BVI Captain's License requirements

Can anyone tell me what they are? I have Canadian credentials but need to know what is required in the BVI.

Do you have a credit card?? That is what a lot of folks use as their "Captain's License" in the BVI!! (most will think that is funny...others not so much) Just kidding! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

A pulse and a body temperature above ambient are the essentials. If you are talking about chartering, to be serious, documented experience handling a similar sized boat is what they look for on a resume..if they are consciencious. We had a boat with TMM for 9 years and the hull would have taken nearly the same picture on the day we sold it as when came into their fleet. I am aware that some here objected to the individual chart and boat briefings they give. Having been around those docks a lot over the years, I saw the staff being friendly while taking charterers out for a brief checkout sail and back to Marina.

They can usually spot someone who is fudging their ability during briefings, but they go out with you briefly as well. If not up to it, they will find you a skipper to help you get off to a good start.
Everyone sould be a little concerned in new waters on a boat that is new to them. At TMM and many others they know that and want to make you as comfortable as possible, while still protecting the owners who rely on their judgement.

So give them your resume, accurately. If feel better to take any pressure off..sign up for a skipper the first day. It's a vacation..should be fun all the way. They want to rent you a boat, they want it brought back as it left.

Sailingirl - Stoneyusaf has, unfortunately, given you the actual prerequisites in practice. There is no mandated license, just whatever credentials the charter company is willing to accept. If you are in possession of any formal qualifications you are one step beyond what many, if not most, charterers have.

On our first charter in 2008 we had the moorings provide a "friendly skipper". He went with us across to Peter and took the time to go over the rigging and systems while under way. I'd been sailing since 1983 but only monos, only on lakes, Tampa Bay and around the FL Keys. I wanted to make sure we were all safe and that I was comfortable on a cat. We gave him a nice tip and $ for the PI ferry back to RT. This worked out very well for everyone and we got an extended boat briefing!

Sailingirl.......You will be tearing your hair out at times when you see what some folks do simply because they don't have a clue. I am NOT talking mistakes (most all of us make them!) - I am talking not having a clue! For an extreme (but true to life) example of what I am talking about...grab a cold one....click on this link and enjoy the "Credit Card Captain" episode that most of the people here have seen....and some have experienced first hand while watching folks from the anchorage/mooring field. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> https://www.youtube.com/watch?index=27&a...tion_3450640731 <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

are you talking about actually getting a USCG Captains license or just chartering a boat?

If you have Canadian credentials that will allow you to bareboat a certain size boat in Canada- you will be able to do the same in the BVI- and very likely a larger boat if they have one. You will be asked fill out a sailing resume with whichever charter company you decide to use and they will let you book your boat. Upon arrival the charter company will go over the boat and do a chart briefing- If they see you are experienced and feel comfortable with the boat -- then you are off. If they notice you don't you may end up with a captain for a couple of hours or until they feel you can captain the boat. The sailing is fairly easy and you will have a great time--- <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />
Capt Jay

This is a fair explanation if you are looking to work as a Captain - the USCG licenses are recognized by many countries and the RYA license is more common in the EC and British Islands as only the OUPV is available to non-US citizens.

https://www.mptusa.com/captains-license.cfm

Dang stoney -
Sad to say --- been there done that -- actually twice in Anegada too..

I interpret sailingirl's post as asking what's needed for a "BVI captains license" not necessarily what credentials are needed to bareboat charter? they are two separate things. I don't know the specifics of what's needed for the captains license, but no certification is needed for bareboat chartering, just experience. Now the "experience" required to bareboat charter is the part that's gray to me.

Every charter company that I've chartered with has a detailed resume to fill out prior to the trip and they ask similar questions and some require more details than others but they ask How many years skippering do you have? how many days/miles have you skippered in your lifetime, what size yachts have you skippered? where have you skippered lake/coastal/offshore/tidal? Crewing experience? Previous bareboat charter companies? check off experience with everything from anchoring, reading/plotting charts to docking, engine/twin screw experience? ASA/US Sailing certifications? etc etc.

I would hope that the "resume" that charterers submit are thorough and honest, because in the event of an accident that document will certainly be scrutinized!!! Not to mention whoever is the skipper is completely responsible for their crew. The charter companies we've used have always asked me questions and had me demonstrate skills at check out. I also expect and I think the charter companies would expect the crew to have some experience, I believe I have documented individual crew experience on resume's as well.

When I first contemplated bareboat chartering a sail cat I had no "sailboat skippering" experience, but I had extensive power boating experience including twin screw. I also had crewed on sailboats but only for day sails, that wasn't enough experience for me personally to take my family on a bareboat charter. To gain real sailing experience I took a six day basic keel boat course with JWorld in Annapolis, awesome course! I then crewed with an experienced friend on a Footloose 4300 for a couple weeks, I was hooked! The combination of this experience and my 30 years enjoying many daysails in the USVI/BVI gaining valuable local knowledge made me comfortable to bareboat charter with my family. My love for sailing had begun but my desire for knowledge grew, I have since taken basic cruising, coastal navigation, coastal passage making and offshore passage making all with JWorld. It took a lot of time and some money to make our dreams come true, but I feel that the order in which I did things was the safest way to proceed for us.

Certifications are not necessary, but "real experience" is required and whoever is thinking about a first time bareboat charter needs to do a self check and be honest with yourself, don't put others at risk.

FYI, I'm making another passage from Charleston to Annapolis in a couple of weeks under the watchful eye of an experienced JWorld skipper, I'm hooked! I'll post a report in BVI talk called The Return of Euro Trash Girl! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

So, if you own your boat and want to tke people for pay you would need BVI captain's licence, RYA yachtmaster?

An experienced captain will carefully listen to the person doing the boat orientation without butting in to say,"Ya I know all about that".
Having said that, I sent in a resume and it appears that nobody bothered to read it.

https://www.sailonline.com/seamanship/general-seamanship/yacht-crew-certification-all-answers

See the second question.

if the second question was true, the charter companies would be out of business.

I did a little reading on this today and like you I don't have a clue what's absolutely required <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> but there's this guy, Capt Mike from Ontario I believe? he has a great blog "zero to cruising". Mike and his wife had no sailing experience at the start of their blog just a few years ago, they bought a boat and did the live aboard thing for a couple years and they are now operating a charter cat named One Love out of St Thomas. You might want to go to his blog www.zerotocruising.com and introduce yourself, I think he'll have the answers! Theirs is a great story for sure!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

If people are paying you to be their captain, you need a license. If you are your own captain...need nothing...

Like others i rarely comment here anymore.but to.answer the question there is a physical, a written test, sea time requirement, often a practical in vessels similar to what you intend to master, an oral exam with a surveyor/captain from the registry, and your stcw, first responder, and local radio.license.are.required.to be current. A current license elsewhere helps but is not a guarantee.

You would most likely need a BVI trade license also.

To operate a charter vessel in The USVI for sure and in the BVI probably you would certainly have to have a Captains License, a business license and a fairly straightforward and documented insurance policy for any hotel or cruise ship bookings.
Chartering a bareboat for a vacation is an entirely different set of circumstances and the rental boat company will determine your competence in handling their vessel with varying assessments of degrees of experience.

http://www.captainschoolusvi.com/
Operating 6 passenger boats in the USVI you need.
1-USCG OUPV Near Coastal License
2-CPR & First Aid
3-Random Drug Testing Program
4-FCC Marine Radio Operator Permit
5-TWIC Card
Operating 6 Passenger Boats in the BVI you need to add
6-Master Upgrade to 50 or 100 Gross Ton Master Near Coastal
7-STCW Basic Safety Training
8-BVI Boatmaster License (from BVI Shipping)

often a practical in vessels similar to what you intend to master, an oral exam with a surveyor/captain from the registry

There is no on water testing and no oral exam

I'm not positive but when I obtained my OUPV, I seem to remember our instructor talking about the BVI Boatmaster License and that it did require oral and practical on the water test.

Yup....and that took Tony and Melody, who use to run a charter business in the BVI, quite some time to get, if I remember correctly.

Thanks everyone!