An International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft (ICC), informally referred to as an International Certificate of Competence (ICC), is a certificate issued under United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Resolution No. 40 or, in states that continue to apply it, the earlier Resolution No. 14. It may be issued to a person who has successfully completed an approved national boating qualification or passed an examination demonstrating the competence necessary to operate a pleasure craft.
The ICC is the only sailing license approved by the United Nations as a legitimate recreational sailing license.Online Sailing Certification and Endorsement Programs Worldwide Although formal recognition is limited to countries applying the relevant United Nations resolutions, the ICC is commonly accepted where evidence of boating competence is required.
In broad terms, an ICC is often required on the inland waterways of Europe and on the inland and coastal waters of Mediterranean countries. It is generally not required in the coastal waters of Northern Europe. Requirements vary, however, according to the country, the waters concerned, the vessel and the circumstances of its operation, and exceptions exist in each region.
Description of the ICC
The ICC is a product of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Inland Water Committee (UN ECE IWC) Resolution 40 (hereafter called Resolution 40). This states that the ICC may be issued by a government of one state to its nationals and residents who may be on the waters of a foreign state, on condition that both accept the requirements and conditions set out in Resolution 40.
Governments may appoint competent authorities to issue ICC on their behalf. Globally International Yacht Training Worldwide (IYT) has been delegated such authority by both Ireland and the UK, and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA)Some Good News Regarding the International Certificate of Competence and the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) are both authorized by the UK.
The ICC provides documentary assurance from one government to another that the holder meets the levels of competence laid down in Resolution 40. However, the acceptance of Resolution 40 is often caveated.
History of the ICC
The origins of the ICC arose from navigation on the Rhine and the Danube (Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine) and the need for reassurance that vessel operators were competent to ensure safety of navigation and protection of the environment as they moved from one country to another. As a result, on 29 January 1979, the United Nations Working Party on Inland Water Transport adopted Resolution 14, which recommended the introduction of a European document for an International Certificate (International Card) to provide those assurances. The Resolution was also intended to facilitate 'waterborne tourism'. Until then operators could well have been expected to produce competency certificates for each country whose waters they were on.
In the mid-nineties, the Working Group on Inland Water Transport considered that Resolution 14 needed updating and strengthening and on 16 October 1998 the Working Party adopted their revisions as Resolution 40; this replaced Resolution 14.
The ICC is only applicable where the visited state has also adopted or recognises the ICC as a valid standard of competency.
Application of the ICC
Resolution 40 not only included operators of pleasure craft bound for or on the inland and coastal waters of foreign states but specifically included bareboat charter vessels. Significantly, it also set out the nautical, regulatory and technical competency requirements to be achieved and a minimum age (16 years of age) for the issue of an ICC irrespective of individual national schemes.
It is the professional opinion of the UNECE IWC that the standards set out in Resolution 40 provide a reasonable and appropriate level of competence for day sailing with due regard to the safety of navigation and crew and the protection of the environment. It is strongly recommended that governments recognise this rather than be drawn into discussions on where the ICC may or may not fit into their own national schemes – much the same as acceptance of the international driving licence.
As of 2026, 25 states apply either Resolution 40 or the earlier Resolution 14. Of these, 24 are UNECE member states; South Africa applies Resolution 40 but is not a UNECE member state. In reality many countries choose to accept the ICC even though they have not adopted the resolution – but of course this is on their terms and can be subject to local variations. Spain, Greece and Portugal, for example, have not adopted Resolution 40 but are still most likely to ask visitors for an ICC. In reality, the ICC is more widely accepted as proof of the holder’s competence than adoption of Resolution 40 would suggest.
Application of Resolution 40 The following states apply Resolution 40 and therefore officially recognize ICCs issued under the resolution, subject to any conditions they have notified to the UNECE. All are UNECE member states except South Africa: