Compliance Journal

Decoding International Qualifications

The largest point of friction in booking a bareboat charter is proving to a foreign government that you know how to operate a 15-ton, million-euro vessel.

The Global Standard: The ICC

The International Certificate of Competence (ICC) was established by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Resolution 40. It is the closest thing the maritime world has to an international driver's license.

If you intend to charter in the Mediterranean—specifically Croatia, Greece, or Spain—the ICC is the absolute gold standard. Port police understand it, insurers demand it, and base managers accept it without question.

How to get an ICC?

The ICC is not a course you take; it is a certificate issued based on existing national qualifications. For example, if you hold an RYA Day Skipper (UK), the RYA will issue you an ICC upon application. If you hold an ASA 104 (USA), you can take an "ICC Assessment" through an approved facility.

The "Sailing Resume" Fallacy

Historically, the Caribbean allowed sailors to rent boats based purely on a self-authored "Sailing Resume." You wrote down that you owned a 30-foot boat on a lake, and they handed you the keys to a Leopard 45.

This era is ending. Following devastating hurricane seasons and massive insurance payouts, Caribbean operators are now heavily scrutinizing resumes, and many are moving toward requiring formal certification.

The VHF Radio Mandate

A crucial, often overlooked detail: many countries require a specific VHF Radio Operator's License independent of your sailing ticket. In Croatia, this is rigidly enforced. If your ICC does not explicitly state "VHF" on the back, or you do not have a separate SRC (Short Range Certificate), you cannot take the boat.