On 10 May 2017, just nine days after the originally announced date, the new recreational boating licence ordinance came into force (BGBl I, 2017, p. 1016). It replaces the previous "Inland" and "Sea" recreational boating licence ordinances, making one ordinance out of two.
The lead ministry of transport is of the opinion that by merging the regulations
"the ... historically evolved different treatment of the same facts ... is eliminated".
The price for this is that the slender terms "Sportbootführerschein See" and "Sportbootführerschein Binnen" are a thing of the past and have been replaced by veritable term monsters: The sea licence is now called
"Recreational craft licence with the scope of maritime shipping routes"
and the inland licence accordingly
"Recreational craft licence with the scope of inland waterways".
In everyday life, however, hardly anyone is likely to go along with this absurdity, and it will remain with the SBF "See" and "Binnen".
But now to the crucial question: what - apart from this conceptual "renewal" - is really new about the new appearance?
The most important change right at the beginning:
Holders of the old and new "Binnenscheins" are now authorised to operate boats up to a length of 19.99 m (without bowsprit and rudder) on inland waterways - the old regulations only permitted 14.99 m. A route customer certificate, which was previously required for navigating certain waters with boats over 15 metres in length with the pleasure craft certificate, is no longer necessary!
The extension of the scope of application to 19.99 metres on inland waterways is primarily justified by this,
"that in some neighbouring countries the navigation of pleasure craft up to a length of 20 m is permitted and holidaymakers from these countries with pleasure craft with a length of more than 15 m could not benefit from the so-called 'guest regulation' in Germany".
However, this extension of the scope of applicationnot on the Rhine, on which a sports licence is still required for boats over 15 m in length (without bowsprit and rudder). What a pity, because it would have made sense to extend the scope of application to 19.99 metres, especially on the Rhine. To do this, however, the Minister of Transport would have had to convince the responsible Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine (CCNR), in which all Rhine riparian states decide jointly. That would probably have meant too much effort.
On the maritime waterways, however, everything remains the same; the recreational craft licence is still required for the operation of recreational craft with a power of more than 11.03 kW (15 hp) without a length limit.
However, there is one new feature: While there was previously an age limit (from 16 years) for driving boats between 3.06 and 11.03 kW without a licence, this provision no longer applies.
We are pleased that the new driving licence will be issued as a plastic card in cheque card format from 1 January 2018 and that there will only be one card - even if you have purchased both licences. The area of validity will be shown on the card, similar to a car driving licence. However, as this will only be available from 1 January next year, it is logical that both driving licences will be issued in their current form until the end of 2017.
The new regulation does not change the previous examination content.
Anyone who would like to have the new plastic version from 2018 onwards can have their old "cards" rewritten by the German Motor Yacht Association (DMYV) and German Sailing Association (DSV), the associations entrusted with conducting the driving licence test. The replacement licence will cost 32 euros.
The new regulation also brings the followingProcedural changes:
- Applicants for a recreational craft licence can submit their applications for admission to the examination up to one week before the desired examination date.
- The theoretical and practical examinations can be taken at different times within a year at an examination board of the same association.
- Examinations for the acquisition of a recreational craft licence with the scope of maritime shipping routes can now also be taken abroad. This was already possible before for the "inland licence".
