Recreational boating licence: Is the end in sight? What the reform means for sailors
Until now, the German Sailing Association (DSV) and the German Motor Yacht Association (DMYV) were commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) to conduct driving licence examinations, issue approvals and issue driving licences. The ministry wants to Lending to associations now abolish it - at least according to a current Draft bill exactly that. The reasoning: The current system is too bureaucratic and outdated.
"Pleasure craft licence not required"
That is why the BMV wants to put an end to this soon. Instead, other water sports organisations should be able to take on these tasks in future. That would be the end of the official recreational craft licence!
This is justifiable, says the BMV in its draft bill:
No official recreational boating licence is required to maintain the level of safety in recreational boating (...).
The BMV bases this on a specially commissioned study. The researchers compared regulations on the obligation to hold a recreational boating licence with actual accident figures. The result: a correlation could not be proven. Instead, the study sees high traffic volumes and a lack of knowledge of the area as the main causes of accidents.
What is planned?
Instead of the official recreational boating licences, from 2028 Association certificates that are sufficient as a driving licence. Prerequisite: The BMV must recognise them and they must meet defined quality standards. They will then be allowed to issue the licences on their own responsibility.
In addition:
- The new recreational boating regulations bundles several existing regulations. The goal: more overview, less bureaucracy, simpler application
- Sailors no longer need a licence - not even on federal waterways in Berlin and Brandenburg
- Practical examinations of the association licences must take place where the licence in question is to be valid. These are the federal waterways on inland waterways and the maritime waterways in the area of validity of the sea licence
- The special regulation for electric motors no longer applies. In future a standardised performance limit of 11.03 kW - regardless of the drive.
- Association certificates are limited in time
- Boat hire is simplified
- All proposed amendments can be found here in the draft bill
But with this proposal, the BMV massive resistance. The consultation process, in which the federal states and associations were able to comment, ran until mid-November. Several are now voicing harsh public criticism: they fear security risks and a privatisation of state tasks.
What do the countries have to say about the plans?
In Schleswig-Holstein both the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Transport have had their say. While they welcome the planned standardisation, they express concerns about the abolition of the official recreational craft licence.
Transport Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen (CDU) says:
Private association certificates almost inevitably lead to different inspection standards - even if the BMV recognises the associations. This significantly jeopardises safety on the waterways."
He also believes that environmental protection and state control are jeopardised. The reason: a lack of and inconsistent training. "This approach is too risky for Schleswig-Holstein with its great importance in terms of water sports policy, high maritime density and security policy significance. It cannot be accepted," says Madsen.
Inland areas in southern Germany particularly affected
The transport minister of BavariaChristian Bernreiter (CSU), is calling for improvements. The draft creates too many new hurdles and too much bureaucracy.
If in future the practical tests can only be taken on federal waterways and no longer on Bavarian lakes, then the water rescue service, among others, will have major problems."
According to Bernreiter, this places an unnecessary burden on the helpers, who primarily work on a voluntary basis. What's more, the local training that clubs and schools in Bavaria currently offer would no longer be available. Bernreiter wants to campaign against this.
What do the water sports associations say?
Amongst the associations, the German Sailing Association (DSV) to speak - there is a lot at stake for him. The change would deprive it of an important source of income and end its central role in issuing the licences. The DSV considers the planned regulation to be Unlawful, disproportionate and inappropriateto achieve the federal government's security and bureaucratisation goals.
In a press release says DSV Secretary General Germar Brockmeyer:
If inspections are carried out without state supervision in future, this is a dangerous step backwards. The state must not abdicate its responsibility for safety on our waterways."
Read more: DSV warns of loss of quality
"New hurdles instead of bureaucratisation"
The studyThe DSV sharply criticises the report, which the federal government provides as a basis for argumentation, stating that it only examined the inland waterways and deliberately excluded maritime waterways. Furthermore, the report shows no need to abolish the recreational boating licence in its current form.
Further points of criticism from the DSV:
- If you leave the Pricing the free market, there is a risk of non-transparent structures and price dumping at the expense of audit quality
- Instead of reducing bureaucracy, the reform creates New hurdles. These include:
- Exam locations less close to home
- Full examinations only possible on the coast
- Elimination of established examination venues
- The entire DSV statement with all points of criticism can be found here
The DSV demands that the Lending not abolished will be. Instead, it should be opened up and specifically adapted.
Water sports organisations pull together
This is also what the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB). He and other associations are backing the DSV. The association licence is not an equivalent replacement for the established recreational boating licence, says the DOSB. Without the necessary sanctions, there is a risk of a loss of quality - and this would jeopardise the safety of many water sports enthusiasts.
The German Motor Yacht Association (DMYV) takes a different approach in its criticism: the new BMV regulation violates laws and the constitution. The examination for a recreational boating licence is a state task - and this should not be privatised. In his statement the association specifically lists where the ordinance conflicts with existing laws.
Recreational boating licence could lose significance
The ADAC and German Maritime Industries Association (VMWD) have jointly commented on the draft - and are generally more open to the BMV's plan. Both organisations have been advocating an opening for some time. They welcome the expanded opportunities for competition. However, they also reject the abolition of the official recreational boating licence.
More about pleasure craft licences:
Their concern: the relevance of the licence could suffer. "The consumer could, for example, see this as a signal that sound training to operate a recreational craft is not so important," say VMWD and ADAC. To prevent this, they are calling for clear guidelines - on recognition, technical and legal supervision. Especially when it comes to the organisation of examinations.
What happens next?
The draft bill is only a few weeks old, but it solves a number of problems. fierce controversies This is shown by the reactions of the federal states and associations. When recreational boaters will feel the concrete consequences depends on how the Federal Ministry of Transport deals with the numerous critical comments.
In terms of timing, the draft bill and the subsequent consultation will only be followed by the Issue of the ordinance by the Federal Minister of Transport. Depending on the complexity of the topic, from the draft to the finished regulation can be still some time pass.
However, when the draft was published, the BMV announced that it wanted to finalise the process this year so that the New rules for the start of the 2026 season can come into force.
The ministry is currently planning a transitional period: the fundamental changes, in particular the introduction of the Association certificatesshall only effective from 1 January 2028 be realised. However, it can be assumed that the countries will not accept the current plans uncritically.
You can read how the BMV reacted to the criticism and what happens next at YACHT online.
