Sportbootführerschein See Study Guide (Germany) 2026

The Sportbootführerschein

On German federal waterways you need the official Sportbootführerschein to drive a boat with a combustion engine over 11.03 kW (15 PS) or an electric motor over 7.5 kW. The licence is issued for one or both scopes (Geltungsbereiche):

Scope	Where	Boat size
Binnen (inland)	Federal inland waterways: rivers, canals, many lakes	Under 20 m; 20 to 25 m needs the Sportschifferzeugnis
See (sea)	Federal sea waterways along the North Sea and Baltic coasts	No length limit; for private use only

On some inland waters, sailing boats also need a licence. For longer coastal and offshore trips there are further certificates (SKS, SSS, SHS).

Requirements

Minimum age 16 for motorboats and 14 for sailing boats.
Under 18: written or electronic consent from a parent or guardian.
A medical certificate of physical and mental fitness; eyesight and hearing can be checked. Poor colour vision cannot be offset.
Reliability: serious traffic offences or drink and drug use on the water can lead to refusal.

The DMYV (motor yacht association) and DSV (sailing association) run the exams and issue licences for the federal transport ministry.

The theory exam

The theory exam is multiple choice with 4 options and one right answer. The questions come from a public official catalogue on ELWIS (version of August 2023). For the sea licence, it has 72 basic questions, 213 sea-specific questions and 15 chart navigation tasks. The 72 basic questions are the same for the inland licence.

Exam	Questions (pass mark)	Time
SBF See	7 basic (5) + 23 See (18) + navigation task 9 (7)	60 min
SBF See, already holding SBF Binnen with engine	23 See (18) + navigation task 9 (7)	50 min
SBF Binnen with engine	7 basic (5) + 23 Binnen (18)	45 min

Each part is marked separately. You must reach every pass mark: a perfect navigation task cannot make up for too many wrong basic answers. If you take both scopes on the same day, you answer the basic questions only once.

There is also a practical exam on the water. Under § 8 SpFV, you must pass all parts within one year of the first part, and you cannot retake a failed part on the same day.

Rules on German sea waterways

Two sets of rules apply at sea: the international collision regulations (KVR, also called COLREGs) and Germany's Seeschifffahrtsstraßen-Ordnung (SeeSchStrO). Where they differ, the SeeSchStrO wins on German sea waterways.

Fairways (Fahrwasser)

A fairway is the marked channel for through traffic. Keep as far to starboard as is safe.
The starboard side of a fairway is the side on your right when you come in from the sea.
Vessels following the fairway have priority over boats crossing it, entering it, turning or leaving a berth.
Overtake normally on the port side. No overtaking in narrow places, blind bends, near ferries under way, or at locks.
When meeting head-on, both keep to starboard.
No anchoring in the fairway (except in roadsteads), and not within 300 m of cables, pipelines or wrecks.

Speed and alcohol

Always go at a safe speed and slow down in time so your wash and suction do not harm others. Outside the fairway, within 500 m of the shore where people are swimming, the limit is 8 km/h (about 4.3 knots). The skipper may not steer with 0.5 per mille or more alcohol in the blood (0.25 mg/l in the breath). Limits for THC and other drugs also apply.

The skipper is responsible for following the rules. Before leaving, brief crew and guests on lifejackets, rescue and fire equipment, and how to avoid falling overboard.

Right of way under the KVR

Situation	Who keeps clear
Two power boats crossing	The one with the other on its starboard side
Two power boats head-on	Both turn to starboard and pass port to port
Overtaking	The overtaking vessel, always
Power boat and sailing boat	The power boat (unless it is being overtaken)
Two sailing boats, wind on different sides	The one with the wind on its port side
Two sailing boats, wind on the same side	The windward boat
Sailing boat and fishing vessel	The sailing boat

A boat is overtaking when it comes from more than 22.5° abaft the beam of the other. A sailing boat using its engine counts as a power-driven vessel. Watch the compass bearing: if the distance shrinks and the bearing hardly changes, you are on a collision course.

The give-way vessel must act early and clearly. The stand-on vessel keeps course and speed but must act itself at the last moment if the other cannot avoid a collision alone.

Lights and sound signals

Show lights from sunset to sunrise and in poor visibility. Sidelights are green on starboard and red on port (112.5° each); the stern light is white (135°); the masthead light is white (225°). Sailing boats under 20 m may use a tricolour lantern at the masthead.

You see	Meaning
Two red all-round lights, one above the other	Vessel not under command
One white all-round light (small vessel)	Vessel at anchor (under 50 m)
Green and red sidelights and white stern light only	Sailing vessel or towed vessel

Signal	Meaning
1 short blast (about 1 second)	I am altering course to starboard
2 short blasts	I am altering course to port
3 short blasts	I am operating astern propulsion
5 or more short blasts	Doubt or warning: are you taking action?
1 prolonged blast (4 to 6 seconds) at least every 2 minutes	Power vessel making way in fog
2 prolonged blasts at least every 2 minutes	Power vessel stopped, not making way, in fog

Buoyage on German coasts

German sea waterways use the lateral and cardinal marks set out in Annex I of the SeeSchStrO. The direction is always seen coming in from the sea.

Mark	Colour and shape	Topmark	Light
Starboard side	Green, cone buoy or pole; odd numbers	Green cone, point up	Green
Port side	Red, flat-topped (can) or spar buoy; even numbers	Red cylinder	Red
North cardinal	Black over yellow	Two black cones, points up	White, continuous quick flashes
East cardinal	Black with a yellow band	Cones base to base	White, 3 flashes
South cardinal	Yellow over black	Two cones, points down	White, 6 flashes + long flash
West cardinal	Yellow with a black band	Cones point to point	White, 9 flashes
Isolated danger	Black with a red band	Two black balls	White, groups of 2 flashes

Pass a cardinal mark on the side its name says: keep to the north of a north mark. An isolated danger mark sits on a small hazard with safe water all around.

Safety and emergencies

Wear a lifejacket. 150 N jackets suit all waters and turn an unconscious person face up; 275 N is for offshore and heavy clothing. Service inflatable jackets at least every 2 years.
Check fire extinguishers at least every 2 years.
Before refuelling, stop the engine, avoid switches and flames, and do not spill fuel.
Liquid gas is heavier than air and collects in the bilge. If you smell gas, shut it off, ventilate and avoid switches and phones.
Under way, watch engine temperature, oil pressure and battery charging.
Keep away from reed beds, which are breeding areas for protected birds and fish.

Distress and man overboard

In danger, send MAYDAY on VHF channel 16 to Bremen Rescue, or press the DSC button (channel 70). Give your position and the problem. You can also phone MRCC Bremen on +49 421 53 68 70. Use orange smoke by day and red flares at night, but never rockets near a helicopter.

Shout and point at the person; one crew member keeps watching them.
Throw a lifebuoy or anything that floats.
Press the MOB/POB button on the GPS and send MAYDAY.
Return carefully. Stop or idle the propeller before you reach the person.