Skipper is an informal name for the captain, a way to address the person who’s at the helm of a boat or in command of a Navy ship. The word skipper comes from the Dutch Schipper, from schip, or “ship.” Sometimes this word is also used for the captain of a team or the pilot of an airplane.
SAMSA SKIPPER LICENSES
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. The penalties for operating without a license are high and inspectors are clamping down on those operating without a license.
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 doing 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 to start their boating experience. One can start in either, the difference being the boating hours – see below for more details.
R-LICENSE – Dams and Rivers
The license which 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 25 hours on dams or rivers. To be signed by the applicant/student.
- Pass the exam.
E-LICENSE – 1 Nautical mile from the coast and maximum 15 nautical miles from a safe port of entry.
- 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 the sea Skipper’s license.
- Certified copy of the sea Skipper’s ID
- A sworn statement by the sea Skipper that the hours reflected are correct and true.
- Pass the exam.
For course facilities near you – click here.
You can now study online for category R and E and only write the SAMSA exam with one of our affiliated examiners when you are ready. Click here for more info.
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. (Marine Notice 13 of 2011 para. 10.3.1.2)
C-LICENSE – 15 Nautical mile from the coast and maximum 15 nautical miles from an approved launch site.
- Copy of ID document (must be 16 years or older)
- Two passport/id photos
- Medical certificate
- Log of a minimum of 25 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 the sea Skipper’s license.
- Certified copy of the sea Skipper’s ID
- A sworn statement by the sea Skipper that the hours reflected are correct and true.
- Pass the exam on 4 more advanced subjects and practical on navigation.
For course facilities near you – click here.
B-LICENSE – 40 Nautical mile from the coast
The B category is an upgrade from C and needs a minimum of 25 hours experimental training signed of by a licensed skipper.
Surf Launching Endorsement
A sea skipper license does not give the holder the right to launch from a beach and need a endorsement on the license to do so. There is two ways to achieve this:
- 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.
- 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, specified the launches completed and that the student is ready to be tested. The student then arrange with a SAMSA approved examiner to test him/her over two days and, if successful, will receive the endorsement.
Source: skippercourses.co.za