Recreational craft licence: 28 new questions - what changes there will be
Johannes Erdmann
· 11.07.2023
In water sports, as in road traffic, there are always changes and innovations. This is why the catalogue of questions and answers for the recreational craft licence was recently revised and supplemented. A total of eight questions and answers for inland waterways have been amended, and as many as 20 changes have been made for maritime waterways.
The new issues mainly concern the following topics: Based on an amendment to the Inland Waterways Personnel Ordinance (14 April 2023), the previously applicable horsepower/length regulation for the Rhine has been adjusted so that the corresponding limits for the other inland waterways now apply.
Recreational craft licence: New questions on the subject of the environment
Following an amendment to the Recreational Craft Licence Ordinance (in January 2023), a regulation for electric motors was also included in the list of questions. This stipulates that recreational boaters who use an electric motor of more than 7.5 kW must have an official recreational boating licence in future.
The names of the authorities have also been updated, for example the now renamed "Wasser- und Schifffahrtsdirektionen Nord und Nordwest", which is now called "Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt" (GDWS).
New questions have also been added on knowledge of sailing areas and the environment. One question, for example, is "What effect can wind and opposing tidal currents have in the area of a sea anchor?", another is "Where can you find information about environmentally friendly paints, varnishes and antifouling coatings for your boat?".
The detailed changes and possible answers can be found on the Website of the DSV can be viewed here.
