BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
The International Certificate of Competence (ICC): what it's for when renting a boat
What the ICC actually is, why some overseas charter bases ask for it alongside a French boating licence, and what to check before a bareboat charter.
"Do you have an ICC?" The question catches plenty of licensed boaters off guard when they turn up for a bareboat charter abroad. The International Certificate of Competence is not a base's invention: it is a real, internationally framed document, built on a specific logic.
A document rooted in a UN resolution
The ICC is based on Resolution No. 40 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which sets out an internationally recognised template certifying a boater's competence, accepted by a large number of European countries. It comes in two parts: a seagoing section and an inland waterways section, the latter validated by a CEVNI test, the signage code used on Europe's inland waterways.
Why an overseas operator might ask for one
A national boating licence is not always a format that a foreign charter base immediately recognises, particularly outside the EU or on inland canals in the Netherlands, Germany or Belgium. The ICC offers a standardised, instantly recognisable format that reassures the operator about the skipper's actual level — much like an international driving permit reassures a car rental agency abroad.
What it changes in practice for most renters
In practice, a national boating licence is accepted by the vast majority of Mediterranean bases Boat-Comparator compares, in both Croatia and Greece — our guides on Greek bareboat licence rules and Croatian licence requirements detail exactly what to present. The ICC mostly matters as a supplement, on an operator's explicit request, or for cruising inland waterways across several neighbouring countries on a private boat.
The right move before booking
Before any bareboat booking, especially outside the classic Mediterranean circuit, ask the base directly which documents it requires: a national licence alone, an ICC, or proof of sailing experience. A serious operator answers clearly before taking a deposit, as our guide on checking a rental operator explains.
What the research says about boater training
Beyond the paperwork itself, the logic behind these certificates — confirming a baseline of competence before handing over a boat — finds support in the research: a study of public interventions and regulation in US recreational boating found that an operator's age, experience and training measurably affect the likelihood of injury or death in an accident (Hsieh, J.C., A Study of Recreational Boating Public Interventions, Regulations and Accidents Utilizing Federal and State Data, dissertation, Johns Hopkins University, 2020, see the study on Google Scholar).
Compare before you go
Boat-Comparator queries Boataround, SamBoat and Click&Boat live to show the boats actually available for your dates, including in Split, where bareboat charter is especially common — a good moment to confirm the paperwork a base expects before you confirm your booking.
Free checklist
Rent a boat with no nasty surprises
Deposit, insurance, check-in inspection, fuel, navigation areas, weather: our checklist covers everything to verify before booking and on departure day. Sign up to access it and receive our tips by email.
Thank you! Your checklist is ready: Rent a boat with no nasty surprises →