Going Abroad

Andy Moore · 08 October 2005, 14:50

From the BIBOA website:

Going Abroad

When going abroad an I.C.C .is required, together with ships papers, VHF licence, V.A.T.certificate, and boat insurance, (also a translation of the insurance for the country of entry). Any other boating qualifications are useful but not mandatory. These can be asked for on entering harbour, or on open waters by Customs, and a fine imposed if you can not produce them. If you intend to enter European inland waterways the skipper will require a Certificate International de conducteur de bateaux de plaisance. [C E V I Rules] code European des voies de la navigation interieure. The European inland waterways regulations. A copy of Collision at Sea Regulations should be carried.

What's an I.C.C.?

Louise · 08 October 2005, 14:56

Andy,

The ICC (International Certificate of Competence) is a certificate which shows you have reached a certain standard of competence in boat handling. It is recognised in many countries and foreign authorities may require you to be a holder in order to navigate in their coastal waters. The most usual way to obtain it is to do a RYA Level 2 powerboat course. There is a box to tick on the form your instructor fills out at the end of the course which will enable you to be issued with the ICC (assuming you pass!). There is a fee to pay but this is waived if you are or become a member of the RYA (and membership of the RYA is cheaper than the fee!).

There is some more info on requirements for taking your boat abroad here.

HTH

Andy Moore · 08 October 2005, 15:06

Oh Gawd! Not another bl**dy RYA crash course. Sailing is plagued with them now.

At least France & the CIs don't require them (yet) and I very much doubt I will be going any further.

--Andy

Louise · 08 October 2005, 15:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

At least France & the CIs don't require them (yet) and I very much doubt I will be going any further.

Sorry to disappoint you but I think you'll find that, officially, France does require certain documentation to be carried, but maybe not the ICC (see the link in my previous post). Although, in practice, many people are never asked for it, we always have everything with us, just in case!

Andy Moore · 08 October 2005, 15:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louise

Sorry to disappoint you but I think you'll find that, officially, France does require certain documentation to be carried, but maybe not the ICC (see the link in my previous post). Although, in practice, many people are never asked for it, we always have everything with us, just in case!

When sailing, we take our insurance documents but nothing else except our passports. We have never been asked to show any documentation, but always observe the Customs regulations to the letter. This is especially important in the CIs as they fiercely guard their sovereignty.

I must say I am not a fan of all this 'competence testing'. Just get out there and do it, I say. Just my opininon etc....

The Jackeens · 08 October 2005, 17:54

We were papered to the hilt on our blast to Southern Brittany http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11311 but didn't get asked for a thing in over a month. Not even in the Channel Islands. Think the rule goes : the more you carry the less likely you are to get asked for something.

But then again we had Pete 007 with us

missus

eupa · 08 October 2005, 18:24

I had to pull into Oostende the other week and the only free place for 10 minutes was the local water- police barge ( did'nt realize it) - and basically the only thing they were interested to see was the tax disc for the VHF- so if you have a VHF set- pay the tax and get a disc. This is for the boat and has nothing to do with you- however if you use it you will need at least a SRC
certificate.

Jonathan

eupa · 08 October 2005, 18:29

At least France & the CIs don't require them (yet) and I very much doubt I will be going any further.

--Andy

I would not want to contradict you Andy - but I think the French will insist on you having an ICC.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Yes its a little money - but worth it
and will get you away from the missus for a couple of days. I like your mmsi
number... havnt see one like that before.!!!!!!!!!!

Jonathan

eupa · 08 October 2005, 18:30

even Codders has got an ICC - well that's what he says??

Jonathan

codprawn · 08 October 2005, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

even Codders has got an ICC - well that's what he says??

Jonathan

NOT from choice!!!

Also got my SRC - what amazed me was that over half the people on the course didn't have a boat and weren't even thinking of getting one!!!! Wonder why exactly they wanted the certificate - or maybe just another FREE course scheme????

Hugh Jardon · 08 October 2005, 21:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

what amazed me was that over half the people on the course didn't have a boat and weren't even thinking of getting one!!!!

so were you one of them?

sorry couldnt resist

Andy Moore · 09 October 2005, 11:49

I would not want to contradict you Andy - but I think the French will insist on you having an ICC.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

I would be *so* surprised if they did. I don't know if the situation is different for a powerboat, but I have *never* heard of anyone in a yacht being asked for their Day Skipper certificate or whatever.

Just wouldn't work in practice.

Swifty · 09 October 2005, 20:02

OK I have only done 2 foreign trips, but have only ever been asked for ships papers and passports when we were in Calais. We carry the full plethora of paper and certificates but all they wanted was our SSR!. Mind you if you did upset them somehow I bet they would insist on checking everything.

hard1 · 09 October 2005, 21:52

From memory, this all came about some years ago when the French refused to accept any RYA certification at face value, when they decided they could hound les Anglais in other ways than blockading ferry ports with fishing boats. The compromise was the ICC which they accept pretty much without question. You should always carry your full ships papers, insurance in French, your personal VHF licence, and VHF set licence, and the ICC. You may never be asked for them, but i do know some guys who were fined on the spot and denied port entry for not having them. It is probable they upset les garcons en bleu and this was the response, but even so it pays to be prepared when dealing with Les Francais.

A tout a l'heures.

Rodan · 11 October 2005, 08:59

RIB hire in French med was fine with RYA level 2... that was last week.

eupa · 11 October 2005, 12:58

this was the response, but even so it pays to be prepared when dealing with Les Francais.

In the hope of not stirring up international hostilities, I must confess I have never had problems with " Les Francais"- even when I have been blatently wrong!!!
(got caught at 200 kph in my youth- and got away with it FOC. Perahps that was when men were men and the law open to discussion!!!!
The other time was when testing my boat - went to Calais and entered without port permission and got slung into jail and they took 3 hours to check me out- but they were right and I was wrong.However, I find them courteous and not out to make trouble. They do appreciate people who try to speak their language...but they cant make me out.. There is a slight quebec accent coupled with some Belgium slang.. Garish would go down fine with them!!!!!!!!!!!

Jonathan

Richard B · 11 October 2005, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

Garish would go down fine with them!!!!!!!!!!!

I've got some yellow waterproofs. Will I be OK then?

eupa · 11 October 2005, 14:26

I've got some yellow waterproofs. Will I be OK then?

Don'k know Dicky - you come over as a stubborn sort of Brit-- that means directement La Bastille or L'oubliette!!!!!!!!

Jonathan

Richard B · 11 October 2005, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

Don'k know Dicky - you come over as a stubborn sort of Brit-- that means directement La Bastille or L'oubliette!!!!!!!!

Given a choice, I'll opt for L'oubliette it looks like it does good food in a pleasant ambience!

eupa · 11 October 2005, 14:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

Given a choice, I'll opt for L'oubliette it looks like it does good food in a pleasant ambience!

very, very , very good/ how the hell did you find that so quick?

Jonathan