Boat License in Montenegro

Strolling along the waterfront of one of Montenegro’s beautiful marinas and looking at the boats is great fun but it also evokes envy, especially in visitors who have always dreamt of entering the seafaring world but thought it would be too challenging. It is, contrary to popular belief, possible to obtain a sailing or power boat license in just a few days, and chartering a boat does not by definition need to be more expensive than staying in a hotel.

Yachting in Montenegro

Yachting in Montenegro is becoming increasingly popular and it is easy to see why: stunning landscapes, brand-new port infrastructure, and mild weather.

Having a boat license comes with many benefits such as having deserted beaches and picturesque coves all to yourself when others have to fight over limited beach acreage. Particularly here in Montenegro where the waterways are not as overcrowded as the beaches, it is surely worth being able to safely steer a boat and escape when required.

It is for good reason that the yachting industry in Montenegro is booming and that several annual regattas are held here, such as the Fasinada Cup and the Thousand Island Race. Not surprisingly, Montenegro has a long maritime tradition going back almost a millennium. As a matter of fact, brand-new luxury marinas, lots of sunshine, and favorable winds constitute the perfect boating conditions.

Lustica Bay

A medium-sized marina south of Tivat, Lustica Bay is one of the obvious choices for boaters to stay overnight. There is also a sailing school and charter companies.

Portonovi

Learn more about Portonovi, a luxury marina close to Herceg Novi offering a wide range of restaurants, boutiques, and cafes. Superyachts of up to 120m can dock here.

Even though there are several different boat licenses to choose from, the ones to go for are the Bareboat Skipper Sail IYT (for sailboats) and Bareboat Skipper Power IYT (for motorboats) licenses. With these qualifications in hand, you can automatically apply for the “International Certificate of Competency” (ICC) which is required across Europe for chartering.

Chartering a boat in Montenegro without a skipper also requires you to have ICC qualifications or the RYA Day Skipper license from the United Kingdom, even for the smallest of boats. Training courses are available in English (and Russian) at the Sail Band Sailing School which also offers power licenses besides their name.

The Bareboat Skipper Sail package comes at 1,600€ and includes 10-day accommodation on a sailing yacht. Acquiring both licenses is possible within 13 days at a rate of 2,500€ (the price for just the power boat license is 1,500€) and also includes yacht accommodation.

Alternatively, the Porto Montenegro Yacht Club also offers the 2-day RYA Powerboat Handling (Level 2) course. After completion, you will earn the internationally recognized RYA (Royal Yachting Association) certificate which allows you to skipper boats up to ten meters in length but only during daylight hours.

Porto Montenegro

Porto Montenegro is the first marina of its kind in this part of the world, being able to accommodate superyachts of up to 250 meters in length.

This license is sufficient to meet the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) issuing requirements and can be converted straight away. The PMYC also offers jet ski courses and a youth sailing scheme, geared towards children and teenagers from 8 to 16 years of age where they will learn the basics of sailing on a small boat.

Bareboat charterers require you to have a valid Marine VHF radio certificate as well. Here you can choose between the Long Range Certificate (LRC) which is a thing to consider if you ever plan to leave the Mediterranean to cross the Atlantic. If you stay within the Mediterranean basin, a Short Range Certificate (SRC) is sufficient, however.

Passing the Bareboat Skipper IYT license (sail and powerboat) requires both a theoretical test and practical assessments with a focus on boat handling, launching & recovery, anchoring, and securing a buoy. It’ll take you somewhere from two to eight weeks to digest the theoretical knowledge needed to pass the test in which you’ll need to answer a wide array of questions on seamanship, so better be prepared.