Licenses

SAMSA SKIPPER LICENSES

In South Africa The Small Vessel Code lays out the different levels of competence that a candidate must achieve in order to obtain a certificate for the level desired.

To operate a vessel, smaller or equal to 9 meters with an engine larger than 15hp – jet skis included, on dams, rivers, sea and in harbours in South Africa, a skipper license is required.

Without a valid license, you will not get insurance, finance or be allowed on any water in South Africa. Should someone be in an accident on the water, the person maybe criminally charged – especially if there are people with injuries or death.

The following license categories are available:

  • Category R: This covers all inland waters, estuaries, lagoons & ports
  • Category E: Vessels only going 1Nm offshore
  • Category C: Vessels going up to 15Nm offshore
  • Category B: Vessels going up to 40Nm offshore
  • Skipper Coastal (Pleasure)
  • Skipper Coastal (Commercial)
  • Skipper Offshore (Pleasure)
  • Skipper Offshore (Commercial)

It is possible to skip categories – i.e. skip E and going to C by attending a sea academy where the instructor will take the student through the different levels.

REQUIREMENTS

Categories ‘R’ and ‘E’ are the entry levels for skippers starting their boating experience.

R-LICENSE – Dams and Rivers
This license allows the holder to operate on dams, rivers, lakes, lagoons and harbours in South Africa.

  • Copy of ID document (must be 16 years or older)
  • Four passport/id photos
  • Medical certificate
  • Log of a minimum of 50 hours on dams or rivers. To be signed by a licensed skipper.
  • Pass the SAMSA exam for category R and E

E-LICENSE  1 Nautical mile from the coast.

This license allows the student to go out on the sea at a maximum of 1 nautical mile from the coastline, however, not further than 15 miles from a safe exit and entry harbour.

  • Copy of ID document (must be 16 years or older)
  • Four passport/id photos
  • Medical certificate
  • Log of a minimum of 50 hours on the sea. To be signed off by a licensed sea skipper.
  • Certified copy of that sea Skipper’s license.
  • Certified copy of that sea  Skipper’s ID
  • A sworn statement by the sea Skipper that the hours reflected are correct and true.
  • Pass the SAMSA exam for category R and E

Upgrading from R to E

The syllabus for R and E is the same, but the sea-time requirements are different. Hence a person can upgrade his Skipper Inland Waters (unrestricted) to a Day Skipper Category E by producing practical sea-time alone. No need to do another course or write an exam. (Marine Notice 13 of 2011 para. 10.3.1.2)

C-LICENSE  15 Nautical miles from the coast and maximum 15 nautical miles from an approved launch site.

  • Copy of ID document (must be 16 years or older)
  • Four passport/id photos
  • Medical certificate
  • Log of a minimum of 50 hours on a minimum category D vessel at sea. To be signed off by a licensed sea skipper with a skipper license C or higher.
  • Certified copy of that sea Skipper’s license.
  • Certified copy of that sea Skipper’s ID
  • A sworn statement by the sea Skipper that the hours reflected are correct and true.
  • Pass the SAMSA exam on 4 more advanced subjects and a practical on navigation.
  • It is important to know that should you wish to go further than 1 mile from the coast you need to be in possession of a VHF DSC Radio operators certificate.

B-LICENSE  40 Nautical miles from the coast

The B category is an upgrade from C and needs a further minimum of 50 sea hours signed off by a licensed skipper.

Surf Launching Endorsement

A sea skipper license does not give the holder the right to launch from a beach you need an endorsement on the license to do so. There are two ways to achieve this:

  1. Attend a formal course at the coast where the SAMSA approved examiner will then test the applicant over a minimum of 4 days – 3 launches per day.
  2. Do the training under the supervision of a licensed sea skipper who has a surf launch endorsement. Training must be conducted under different sea and weather conditions with at least 3 launches per day. Once the sea skipper is confident that student can launch in a safe and responsible manner, he/she has to do a signed affidavit, under oath, specifying that the launches completed  as well as the student, are ready to be tested. The student then arranges with a SAMSA approved examiner to test him/her over two days and, if successful, will receive the endorsement.