Driving a sea scooter: what are the rules?

Verified 16 November 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

To drive a sea scooter (or jet ski), you must have the pleasure license (except for exceptions) and be in possession of mandatory documents. Navigation distance rules must be respected. Safety equipment on board is required.

You must have the following documents:

Warning  

if you are taking an initiation course under the responsibility of a qualified instructor, you do not have to be in possession of a boating license. A boating license is also not required if the scooter you are using is on board a boat over 24 meters long with a permanent professional crew, including a specifically trained captain.

You have to follow navigation distance rules that vary according to the number of seats on the scooter.

1-seat scooter

You can travel up to 2 nautical miles from a shelter, i.e. approximately 3,7 km.

If you wish to navigate within the 300-meter coastline, you must navigate within the designated channels (canal, navigable passage) within the limit of 5 knots (i.e. 10 km/h).

Warning  

the use of a sea scooter is prohibited at night.

Minimum 2 places

You can travel up to 6 nautical miles from a shelter, or about 11 km.

If you wish to navigate in the 300-meter strip, you must navigate the channels (canal, navigable passage) provided for this purpose within the limit of 5 knots (i.e. 10 km/h).

Warning  

the use of a sea scooter is prohibited at night.

The list of safety equipment varies depending on whether or not you cross the 2 nautical miles of a shelter.

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Up to 2 nautical miles from a shelter

You must have the following safety equipment:

  • Individual buoyancy equipment per person or a worn combination
  • Sealed individual light-signaling means (e.g. flash lamp) having a battery life of at least 6 hours
  • Towing device (anchor point and towing tip)
  • Water pump
  • Hours and tidal coefficient

Between 2 and 6 nautical miles from a shelter

You must have a list of security devices. See the recreational vessel safety equipment documentation the Ministry of the Sea.