If your institution offers training courses for seafarers in the Netherlands, you can apply for approval for most training courses required under the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and certain other courses. You can apply for approval through the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT).

Please note: if your training institution has not been approved yet in the Netherlands, you must first apply for approval as a training institute for seafarers through the ILT.

Requirements

The following conditions apply to this application:

Required attachments

You must upload several attachments with your online application. Please gather the following documents before starting your application:

  • Course materials.
  • Curricula with information about content, duration and examination procedures.
  • An example of the certificate issued to participants upon successful completion of the training course.
  • An overview of the requirements per instructor.
  • A description of the equipment and tools used in the training.
  • Maximum number of participants.

If your institution has not been approved yet, please also upload:

  • A list of instructors.
  • A copy of the quality assurance system for training.
  • A report by an independent body on the functioning of the quality assurance system.

How to apply for approval

You can apply for approval of a training course for seafarers using the online form Aanvraag erkenning maritieme opleiding.

Start application (in Dutch)

Costs

The application for approval of a training course for seafarers costs €197 per hour of processing time. The total amount differs per application. The hourly rate is set out in the Regeling tarieven transportsectoren (Transportation Sectors Tariffs Scheme, in Dutch).

After submitting your application

  1. You will receive an automatic confirmation email from the ILT, including the registration number of your application.
  2. The ILT will contact you within 6 weeks. A date for an audit (in Dutch) may be scheduled at this point.
  3. If any information is missing, the ILT will ask you to provide additional details.
  4. All documents must be approved at least 1 week before the audit. If this is not possible, the process will be discontinued and the training course will not be approved.
  5. The ILT will attend a training session to assess its quality.
  6. You will receive the decision by post. If the ILT approves your application, you will receive the approval certificate.
  7. You will receive a payment request by post after the decision has been issued. Please pay within 4 weeks of the date on the payment request.

If you disagree with the decision, you can submit an objection.

Validity period

The approval is valid for a maximum of 5 years. For renewal, the conditions described in paragraph 3.7 of the Seagoing vessels crew Regulation (in Dutch) apply.