passport photograph and pass both the theoretical and the practical examination.
What does training for the SBF See cost?
The Costs for the SBF See are usually between 400 400 and 700 euros, depending on region, school and course format. This generally includes the course fee, examination fees, the medical certificate and the required teaching materials. Some schools offer complete packages in which practical training is also included in the price.
What topics are tested in the theoretical examination?
In the theory examination, you can expect questions on Navigation, collision regulations (COLREGS), shipping law, Meteorology, Seamanship and Boat engineering. You also need to complete a solve a navigation task using a sea chart, in which you plot courses, measure distances and determine positions, for example. The questions are predominantly in multiple-choice format.
What does the practical examination for the SBF See involve?
In the practical examination you demonstrate that you can manoeuvre a boat safely. This includes berthing, casting off, man-overboard manoeuvre, the steering by compass course and taking bearings. You must also seamanship knots demonstrate correctly. The examination takes place on a motorised boat.
Does the entire crew need to hold the SBF See?
No, only one person on board – usually the Skipper – needs to hold the hold the Sportbootführerschein See. So you can sail with family or friends even if they do not have a licence, as long as you assume responsibility for the boat.
What are Seeschifffahrtsstraßen?
sea waterways are officially designated waterways in German coastal waters, governed by the Seeschifffahrtsstraßen-Ordnung. These include the three-mile zone, harbour areas, river estuaries such as the Elbe or Weser, and parts of the Kiel Canal. On these routes the SBF See is compulsoryif you are operating a boat with more than 15 hp.
Is the SBF See only valid within the 3-nautical-mile zone?
No, the Sportbootführerschein See applies not only within the 3-nautical-mile zone, but in principle on all German maritime waterways – and these often extend well beyond the 3 nm. The term '3-nautical-mile zone' describes the so-called territorial waters boundary, but is not identical to the area of validity of the SBF See.
. What matters is: the SBF See is always required when you operate a legally defined maritime waterway with a a motorised sports boat over 15 PS. These waterways may also, depending on the region, beyond the 3-mile zone – for example, through official extensions of traffic routes or navigated coastal sections subject to traffic safety obligations. Therefore, the licence is also required and valid in parts of the 12-nautical-mile zone and valid.
What applies beyond the 3- or 12-nautical-mile zone?
? Beyond the 12-nautical-mile zone begins the so-called high seas (international waters). There, there is no legal licence requirement in Germany for pleasure craft – that is to say:you do not formally need an SBF See there
to operate a boat with over 15 hp.
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BUT: as soon as you enter the territorial waters of a country, its regulations apply.
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Charter companies almost always require a valid certificate of competence, usually the SBF See or SKS, often also the ICC.
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For your own safety and recognition by authorities, harbour masters or insurers, an official licence is strongly recommended.
What learning materials do I need for the SBF See?
You need a practice chart, course plotter and protractor, a navigation compass and the official exam questions. A good textbook or an online learning platform will help you understand. Many schools offer you a complete learning package including all materials so you can prepare optimally for theory and practice.
What is the difference between SBF See and SBF Binnen?
The SBF See entitles you to operate motorboats of 15 hp and above on coastal waters, i.e. on sea navigation routes. The SBF Binnen is for operating on inland waters such as rivers, lakes or canals. Both licences have separate examinations and areas of validity – it is often worthwhile to acquire both if you want to sail in both areas.
What is the difference between SBF See and SKS?
The SBF See is the legally required basic licence for coastal waters for boats over 15 hp. The Sportküstenschifferschein (SKS) is an advanced licencethat teaches in-depth knowledge of navigation, weather and seamanship. It is often required by charter companies for larger yachts and is a prerequisite if you wish to work commercially or become a well-rounded skipper.
What boats can I operate with the Sportbootführerschein See?
With the SBF See you may operate motorised boats over 15 HP (11 kW) at sea – whether motorboat, sailing yacht with auxiliary engine or inflatable boat. There is no length restriction for recreational craft. You may operate pure sailing boats without an engine even without a licence – nevertheless, the SBF See is highly recommended for greater safety and as proof of your competence.
Does the 15 HP limit for the SBF See also apply to electric motors?
Yes, the licence requirement applies to electric motors as well, but the limit is not identical to the 15 HP limit for combustion engines.
Instead of 15 HP (11.03 kW), a lower limit of 7.5 kW applies to electric motors – so from approximately 10 HP of electric power is the Sportbootführerschein See it is required.
This regulation is based on the conversion value within the meaning of the Sportbootführerscheinverordnung. It stipulates that for electric propulsion power over 7.5 kW on sea shipping routes, an SBF See is mandatory.