Professional Recreational Craft Pattern Examination (PPER)

If you are interested in working as a professional pleasure boat skipper, this article may be of interest to you.

Below we are going to explain what the PPER is and the requirements needed to obtain the certificate of speciality of Professional Recreational Boats Skipper, PPER.

What is the Professional Recreational Craft Skipper exam?

The Professional Recreational Craft Pattern Examination (PPER) is a certification that allows sailors to take pleasure craft up to 24 metres in length and to sail up to 150 nautical miles from the coast.

This certification is required for those who wish to work in the maritime industry, as skippers of tourist or fishing boats, for example.

The PPER course is divided into a theoretical and a practical part. The theoretical part deals with topics such as safety in navigation, rules and regulations, communication at sea, and meteorology. In the practical part, students apply what they have learned in real sailing situations.

Types of PPER

There are two types of Professional Yachtmaster depending on the sailing distance from the coast:

PPER 1 

• To act as skipper on motor and sailing vessels up to or equal to 24 metres in length, on any coast.
• To sail in the line parallel to the coast up to a distance of 60 miles.
• To sail with a maximum of 12 passengers plus the appropriate crew, provided that the vessel is registered for that number of persons.
• To be an instructor of nautical training practices up to the title of PER (Recreational Craft Skipper).
• To be an instructor in the statutory Short Range Radio Operator training. (Provided you hold the title of GMDSS General Radio Operator.

What is the examination for the Professional Recreational Craft Skipper?

Obtaining PPER certification is essential for those wishing to work in the maritime industry, as it allows them to carry pleasure craft up to 24 metres in length and to sail up to 150 nautical miles from the coast.

In addition, this certification demonstrates that the holder has a sound knowledge of maritime safety and navigation, which is essential to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of crew and passengers.

The PPER examination is divided into a practical and a theoretical part. The theoretical exam consists of 30 multiple choice questions (4 answers, only 1 valid) and you have 60 minutes to answer them. You must get at least 18 correct answers out of a total of 30.

Below we detail all the topics that are evaluated in the theoretical part of the knowledge test. It is possible that there may be small changes to the syllabus in future exams.

1. Texto Refundido de la Ley de Puertos del Estado y de la Marina Mercante, approved by Real Decreto Legislativo 2/2011.
2. Law 14/2014, of 24 July, on Maritime Navigation. General provisions (Preliminary Title).
3. The Maritime Administration (1): Central Administration Functions and structure of the Directorate General of the Merchant Navy: Royal Decree 362/2017, of 8 April, which develops the basic organic structure of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
4. The Maritime Administration (2): Peripheral Administration State Ports and Merchant Navy Act: Royal Decree 638/2007, which regulates the Maritime Harbours and Maritime Districts.
5. The Regulation on the Dispatch of Ships approved by the Order of 18 January 2000.
6. Royal Decree 210/2004, of 6 February 2004, establishing a maritime traffic monitoring and information system: Regulations on the inspection and certification of civil vessels, approved by Royal Decree 1837/2000, of 10 November 2000:
7. Regulation on the conditions of maritime safety, navigation and human life at sea, applicable to commemorative nautical gatherings and nautical-sporting events. Royal Decree 62/2008, of 25 January.
8. Royal Decree 1435/2010, of 5 November, regulating the flagging and registration of recreational craft on the sixth and seventh lists of the ship registration register. Royal Decree 685/2010, of 20 May, regulating the granting of temporary navigation permits for certain recreational craft.
9. RD 607/1999, of 16 April, which regulates the Regulation of compulsory civil liability insurance for recreational or sporting vessels.
10. R. D. 875/2014, of 10 October, which regulates the nautical qualifications for the steering of recreational vessels.
11. Royal Decree 1434/1999, of 10 September, on inspections of recreational craft.
12. Order FOM/1144/2003, of 28 April, which regulates the safety, rescue, fire, navigation and spill prevention equipment for dirty water, which must be carried on board recreational vessels.
13. Royal Decree 98/2016, of 11 March, regulating the safety, technical and marketing requirements for nautical motorbikes, sports boats and their components.
14. International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979: International Convention on Maritime Rescue, 1989.
15. Law 14/2014, on Maritime Navigation of 24 July: On the registration and documentation of ships. On the nationality of ships. Security rights over the ship.
16. Civil Code: Rules relating to public faith and the registration of facts determining the civil status of persons. Successions
17. Royal Decree 1381/2002 of 20 December 2002 on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues.
18. General knowledge of the articles of the MARPOL Convention and its annexes, specifically Annex IV: Dirty water and Annex V: Garbage.
19. Regulation governing maritime radiocommunications on board Spanish civil ships, Royal Decree 1185/2006, of 16 October.

In the event that the syllabus is modified, the table of contents of Annex II of the DGMM Resolution will be directly updated.

Requirements for PPER certification

• You need a valid National Identity Document (DNI) or NIE.
• You must be at least 20 years old
• You must have passed the practical and theoretical exams of the PPER course.
• To carry all the documentation of the titles as Spanish accreditation.
• To be in possession of the title of Yacht Captain (the original document and processed).
• Be in possession of the title of GMDSS Restricted Operator (processed and with the medical review of the ISM).
• Basic Maritime Safety Training Certificate
• Certificate of Initial Specific Health Care Training
• ISM Medical Review
• Accredit a period of embarkation of 50 days and 2500 miles, according to Royal Decree 269/2022.
• Take 3 courses to obtain Specialty Certificates recognised in the STCW 78/95 convention.
• National or international seaman’s book.

It is important to note that it is essential to have previous sailing experience and to have completed a certain number of hours of sailing in order to be able to sit the practical exam.

Where can I obtain PPER certification?

PPER certification can be obtained in different nautical training centres authorised by the Directorate General of the Merchant Navy. These centres offer theoretical and practical PPER courses and have highly qualified instructors with experience in maritime navigation.

What career opportunities does the Professional Yachtmaster certificate offer?

The duties associated with the Professional Recreational Craft Skipper (PPER) certificate can be divided into three parts:

1. Skipper on recreational craft, carrying out professional duties. The maximum length of the boat can be 24 metres (according to the certificate of seaworthiness), allowing navigation between the coast and a line parallel to it that does not go further than 60 nautical miles.
   Under no circumstances may more than 12 passengers, excluding crew members, sail on the vessel. The vessel must be registered on the sixth or seventh registration lists. The holder must have a valid GMDSS Restricted Operator’s card.
2. Skipper of pleasure craft (second category) between the coastline and a line parallel to the coastline 150 miles apart. In practice, this means sailing throughout the Mediterranean.
   In order to be granted these powers, it is necessary to prove a period of 2 years of embarkation (by means of the embarkation book or work contracts) and to be a General Operator of the GMDSS.
3. Instructor in schools and recreational nautical academies, carrying out training functions in basic safety and navigation practices leading to the titles of Basic Navigation Skipper (PNB) and Recreational Craft Skipper (PER).

In summary, the PPER course is an essential certification for those who wish to work in the maritime industry and sail pleasure craft up to 24 metres in length and up to 150 nautical miles from the coast.

In this article we have provided information about the PPER course, including its requirements, content and career opportunities. If you are interested in obtaining PPER certification, we recommend that you contact an approved nautical training centre for more information and to begin your training.