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The Sporthochseeschifferschein (SHS) is the highest official sailing certificate in Germany for worldwide offshore sailing. It authorises you to command sailing yachts (and motor yachts) on all seas, i.e. outside coastal zones. For recreational skippers, the SHS is a voluntary advanced qualification – legally required it is not. Nevertheless, experienced sailors opt for the SHS to take their knowledge to the highest level and to prepare optimally for blue-water passages.
. Conversely, anyone who wishes to commercially (professionally) conduct worldwide offshore passages – for instance as a charter skipper on ocean crossings or master of a traditional sailing vessel – is legally required to hold the SHS. In short: the SHS is the pinnacle of sailing certificates and is aimed at ambitious skippers who, having obtained their coastal and offshore licences (SKS and SSS), now wish to take the final step into offshore sailing.
Prerequisites for the SHS
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Minimum age 18 years: Younger sailors are not eligible for the SHS – legal adulthood is mandatory.
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Existing SSS: You must already hold the SSS. The SHS builds directly upon the SSS syllabus, and without the SSS you cannot be admitted to the SHS examination.
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Nautical miles experience: You must document at least 1,000 nautical miles on seagoing yachts to be evidenced after obtaining the SSS. You must have accumulated these miles in a position of responsibility (as watch leader, co-skipper or skipper). Important: you may sit the examination if you have already completed at least 500 nautical miles beforehand – the remaining miles must then be submitted after the examination before the certificate is issued. This allows particularly motivated sailors to complete the theory part earlier.
Note: Additional documents such as medical fitness certificates or certificates of good conduct do not need to be resubmitted for the SHS – such evidence was already required for the previous certificates. For the examination, however, you must bring your SSS and tackle the bring proof of nautical miles, as both are checked by the examining board.
Advantages of the SHS
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Worldwide navigation & professionalism: With the SHS you are officially qualified to skipper yachts worldwide – without any restriction on sailing area. For private ocean sailing, the certificate is a high-quality proof of qualification that documents your ability. Professionally it is indispensable: anyone working as a professional skipper on the high seas requires the SHS as a legal foundation.
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Maximum nautical know-how: The SHS gives you specialist knowledgethat goes beyond all previous certificates. You learn astronomical navigation (sextant navigation), global weather phenomena and international maritime law – skills that are Transoceanic trips are essential. This also prepares you for exceptional situations, e.g. when electronic navigation fails and you need to navigate in the middle of the ocean. This in-depth knowledge increases Safety safety on long-distance passages.
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Internationally highly regarded: In terms of qualification, it is roughly comparable to the British RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Ocean, one of the most prestigious sailing qualifications internationally. With the SHS in hand you generally have no problems abroad being accepted as a competent skipper – it represents the highest level of training in the German system.
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Career and further training: For ambitious sailing instructors or club skippers, the SHS is equally attractive. Sailing schools often require the SHS from their senior instructors. Moreover, the SHS represents the pinnacle of recreational boating licences – there is nothing comparable above it in the leisure sector. Once you have acquired the SHS, you belong to an exclusive circle of ocean sailors: only a few hundred SHS certificates are issued in Germany each year, which underlines the exclusivity of this qualification. The SHS as the 'crowning achievement' of your sailing training can therefore also be a personal prestige goal.
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Optimum trip preparation: Even when the SHS is not required, it can be worthwhile for worthwhile for blue-water sailors. The intensive training covers all areas required for a long bluewater passage – from planning multi-week passages and identifying weather windows to preparing the yacht for the high seas. This know-how makes you a confident skipper for ocean crossings, which also earns you trust and credibility in private circles (e.g. amongst crew or with insurers).
SHS course content: What do you learn for the ocean certificate?
Unlike the previous certificates, training for the Sporthochseeschifferschein consists exclusively of theoretical instruction. There is therefore no separate practical sailing trip as part of the examination (you have already demonstrated your practical sailing experience with the SSS). Many sailing schools offer the SHS course as an intensive theory course – often as a one-week intensive course or spread over several weekends/evenings. You can also acquire some of the content through acquire through self-study. Below is an overview of the main subject areascovered in the SHS course:
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Astronavigation (sextant navigation): The core of SHS training is classic Astronavigation – that is, navigating by the sun, moon, stars and planets. You learn the use of the sextant in theory and practice, including correction of measurement errors (index error etc.) and precise altitude measurement. In addition, Celestial Mechanics and Time on the agenda: You'll work with coordinate systems in the sky, the Nautical Almanac, various time concepts (UTC, zone time, sidereal time) and the calculation of celestial body positions. By the end you'll be able to determine your ship's position on the open sea solely by the position of the sun or stars – a fascinating skill that serves as a backup if electronic navigation systems fail.
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Terrestrial Navigation & Route Planning: Conventional navigation is also further developed at SHS level. This includes long-range passage planning for ocean routes. You'll learn, for example, how to plan a route using great circle navigation to find the shortest distance across the globe. Likewise, dead reckoning (updating the ship's position) over long distances is practised, including taking account of ocean currents on the high seas. Tidal calculations and tidal streams remain topics as well – especially for the case where you reach coastal waters after a long passage, for instance (here the SHS builds on SSS knowledge of tides). Overall, the aim is to create an ocean-going passage plan that takes account of weather, currents, alternative routes and emergency harbours.
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International Maritime Law & Safety: In maritime law the SHS broadens your horizons to include international regulations. You'll cover important conventions such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (classification of waters: high seas vs. coastal waters), learn about international agreements on environmental protection (MARPOL) and safety regulations. This knowledge ensures that you can operate your yacht lawfully in international waters and foreign jurisdictions. You'll also be prepared for what to do in exceptional situations (for example, during search and rescueoperations or emergencies on the high seas) and what obligations the skipper has.
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Weather Science for Oceans: The meteorology in the SHS course goes beyond coastal weather and examines global weather systems. You'll study the Earth's planetary wind system of the Earth, you learn about Trade winds, monsoonal winds and ocean currents. Particular focus is given to tropical cyclones (hurricanes, typhoons): how they form, which routes they take, in which seasons they occur where and – most importantly – how to avoid them or make preparations. The course also covers unusual weather situations (e.g. in polar latitudes or during El Niño). You practise interpreting weather reports and in particular Pilot Charts (climatology charts for oceans). All this enables you to assess weather risks on long passages and plan your yacht's routing accordingly for safety.
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Yacht management & heavy weather management: Since in offshore sailing it is often impossible to reach a harbour for many days, the SHS course also teaches you everything important about organising long passages. This includes the seamanlike preparation of the vessel (equipment for blue-water passages, e.g. storm sails, spare parts, emergency rudder) and the division of watches and crew over long distances. In heavy weather seamanship you are prepared for what to do in severe storms on the open sea: e.g. techniques such as heaving to, deploying a sea anchor or Jordan Series Drogue, managing crew fatigue etc. The training also addresses conduct in cyclone-prone areas and generally sailing in extreme weather. Overall, by the end you should be able to manage a yacht autonomously and safely for weeks on end – in fair weather and foul.
The Sporthochseeschifferschein examination
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Written examination – navigation tasks: Examination subject Navigation (duration approx. 150 minutes) with complex tasks in terrestrial and astronomical navigation. Here you must, for example, carry out course and bearing calculations, work out position fixes with the sextant, factor in current set and drift over long distances and similar. This part is very extensive and demanding. In addition there are written examinations in shipping law (approx. 45 min) and Meteorology (approx. 45 min), which cover questions from the subject areas described above (maritime law, international regulations, weather and oceanography). All three subjects can be taken in one sitting (over one weekend) or separately spread over several dates – the important thing is only that all partial examinations are passed within passed within 24 months. So you have some flexibility, but you cannot pause indefinitely. Should you fail a subject, you can attempt the resit after at least 2 months.
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Practical sextant demonstration: Part of the navigation examination is a short practical examination with the sextant. Don't worry – you don't have to go to sea again for this, the demonstration usually takes place in the examination room. You must show the examiner that you can handle the sextant: this typically includes measuring an altitude angle of an object (often an artificial horizon or a distant object is used) as well as explaining the sources of error and corrections on the sextant (index error, collimation/mirror error, semi-diameter error). This practical partial examination lasts only about 10 minutes, but is a prerequisite for passing the navigation subject.
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Oral examination – yacht command: Finally there follows an oral examination (approx. 15 minutes). In this discussion the examiners check above all your understanding of yacht and crew command on the high seas. Typical topics may be: technical aspects of the yacht (engine, rig, electronics) and how you carry out maintenance on long passages, emergency measures (e.g. man overboard on the high seas, medical emergencies without rapid outside help), heavy weather tactics (follow-up questions: 'What to do when a storm is approaching?') or also organisational questions such as provisioning and watch systems. In the oral examination it becomes clear whether you have the holistic understanding to lead a yacht and crew safely through all challenges – on the basis of your theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
Find your SHS course – with toernfinder.de to your goal
The way to the Sporthochseeschifferschein SHS starts with choosing the right course – and that's exactly where toernfinder.de.
helps you. On our portal you'll find a clear selection of SHS courses from various sailing schools and providers across Germany. Whether you're looking for an looking for an intensive compact course, preferably weekend seminars or favour an online theory course – with us you can compare offers directly.
How it works:
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All SHS courses at a glance – with details on dates, course locations, teaching format (in-person/online) and prices.
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Compare providers – quickly find out which course suits your schedule and requirements.
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Direct contact – reach the provider of your choice with just a few clicks via our contact form.
Selected SHS 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.
Harbour manoeuvres training
Oceans Eleven GmbH
SKS trip, SBF See also possible, or skipper training, only 5 participants; 1 place still available
Segelschule Peter Frey
Learn to sail in the island world of the Kornati Islands. In a small group with max. 4 participants.
ACTIVESAIL
Sportküstenschifferschein SKS Sail Training
Lübecker Segelschule
Training for the Yacht sailing licence – on request with free SBF practical, max. 4 participants
ACTIVESAIL
Learn to sail in the island world of the Kornati Islands. In a small group with max. 4 participants.
ACTIVESAIL
Frequently asked questions about the Sporthochseeschifferschein (SHS)
Is the Sporthochseeschifferschein legally required?
No – for private offshore trips the SHS is not legally required. In Germany there is no licence requirement beyond the Sportbootführerschein See (SBF See) for recreational navigation. That means, purely in legal terms, you would even be allowed to sail privately across the Atlantic with 'just' an SBF See (the basic licence) or SSS. However, the SHS is legally required, as soon as you skipper a sports boat commercially on a worldwide voyage. Example: if you want to take paying guests on an offshore sailing trip or work as a skipper on a commercial expedition yacht, the SHS is mandatory. For private sailors it remains voluntary, but is strongly recommended if you want to venture beyond coastal waters – if only for insurance reasons and your own safety. Many Charter companies charter companies tend to ask for the SKS/SSS in coastal areas, but if you want to charter a boat for an ocean passage, for example, having an SHS in your pocket definitely increases your chances of success and the trust of the charter company.
What are the requirements for the SHS?
You must be at least 18 years old and already hold the Sportseeschifferschein (SSS) already possess. In addition, you need proof of 1000 nautical miles on seagoing yachts, which you have logged after obtaining the SSS as gained as watch leader or co-skipper. You document these miles in your logbook, signed by your respective skipper. Important: before your first exam (e.g. the first written subject), you must have already completed at least 500 nm must already be completed. You may therefore not sit the examination without significant offshore experience. Once you have reached 500 nm, you can proceed; you can still sail the remaining miles after the examination and then provide evidence – the certificate will only be issued once all missing miles have been submitted. In addition to age, SSS and nm you only need a current passport photo for the application. No further documents (medical certificates, police clearance certificate, etc.) are not required, as these were already submitted for SBF See. Of course, before SHS training you should also hold a hold a radio operator's certificate (SRC), as offshore sailors typically use a radio on board – whilst these are not formal admission requirements, they are very much recommended in practice.
How much does SHS training cost?
The costs for the SHS comprise examination fees and training costs and examination fees. The examination fees examination fees 180–200 €. This includes the admission fee, the fees for the written examinations and the issue of the certificate. Should you split examinations across multiple dates or take them abroad, minor additional costs may apply.
The Course fees for SHS training depend on the provider. Many sailing schools offer a theory seminar of approx. 1 week duration – prices typically lie around 500–600 € for the complete course. Teaching materials are often not included in this price. You therefore need to budget an additional 100 € or so for books, charts, companion booklet and navigation instruments (if you do not already have these from the SSS course). If you prefer an online course, the costs may be somewhat lower, or you can instead buy textbooks and prepare through self-study – in which case only examination fees and material costs apply.
Overall, the financial outlay for the SHS is therefore roughly between €700 and €900, if you attend a course. It can be somewhat cheaper (with a lot of self-training) or more expensive (e.g. if you book additional workshops such as practical astro-navigation trips). Tip: Compare the course offerings of different sailing schools – on toernfinder.de you can view SHS courses from several providers and compare them directly in terms of scope and price. This way you'll find an offer that suits your budget and schedule.
What is the difference between SSS and SHS?
The Sportseeschifferschein (SSS) The SSS and the Sporthochseeschifferschein (SHS) SHS differ primarily in their scope of validity and the extent of the examination syllabus. The SSS is the licence for coastal sea areas – it is valid worldwide up to 30 nautical miles from the coast. For this area the SSS is also required if you work commercially as a skipper (for example as a training skipper or charter skipper in coastal waters). The SHS SHS worldwide navigation without distance restriction. With the SHS you may (and can) therefore also sail on the open ocean sailing, far from any land – that is precisely what it is designed for.
In terms of content, the SHS builds on the SSS but goes considerably further in some areas. The greatest difference is the Astronavigation: for the SSS this is not required, whilst for the SHS it is a central subject. Likewise, the SHS includes international maritime law aspects and extreme weather topics (e.g. hurricanes) that are only touched upon in the SSS. The proof of experience also differs significantly: for the SSS you must demonstrate (in addition to the SBF See) 1,000 nautical miles' experience as crew, whilst for the SHS you need a further 1,000 nautical miles after the SSS in a leadership position. In other words, the SHS requires considerably more practical experience.
To sum up: the SSS qualifies you as an experienced skipper for all coastal and inshore waters, whilst the SHS makes you an expert for ocean-wide passages. If you never intend to sail far out onto the Atlantic or go offshore professionally, the SSS is generally sufficient. However, as soon as ocean-going ambitions come into play (professionally or privately), the SHS is the appropriate certificate for demonstrating that know-how.
You can find a comparison with the British Yachtmaster here.
Is the SHS recognised abroad?
Yes, the SHS is internationally recognised and highly regarded. Although there is no special ICC (International Certificate of Competence) for the SHS – the ICC concept only extends to coastal waters (SKS/SSS) –, the Sporthochseeschifferschein is perceived worldwide as the highest qualification in recreational sailing. It essentially corresponds to the level of training of the British Yachtmaster Ocean and is understood in all major sailing nations. In popular cruising destinations such as the Caribbean, the Pacific or Indian Ocean, someone with an SHS is generally regarded as a highly competent skipper. Of course, each country has its own regulations: you should, for example, familiarise yourself with the licence requirements of the respective country (some countries have their own certificates that they formally require, even if an SHS is held). In practice, however, an SHS is usually accepted or even admired – many foreign authorities or charter companies are at least familiar with the certificate by name.
Who should get the SHS?
The SHS is worthwhile above all for two groups of sailors: firstly, for those who want to sail professionally on major passages (e.g. as skipper for deliveries, expedition cruises, regattas or on traditional vessels). In these fields, the SHS is usually a requirement or at least highly desirable for taking on responsibility Secondly, for private offshore sailors, who are planning long voyages – such as an Atlantic crossing, a circumnavigation or regular trips to overseas sailing areas. For them the SHS is not legally required, but it is immensely worthwhile, because it conveys exactly the skills needed for long ocean passages: astro-navigation as backup, knowledge of global weather phenomena, legal knowledge for international waters and so on. Many circumnavigators report that the SHS training gave them a significantly greater sense of security when they finally set off on their great voyage.
If, on the other hand, you mainly stay in coastal waters (North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean etc.) and have no ambition to be at sea for weeks on end, then the SHS is probably overkill. In that case the SSS covers everything you need in practice. The SHS would then be more a matter of interest in the subject – which is of course perfectly valid! Some sailors do the SHS as a personal challenge or to round off their theoretical knowledge, without ever wanting to sail around a hurricane.
In short: If you're planning major offshore adventures or a sailing career, the SHS is worth its weight in gold. If not, you can probably save yourself the effort and concentrate on practical miles and experience. It depends on your goals.
Can I book an SHS course via toernfinder.de?
No. Törnfinder.de is not a course provider itself, but a comparison and search portal. That means we show you the SHS courses from various sailing schools on our website with their dates, locations and prices, so that you have a good overview. If you are interested in a particular course, you can use a form on toernfinder.de to contact the provider directly. Your enquiry goes to the sailing school running the course – and they will then give you all further information (about the schedule, availability, registration etc.). The actual booking/registration for the course always takes place directly with the provider itself, not with Törnfinder. So our service is that you can conveniently compare all offers on one page and easily get in touch with the respective organiser. This saves you time and makes it possible to find the perfect SHS course for your needs. Once you have decided, you will arrange everything else (payment, course materials etc.) with the sailing school – just as if you had found them the traditional way, only much more efficiently via our platform. Good luck choosing a course and fair winds for your SHS training!