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1. The curriculum for the boating licence consists of four parts

  1. General seamanship
  2. Acts and regulations
  3. Navigation and chart reading
  4. Particularly important topics

The curriculum describes the knowledge that candidates for the boating exam have to acquire before taking the theoretical exam. Questions in part four, particularly important topics, will in the evaluation of the boating exam be given more importance than questions from the other parts.

1.1 General seamanship

The candidate shall be familiar with:

  1. appropriate safety equipment in recreational craft and the correct use thereof
    • personal flotation devices
    • dead man's handle
    • embarkation arrangement
    • sea-anchor
    • sound signal apparatus
    • fire extinguisher
    • SOS flares, flare lights and other means for emergency signalling
  2. fire hazards, causes of fire, fire-fighting and precautionary measures to prevent fire
    • petrol vapour
    • propane systems
    • the significance of oxygen
  3. the use of SRC (VHF) and mobile phones at sea
    • VHF channel 16 and DSC
    • the phone number of the coast radio stations: 120
    • range, possibilities and limitations of SRC/VHF and mobile phones
  4. precautionary measures, emergency situations, notification / distress signal, rescue service, etc.
  5. assistance and towing
  6. that different types of craft may have different areas of use
    • construction categories (CE) - for recreational craft A, B, C, D
  7. the significance of correct trim, sufficient stability and proportionate engine power
  8. the significance of not overloading the boat
    • freeboard, draught, stability and loading capacity
  9. the significance of proper maintenance of boat, engine, rigging and equipment
    • fuelling system, cooling system, lubricating oil
  10. rules for safe and secure mooring, as well as arrangements of drag/anchor
  11. important environmental considerations such as emissions/discharges, reservations, national parks, littering and noise pollution
  12. responsibility and insurance
  13. medical first aid
    • RABC (response, airway, breathing, circulation)
    • CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
    • treatment of internal/external bleeding
    • hypothermia
    • first aid measures in the event of high-energy injuries
  14. meteorological conditions
    • weather and wind
    • sea conditions
    • conditions of visibility
  15. safety in connection with water sport activities
  16. hazards associated with high speed
    • high speed navigation
    • delay when using electronic equipment
    • constricted vision, tunnel vision
    • safe distance to shore
    • risk and consequences
  17. good seamanship
    • the Norwegian Boating Code of Conduct
    • attitudes at sea and respect for other users of the waters
    • the significance of own behaviour for the safety and welfare of others

1.2 Acts and regulations

The candidate shall have good knowledge about the Norwegian Regulations for preventing collisions at sea (Rules of the Road at Sea) with respect to the following:

  1. steering and sailing rules
    • duty to give way between two motor boats
    • duty to give way between motor boat and sailing vessel
    • duty to give way to commercial traffic
    • duty to give way between sailing vessels
    • traffic separation schemes
  2. lights and shapes
    • lights on large and small motor boat
    • light on vessels under oars
    • lights on sailing vessels
    • signal flag "A" – diver down
    • light and day signal for towing
  3. equipment for sound signals - rule 33
  4. manoeuvring and warning signals - rule 34 (a) and (b)
  5. sound signals in restricted visibility - rule 35 (a) and (i)
  6. distress signals - annex IV
  7. rules for Norwegian inland waters - rules 43, 44, 45 and 54

The candidate shall be familiar with:

  1. the most important provisions of Norwegian acts and regulations that pertain to recreational craft:
    • Act of 26 June 1998 No. 47 relating to recreational and small craft
      • sections 1, 22, 23, 27, 32, 33, 35 and chapter 5
    • Act relating to outdoor recreation (Outdoor Recreation Act)
      • sections 1 to 9
    • Act of 10 June 1977 No. 82 relating to motor traffic on uncultivated land and in watercourses
    • Regulations of 24 February 1983 No. 628 on restricted speed when passing swimmers
    • Regulations of 15 December 2009 No. 1546 on speed restriction in sea, rivers and lakes
    • Regulations of 8 May 1995 No. 409 on floating equipment on board recreational craft
    • Regulations of 15 June 2001 No. 634 on simplified fixed-rate optional penalties in cases concerning recreational and small craft
    • Regulations of 20 October 1983 No. 1580 on safety precautions for gasfired installations, etc.
    • Regulations of 20 December 2004 No. 1820 on the production and the placing on the market of recreational craft
      • CE marking
      • manufacturer's sign
      • CIN code (hull number)
      • user manual
      • declaration of conformity (appendix 16)
      • technical documentation (appendix 14)

1.3 Navigation and chart reading

The candidate shall be familiar with:

  1. sailing rules when using lighthouses and fixed and floating navigation marks, including knowledge of the IALA system (Lateral Marks, Cardinal Marks, Special Marks, Safe Water Marks, Isolated Danger Marks)
  2. layout, symbols and date of the chart
  3. compass functionality
  4. the causes of magnetic variation and deviation, and how to take this into account
  5. possibilities and limitations of electronic navigational aids
    (GPS, electronic charts and applications/programmes on phones and tablets)
  6. general information about currents and tides

The candidate shall by doing calculations demonstrate that he/she:

  1. can find directions by using compass and GPS coordinates
  2. can find directions by using lighthouses, beacons and landmarks
  3. can calculate speed and distance sailed

1.4 Particularly important topics

The following is knowledge that the candidate is expected to possess in order to be able to navigate a boat with a minimum level of safety. Questions on these topics will in the evaluation of the boating exam be given more importance than other topics.

1.4.1 Navigation marks - in the chart and in the real world

  • spar buoy or beacon with pointer
  • cardinal and lateral system
  • special marks

1.4.2 Symbols in the chart

  • rock awash, shoals, bridges, cables, pipes and overhead cable
  • sectors and light characteristics of lighthouses

1.4.3 Rules of the Road at Sea: Who has to keep out of the way?

  • two motor boats with intersecting courses
  • motor boat and sailing vessel with intersecting courses
  • motor boat and sailing vessel on intersecting course with ferry/freighter in narrow waters
  • Rules of the Road at Sea Nos. 43 and 44

1.4.4 Lights and flags

  • use of lights for motor boat and sailing vessel
  • signal flag "A" – diver down

1.4.5 Acts and regulations

  • prescribed blood-alcohol limit at sea
  • rules for use of personal flotation devices

1.4.6 Emergencies

  • the phone number of the coast radio station: 120
  • VHF channel 16

1.4.7 Good seamanship

  • hazards associated with high speed
  • the Norwegian Boating Code of Conduct