A recreational craft is a watercraft with an overall length of 2.5 to 24 metres (for example boats, sailing yachts, or launches) that is used for recreational activities or sports. To operate a recreational craft with a sail area of more than 25 m² or an engine power of more than 25 kW, you must hold a certificate of a skipper of recreational craft. Watercraft which are used in competitive sports and training and which are correspondingly marked by a sports federation (for example personal watercraft, sailboards, sailing yachts, or sports yachts) are not considered recreational craft.
A personal watercraft is a watercraft having a water jet pump and no cockpit and a stationary engine and an overall length of up to 4 metres which is operated from a sitting position, kneeling position or standing position. A personal watercraft may be operated by a person of at least 15 years of age who holds a certificate of an operator of personal watercraft or the right to navigate recreational craft.
For navigation at sea and inland waters, the recreational craft must be registered in the traffic register or ship register and the personal watercraft must be registered in the traffic register. The pre-registration inspection of a recreational craft and personal watercraft is performed by the Estonian Transport Administration.
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Certificate of a skipper of recreational craft
The training required to apply for a certificate of a skipper of recreational craft, including practical skills, can be acquired independently or through courses organised by trainers who hold an activity licence for the training of skippers of recreational craft. The person who has acquired practical skills independently must prove their skills to the trainer organising the courses, for which a written calculation of seagoing service is made.
The exam of a skipper of recreational craft consists of a theory exam and map task. The exam of a skipper of recreational craft is considered passed if the examinee passes the map task and answers at least 85% of the theory examination questions correctly.
The organiser of the courses compiles and digitally signs the list of those who have passed the exam of a skipper of recreational craft and the calculation of seagoing service and forwards it to the Transport Administration within three working days after passing the exam. Thereafter, you get from the Transport Administration the certificate of a skipper of recreational craft. A certificate of a skipper of recreational craft is valid for 10 years.
It is not obligatory to carry the certificate of a skipper of recreational craft if the skipper of the recreational craft has an identity document. The carrying of the registration certificate of a recreational craft registered in Estonia is not mandatory only if the skipper of the recreational craft is entered in the traffic register as the owner, responsible user, or user and has an identity document or if the owner, responsible user, or user is on board the recreational craft. If the recreational craft has been rented or leased, the registration certificate must always be carried, because in this case, the personal data are not on the registration certificate.
More detailed information on applying for and replacing a certificate of a skipper of recreational craft is available on the Transport Administration’s website.
Certificate of an operator of personal watercraft
The theoretical knowledge required to apply for a certificate of an operator of personal watercraft can be acquired independently or through courses organised by trainers who hold an activity licence for the training of operators of personal watercraft. Applicants for a certificate of an operator of personal watercraft must acquire practical driving skills over the course of at least 2 hours under the supervision of a person holding a certificate of an operator of personal watercraft.
The exam for operators of personal watercraft tests theoretical knowledge. The applicant for a certificate of an operator of personal watercraft takes the examination at an examination body appointed by the course organiser or at an examination board set up by the course organiser. A copy of the examination report is forwarded by the course organiser to the Transport Administration not later than within three working days after the examination.
When using a personal watercraft, the driver must carry a certificate of an operator of personal watercraft and a personal watercraft registration certificate.
More detailed information on applying for and replacing a certificate of an operator of personal watercraft is available on the Transport Administration’s website.
References
- Certificate of a skipper of recreational craft and certificate of an operator of personal watercraft
- Pre-registration inspection of vehicles
- Registration of a watercraft and amending register data
- State fees for the activities of Transport Administration