SeaMemo
Sea miles certificate: how to prove your miles properly
Whether SKS, SSS or the Austrian FB licences, without proven sea miles there is no admission to the exam. Here is what belongs in a valid sea miles certificate, who may sign it and how to create it automatically after your trip.
What is a sea miles certificate?
A sea miles certificate (also called proof of sea miles) is written evidence that you actually sailed or motored a certain distance at sea. It is signed by the skipper responsible for the trip and is a requirement for admission to practical and theory exams: in Germany for example for the SKS and the SSS, in Austria for the FB2, FB3 and FB4 certificates of competence. British sailors work with their own logbook instead, see sea miles for the RYA Yachtmaster. For scale: one nautical mile is 1.852 km, so the 300 miles for the SKS are about 555 km, see nautical mile to km and miles.
Who may confirm sea miles?
As a rule the skipper of the trip in question, and on training trips the sailing school or instructor. In Germany even self certification is accepted if you were the skipper yourself: your own, properly kept logbook then proves the miles. The exam board can ask to see the logbook at any time, which is why complete records pay off twice.
What must a sea miles certificate contain?
For the German SKS there is no prescribed form. The certificate can be informal but must include:
- Name of the crew member (and ideally date of birth)
- Name and type of vessel (sailing or motor yacht)
- Sailing area or route (for example “Croatia, Split, Vis, Hvar, Split”)
- Dates of the trip (from, to)
- Distance in nautical miles
- Role on board (crew, helmsman, watch leader, co skipper)
- Name, address and signature of the skipper
For SSS and SHS the German authority provides an official form that additionally asks for flag, owner, route and the skipper's own licence, including a declaration of truth by the applicant. In Austria the official form Annex 9 of the JachtVO has been mandatory since 26 June 2015; alternatively a logbook with crew list is accepted.
Important: collect the skipper's confirmation right at the end of the trip, not months later. Charter skippers are often hard to reach afterwards, and the ship's logbook stays with the boat.
Overview: which licence needs how many sea miles?
| Licence | Country | Sea miles | Form of proof |
|---|---|---|---|
| SKS | 🇩🇪 DE | 300 nm in coastal waters | informal possible, skipper's signature |
| SSS | 🇩🇪 DE | 1,000 nm as watch leader or deputy (700 nm with SKS) | official form |
| SHS | 🇩🇪 DE | plus 1,000 nm as watch leader after SSS | official form |
| FB2 | 🇦🇹 AT | 500 nm (at least 200 under sail) plus 3 night passages and 3 night arrivals | mandatory form Annex 9 JachtVO |
| FB3 | 🇦🇹 AT | 1,500 nm (at least 500 as skipper) plus 5 and 5 at night | Annex 9 plus logbook (skipper miles) |
| FB4 | 🇦🇹 AT | 3,500 nm (at least 1,000 as skipper) plus 5 and 5 at night | Annex 9 plus logbook (skipper miles) |
| Offshore licence | 🇨🇭 CH | 1,000 nm plus 18 days at sea (sail) | official sea time booklet |
The details for each licence, including special rules on which waters count, deadlines and night passage definitions, are in the linked country guides.
Can you get a certificate after the fact?
Yes, but it is tedious: you have to contact the skipper or charter company of the time, who can reconstruct the trip from the ship's logbook. The longer ago the trip, the harder it gets. The better strategy: document every trip straight away, with route, distance, crew and dates, and get the confirmation while you are still in harbour.
With SeaMemo: the certificate as a PDF, automatically
This is exactly the problem SeaMemo solves. The app records your trip by GPS: route, distance in nautical miles, legs and dates. After the trip you simply pick the exam type:
- Track the trip: SeaMemo logs every leg automatically, even without mobile signal.
- Choose the exam type: SKS or SSS (Germany), FB2, FB3 or FB4 (Austria).
- Check the form: SeaMemo transfers your GPS validated miles and trip data into the right form.
- Create the PDF: the skipper confirms the legs in the app and stores their signature once. The finished PDF is ready to hand in.
Get SeaMemo for free
Logbook, travel journal and crew in one app. For iPhone and Android, works offline at sea.
Frequently asked questions
Is an informal certificate enough?
In Germany for the SKS, yes, as long as all required details are included. For SSS and SHS the official form is used. Austria requires Annex 9 of the JachtVO, Switzerland the official sea time booklet.
Do collected sea miles expire?
Not in Germany; only passed exam parts expire (SKS: 24 months, SSS: 36 months). In Switzerland, practical experience only counts within 4 calendar years before or after the theory exam.
Do miles under engine count?
It depends on the propulsion of the licence you are aiming for. For the SKS under sail, miles sailed under sail count. Austria distinguishes per licence between motor and sail and motor only, with different mileage.
Is my GPS track accepted as proof?
The GPS track alone does not replace the skipper's signature, but it is the best basis: exact distance, route and times. SeaMemo combines both and turns the track into the completed form.