Does riding a jet ski require a license?

To operate certain watercraft, special licenses are required. This group also includes jet skis and motorboats. To legally navigate them on water, a motorboat helmsman license is essential.

To obtain it, the appropriate age (14 years old) and passing a theoretical and practical exam are required. Professional, multi-day courses ending with an exam are the best preparation for the exam.

Jet ski: what should you know?

Jet skis are small mechanically powered vessels. Despite their relatively low weight, jet skis can travel quickly. There are 1-, 2-, and 3-person jet skis available. According to the law in our country, the obligation to have a motorboat helmsman license applies to operating machines with an engine power above 10 kW (about 13HP).

Motorboat helmsman license

The scope of the motorboat helmsman license includes:

• operating motor yachts on inland waters (including jet skis).
• operating motor yachts with a hull length of up to 12 m on internal sea waters and other sea waters within 2 nautical miles from the shore, during daylight hours.

The motorboat helmsman course ending with an exam covers topics such as: boat maneuvering, boat construction, principles of motorboat systems operation, inland navigation and navigation signs, regulations related to safe water navigation, vessel lighting and sound signals, basics of rescue, and meteorological issues. When enrolling in the course, it's worth remembering that there is an additional fee for the exam and the issuance of the license (prices for students are usually lower). Good helmsman courses are conducted by experienced instructors and include practical sessions on a boat. Training is organized by centers in various cities, and those wishing to gain the qualifications to ride a jet ski should have no problems enrolling in such a course and finding available dates.