Wants to get a Deck officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft certificate
What are the requirements for obtaining aClass 5 Pleasure Craft certificate.
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Electronic certificate for Deck officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft
The Deck officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft certificate will only be issued electronically from March 20, 2025.
The electronic certificates will no longer include a photo and signature.
If you have been issued a Deck officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft certificate in the form of a plastic card, you can still use this. If you lose the plastic card, it will no longer be possible to apply for a duplicate.
Everyone who has a Deck officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft certificate will be able to log in to the NMA Seafarer app to view the certificate.
See an example of an electronic Deck officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft certificate here.
Who must take a Deck officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft certificate?
If you are going to operate a recreational craft with a hull length of 15 metres and up to 24 metres in heavy coastal traffic, you must have a Deck officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft certificate.
We have two different types of Deck officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft certificates: Class 5 Pleasure Craft certificate (D5L) and Class 5 Pleasure Craft certificate with extended trade area (D5LA).
- With the D5L, you can operate Norwegian recreational vessels in the trade area Great Coasting.
- D5LA gives rights to operate Norwegian recreational craft in unrestricted trade areas (all waters).
The following regulations regulate the Deck officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft certificate:
- Regulations on qualifications and certificates for seafarers
- Requirements for colour vision for the issuance of a recreational skipper's certificate (circular)
Where can I get a Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft Certificate?
What requirements do I need to meet to get the Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate?
You can apply for aDeck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate if you are at least 18 years old and meet the following criteria:
- passed Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft course, holder of a diploma from higher maritime education or holder of a certificate of competence for deck officer.
- document approved seagoing service.
- Valid medical certificate from a doctor.
You can extend your Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft (D5L) to a Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate with Extended Trade Area (D5LA) by taking additional training.
A complete overview of eligibility requirements for the issuance of D5L and D5LA can be found here.
Foreign competence
A circular has been prepared outlining the assessment criteria for applicants seeking a Deck officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft (D5L) based on foreign competence. Applicants who, according to the circular, should request an exemption from the course attendance requirement may submit their request to post@sdir.no.
The circular can be found here:
Issuance of Certificate for Deck Officer Class 5 Pleasure Craft based on foreign competence - Norwegian Maritime Authority
Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft course
The Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft course is a subject-based course that covers the theoretical and practical training required to operate a recreational craft of up to 24 metres in the trade area large coastal trade.
The course consists of 120 teaching hours spread over eight modules, where each module has a written or practical final exam:
- Navigation
- Navigation aids
- Rules of the road at sea and bridge guarding
- Ship's Apprenticeship
- Security
- Technology/motor science
- Navigation aids in practice (practical)
- Vessel handling (practical)
After completing the course, you will receive a diploma confirming completed education and you now meet the education requirement to be issued a leisure skipper's certificate. Before you apply for the certificate, you must also document approved seagoing service. You can do this, among other things, by taking a practical check-out at the same school/course center as the rest of the teaching.
An overview of approved schools/course centers can be found here.
Current curriculum for D5L (pdf)
Available in Norwegian only.
Current curriculum for D5LA (pdf)
Available in Norwegian only.
Diploma from higher maritime education
A diploma that covers at least Appendix III, Table A-II/3 of the Qualifications Regulations (education at deck officer class 5 level (D5)), provides the basis for the issuance of a Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate. The diploma cannot be older than five years.
A diploma that covers at least Annex III Table A-II/1 (education at deck officer class 4 level (D4)) provides the basis for the issuance of a recreational skipper's certificate with extended trade area (D5LA). The diploma cannot be older than five years.
A diploma after training from a deck officer class 6 (D6) provides the basis for the issuance of a Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate. In addition to your diploma, you must show a minimum approved safety training course for seafarers on smaller ships. Alternatively, you can pass module 5 on safety in the curriculum for recreational skippers.
More information about issuance on the basis of education to D6 can be found here.
For those who have a diploma for D5 without a simulator (external exam), it is also required that you meet the following requirements:
- Minimum safety course for seafarers on smaller ships or completed course 5 on safety in the curriculum for Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft.
- Completed the practical courses in the curriculum for recreational skippers (handling of vessels and navigational aids in practice) or completed the course "Navigation simulator ARPA, ECDIS & BRM for private students D5 (STCW II/3)" or completed a BRM course.
The requirement for approved seagoing service must also be met before you apply for the Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate.
Holder of a deck officer's certificate
If you are or have been the holder of a deck officer's certificate, you can apply for aDeck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate on the basis of your certificate. This applies to deck officers class 1-5 (D1-D5).
Master fisherman classes A, AB, B and C, and coastal skipper A and B also provide the basis for the issuance of a Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate.
Holders of a class 6 (D6) deck officer's certificate with a licence of more than 15 metres provide the basis for the issuance of a Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate. More information on issuance on the basis of D6 can be found here.
D5LA:
The following certificate also provides the basis for the issuance of a recreational skipper's certificate with an extended trade area: deck officer class 4-1 (D4-D1), Master fisherman A, AB and coastal skipper A and B.
The certificates must be issued in accordance with the STCW Convention.
Seagoing service
You must meet one of the options for approved seagoing service in order to be issued aDeck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate:
- You have disposed of and regularly used a vessel longer than 8 metres (up to 15 metres) for at least 3 years. This means that you must have had ownership or right of disposal of the vessel. In addition, you must document that you have used the vessel regularly. Predisposed and regularly used are seen as two different factors and therefore require different forms of documentation.
- KS-0363 Form for disposition and regularly used shall be used for this alternative.
- Documentation that you have disposed of the vessel can be, for example, insurance papers, a purchase contract or registration with NOR. If you have been granted the right to dispose of a vessel that is not yours, the right of disposal must be confirmed by the owner of the boat. Use Part A or Part B in the Disposition and Regularly Used form.
- You must also be able to document that you have used the vessel regularly. This is done by having someone who is familiar with your use of the boat fill in part C of the form for disposition and regular use. Confirmation from a spouse, cohabitant or others in your own household will not be accepted. Regular use means periodically.
- You have passed the practical final evaluation at an approved course centre or passed the practical test for D6 carried out on a boat with a length of at least 13 metres.
- You have 12 months of effective seagoing service on seagoing vessels (trade area 3 or more) with a maximum length of 8 metres or more. The seagoing service must include bridge watchkeeping service.
Health requirements
A valid medical certificate confirming sufficiently good vision, colour vision and hearing, and general health is required.
The declaration shall not be older than two years unless other approval is specified.
A health declaration form for a Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate can be found here. The medical certificate can be completed by a general practitioner. You can also use a medical certificate for employees on ships from an approved seafarer's doctor.
If the requirement for normal colour vision is not met, the Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate may be issued with limitations.
NB! If you are going to use the certificate for business, you must use a medical certificate for employees on ships from an approved seafarer's doctor, without restrictions.
More information about the health requirements can be found here.
Exemptions from topics
If you have relevant education that is at a higher level than Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft you may be exempt from certain courses in the course.
Here you will find an overview of the exemptions that have already been considered.
If you have relevant education that is not listed on the list, you must contact the Recreational Craft Section for an assessment of whether your education is at the same or higher level than the course in which you wish to be exempted.
Apply for a Deck officer class 5 pleasure craft Certificate
Information about the application process can be found here.
Price
You must pay a one-time fee to be issued a lDeck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate.
The fee rates (2024) have the following rates:
Initial issuance of aDeck officer class 5 pleasure craft certificate NOK 985,-
Issue of duplicate certificate NOK 495,–
The fee is stipulated in the Regulations relating to maritime certificate fees, etc.