Legal frame
Governing: π.δ. 141/2014 arts 27, 30; Υ.Α. 2231.3-1/78555/2024 (ΦΕΚ Β' 6215) as amended by ΦΕΚ Β' 1058/2026. Builds on: L2.1, L2.2.
Revalidation (θεώρηση)
Art. 27 of π.δ. 141/2014 requires masters and deck, engine and radio officers to revalidate their certificates every five years, to show continued competence. One of the following is needed:
| Route | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Sea service (αα) | 12 months in the last 5 years |
| Recent sea service (ββ) | 3 months in the 6 months immediately before revalidation |
| Supernumerary (γγ) | 3 months as a supernumerary in the matching specialty, just before revalidation |
| One rank lower (δδ) | 3 months in a post one rank below the certificate, just before revalidation |
| Course (β) | Graduation from the matching KESEN or ΝΕΚΕ section |
| Exam (γ) | Passing the relevant exams |
Medical fitness must also be shown (art. 27(2)). Safety certificates (STCW VI/1–VI/4) have their own 5-yearly refresher (art. 30).
CAUTION — The 5-year clock and the 65 clock are different The speedboat licence runs to age 65 and then renews every 3 years on medical certificates. Your professional title runs on a 5-year revalidation cycle. Do not assume a renewed speedboat card says anything about your CoC.
How Greek titles are earned
The Greek system is school-led:
- ΑΕΝ (Ακαδημίες Εμπορικού Ναυτικού, merchant marine academies) for officer entry.
- KESEN (Κέντρα Επιμόρφωσης Στελεχών Εμπορικού Ναυτικού) for officers' upgrade and short courses.
- Special sections of public maritime schools and private ΝΕΚΕ providers for the coastal and yacht titles.
π.δ. 141/2014 ties titles to graduation. No published national exam syllabus, format or pass mark was found for the Κυβερνήτης sections. The KESEN regulation (Υ.Α. 2231.3-1/78555/2024, amended in February 2026) does set durations and exams course by course — for example, IGF basic: 30 hours, a written exam of 30 questions in 60 minutes, pass mark 18 (60 %). Teaching materials are in Greek; foreign texts are translated where no Greek material exists.
Radio
The 2026 amendment matters to yacht crew:
- Candidates and holders of Κυβερνήτης Α'/Β'/Γ' and Κυβερνήτης Τουριστικών Θαλαμηγών enrol in the GMDSS ROC section.
- People working on NON-SOLAS pleasure, fishing and tourist vessels who use VHF in sea area A1 may take the SRC; those using radio beyond VHF and beyond A1 may take the LRC.
A route for foreign crew?
In practice, foreign crew rarely take Greek titles: entry needs Greek sea-service records and schooling, and courses are in Greek. For Greek-flag service, the realistic route for an EU CoC holder is recognition by endorsement (L3.1). For non-EU CoCs, see L3.2.
TIP — Keep your revalidation evidence in one folder Sea-service testimonials, the discharge book and medical certificate are what the Port Authority or ΔΕΚΝ will ask for. The MCA Master (Yachts) and SRC/VHF courses cover the competence side.