International Certificate of competence

What is the ICC?

The ICC is intended to provide evidence of competence when requested by officials in a country you are visiting (i.e. a country you are not a citizen or a resident of).

It’s an assurance from one government to another that the certificate holder is sufficiently competent to be operating a pleasure craft, despite not holding the visited country’s certificate.

Is the ICC for me?

When you visit another country, in most circumstances (in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) you can be required to comply with the maritime legislation of the visited country (the Coastal State) in addition to that of your vessel’s country of registration.

To know whether the ICC is the right document for your circumstances you need to consider the applicable legislation.

Find out more about applicable legislation and flag and coastal states.

What is Resolution No. 40 and why is it important?

The ICC was developed under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Inland Transport Committee Working Party on Inland Water Transport Resolution No. 40, the UK Government has accepted Resolution No. 40 and has authorised the RYA to issue a UK ICC on its behalf.

Resolution No. 40 details how and to who the ICC may be issued, the syllabus requirements and the layout of the certificate. The Resolution also lists the countries which have notified the UNECE Secretariat that they have accepted the resolution.

Find out more about ICC Resolution No. 40