What you need to perform it
Primary qualification
- Professional Patrón Costero Polivalente certificate (RD 36/2014, art. 8)
- Aptitude examination on the subjects of annex I of RD 36/2014 (deck and engine), prepared at the regional fishing schools — no VET academic diploma required
Basic STCW
- Basic Safety Training (maritime specialty certificate)
- Psychophysical fitness: CRC form or medical certificate under art. 13 RD 36/2014
Specific courses
- Specific medical training and radiocommunications by area (GMDSS restricted operator — indicative, to be verified)
- Art. 8.2.f course (Order APA/1413/2021) to serve as chief mate on vessels ≤ 42 m commanded by a Patrón de Litoral (optional)
Indicative experience
Minimum age of 18; 2 years of sea service in the deck section of fishing vessels ≥ 9 m LOA and 6 months in the engine service (art. 8.1 RD 36/2014), plus passing the annex I aptitude examination.
Observations
Spanish fishing ladder (RD 36/2014): Fishing Captain > Patrón de Altura > Patrón de Litoral > Patrón Costero Polivalente > Patrón Local de Pesca. It is the typical owner-skipper certificate of the coastal fleet. Progression: completing the intermediate VET diploma of Técnico en Navegación y Pesca de Litoral (RD 1144/2012) gives access to the Patrón de Litoral certificate; the engine attributions (up to 550 kW as combined skipper-engineer; up to 750 kW acting only as chief engineer) give great signing-on flexibility.
What this role does
Fourth grade of the Spanish fishing ladder (RD 36/2014, art. 8) and the backbone of the coastal fleet: it is the only certificate of the ladder with full simultaneous deck and engine attributions. It is obtained by aptitude examination (annex I subjects) plus sea service, with no VET academic diploma required. It qualifies for command of fishing vessels up to 32 m in limited waters, for serving simultaneously as skipper and chief engineer up to 26 m and 550 kW within 60 miles, and as chief engineer up to 750 kW. Since 2020 (RD 449/2020) it may also serve as chief mate on vessels commanded by a Patrón de Litoral after passing the Order APA/1413/2021 course.
Typical watches
- Coastal trips of hours or a few days; the skipper alternates bridge and engine monitoring
Key responsibilities
- Command fishing vessels up to 32 m LOA in limited waters.
- Serve simultaneously as skipper and chief engineer on fishing vessels up to 26 m and 550 kW within 60 miles.
- Serve as chief engineer on fishing vessels under 750 kW or as chief mate on fishing vessels under 45 m in limited waters.
Operational scope
- Command (master or skipper) of fishing vessels ≤ 32 m LOA in limited waters — between the straight baselines and 100 miles (arts. 2.33 and 8.2 RD 36/2014)
- Skipper and chief engineer simultaneously on fishing vessels ≤ 26 m LOA and ≤ 550 kW, up to 60 miles off the coast
- Chief mate on fishing vessels < 45 m in limited waters; chief engineer on fishing vessels < 750 kW; with the art. 8.2.f course (Order APA/1413/2021), chief mate on vessels ≤ 42 m commanded by a Patrón de Litoral
Profile reviewed by HydroAbyss (2026). Cited rules and timeframes are indicative: the final requirement is set by the flag State, the Administration and each company.