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ICC Assessment & Preparation Course

ICC Assessment & Preparation Course

Our ICC assessment and preparation course gets you the International Certificate of Competence, your licence to charter and skipper in Croatia, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey and beyond.

Greece · Croatia · United Kingdom

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  • Assessment up to 4 hours
  • Valid 5 years
  • Greece · Croatia · UK
  • RYA Issued
Assessment
Up to 4 hrs
Preparation course
Weekend
Certificate valid for
5 years
Countries that ask for it
6+

What Is the ICC

ICC Assessment Explained: Your International Sailing Licence

RYA Training CentreAccredited courses taught by RYA-qualified instructors

The ICC is a certificate that provides evidence of competence whenever officials in foreign countries request it.

The ICC, or International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft, is also known as the International Certificate of Competence. It is issued under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Resolution 40.

The UK Government has accepted Resolution 40 and has therefore authorised the RYA to issue the ICC on its behalf.

You can also read more about the UK ICC issued by the RYA.

Valid in

Croatia, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey

Already have Day Skipper?

The RYA Day Skipper certificate is currently accepted in these countries, so you can use it to obtain an ICC at any time.

Valid for

5 years — renewable by paper exercise unless additional categories are needed

How to Get an ICC

Two Routes to Your International Certificate of Competence

  • AssessmentUp to 4 hours
  • Preparation courseA weekend
  • Certificate valid for5 years
  • Already a Day Skipper?No assessment needed
ICC course: an instructor assessing students on deck during an ICC preparation session on a Seafarer yacht
ICC preparation and assessment on our school tuition yacht: up to 4 hours on the water.
An RYA instructor coaching students on a Seafarer Training yacht
Yacht sailing in clear Greek waters, where an International Certificate of Competence is required to charter
Greece, Croatia, Italy, Spain and Turkey all ask to see your ICC when you charter.

Your Options

Which Route Is Right for You?

  • Already have RYA Day Skipper?If you are an RYA member, the RYA issues your ICC free of charge, so no further assessment is needed.
  • No RYA certificate?We can give you an ICC assessment of up to 4 hours, during which you demonstrate the required skills. If you would like preparation beforehand, our ICC course runs over a weekend. If you need more than this, the RYA Day Skipper course is the recommended route to an ICC.
  • Renewing Your ICCThe ICC lasts 5 years. Renewal is a simple paper exercise unless you wish to add categories. In contrast, the RYA Day Skipper certificate lasts forever and can be used to obtain an ICC at any time — which is why we recommend it to most people.

Where to Get Assessed

ICC Assessment in Greece, Croatia or the UK

  • Southampton UK SchoolICC assessment and preparation are available over a weekend, so you can fit the ICC course around work.
  • Agia Eufimia, Kefalonia, GreeceSpend a week at the beach club before your flotilla or charter, where we can prep and assess you for the ICC on our school tuition yacht.
  • Greece & Croatia Training CentresThese centres are better suited to 1-week courses, so for the ICC we recommend the RYA Day Skipper course there instead. We can also assist with the ICC forms so you achieve both qualifications at the same time. See the Training Centres overview page.

What You Will Be Assessed On

The ICC Assessment Criteria

You can also download the full ICC assessment form from the RYA website.

ICC Assessment: Oral and Written Elements (All Candidates)

5 sections

  1. Regulations

    • Knows responsibility for keeping a proper lookout
    • Can determine a ‘safe speed’
    • Can recognise a potential collision situation
    • Can identify ‘give way’ vessel in a collision situation
    • Knows what action to take as ‘give way’ as well as ‘stand on’ vessel
    • Knows responsibilities of a small vessel in a narrow channel
    • Can recognise manoeuvring signals (1, 2, 3 & 5 short blasts)
    • Can make and recognise visual distress signals

  2. Safety

    • Able to use and instruct crew on: life jackets, distress alerting (DSC VHF, EPIRB, flares), fire extinguishers, kill cord (if fitted)
    • Can prepare a boat for use, including engine checks, checking fuel for range, obtaining a weather forecast and avoiding overloading

  3. Regulations (additional)

    • Knows rules relating to Traffic Separation Schemes
    • Knows navigation lights and shapes for own vessel
    • Can recognise from lights: power driven, sailing vessel, vessel at anchor, tug and tow, fishing vessel, dredger
    • Knows sound signals for vessels above

  4. Navigation

    • Can interpret a navigational chart, understand charted depths and drying heights, as well as identify charted hazards
    • Can plot position by cross bearings and by latitude/longitude
    • Can determine magnetic course to steer allowing for leeway and tidal stream
    • Can use a tide table to find times and heights of high and low water at a standard port
    • Can determine direction and rate of tidal stream from a tidal stream atlas or tidal diamonds
    • Understands basic use of GPS

  5. Pilotage

    • Can recognise by day and night, and understand significance of, IALA buoyage
    • Knows sources of information on local regulations, port entry/departure signals, VTS and Port Operations Radio
    • Can plan a harbour entry/departure, while taking account of large vessels and navigational hazards

Practical Elements of the ICC Assessment

7 sections

  1. Start

    • Give safety briefing including use of safety equipment
    • Pre-start engine checks, use kill cord (if fitted), check cooling, know fuel range

  2. Depart from Pontoon

    • Understands use of springs to depart from lee wall/pontoon
    • Communicate with crew, position fenders correctly

  3. 360° Turn in Confined Space

    Demonstrate ability to turn the vessel 360° in a confined space safely.

  4. Securing to Buoy

    • Communicate with crew, prepare warp, choose correct angle of approach
    • Control speed of approach, secure boat effectively, then depart safely

  5. Man Overboard

    • Observe MOB or instruct crew to do so
    • Demonstrate correct direction and speed of approach, make suitable contact with MOB

  6. Handling Under Sail (if appropriate)

    • Sail triangular course with one leg to windward
    • Use sails suitable for conditions, trim correctly on each point of sailing
    • Warn crew before manoeuvres, look round before tacking and gybing, and control sails throughout

  7. Coming Alongside Windward Pontoon

    • Communicate with crew, prepare warps/fenders
    • Choose correct angle of approach, control speed, then stop boat and secure to pontoon
    • Stop engine

Available At

Choose Your Training School

Our three RYA training centres each have their own character. Compare them below to find the one that suits you best.

  • Harmony 42 Anna, a Seafarer training yacht at our RYA training centre in GreeceGreece

    Greece Training Centre

    6-day courses

    Warm, sheltered waters with relaxed island passages. Many summer dates run alongside our flotillas, with access to kids’ clubs.

    Best for

    • First-timers
    • Competent Crew
    • Day Skipper Practical

    View the school

  • RYA training centre Croatia: a Seafarer training yacht on the Dalmatian coastCroatia

    Croatia Training Centre

    6-day courses

    Varied conditions between historic harbours and anchorages, in sheltered seas that are great for building skills and confidence.

    Best for

    • Competent Crew
    • Day Skipper Practical
    • Coastal Skipper Practical

    View the school

  • Seafarer UK training centre: RYA sailing courses from SouthamptonUK

    UK Training Centre

    5-day courses and weekend refreshers

    Structured tidal practice with expert RYA instructors, and ideal preparation for sailing abroad.

    Best for

    • Day Skipper Practical
    • Refreshers
    • Tidal experience

    View the school

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This guarantee applies to tuition berth rates in Greece, Croatia and the UK, as long as the course is operated by Seafarer. It is also subject to availability at the time of booking.

Book Your ICC Assessment

Ready to Get Your ICC?

Get in touch with our team to discuss ICC assessment and course availability in Greece, Croatia or the UK, or to ask for advice on the best route to your ICC.

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Tell us your dates and party size, and we’ll then come back to you with availability and prices.

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