Turkish boat licence (Amatör Denizci Belgesi)
Turkey’s Amatör Denizci Belgesi (ADB) lets you operate a private boat for non-commercial use. ADB 10 covers private boats up to and including 10 m overall length, while ADB 24 covers private boats up to and including 24 m hull length. Other boating rules still apply.
Türkiye · Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığı — Denizcilik Genel Müdürlüğü
The online theory exam covers chart navigation, collision prevention, seamanship and boat handling, weather, safety, maritime communications, first aid, conventions, and boat, engine and electrical knowledge. This site helps you practise COLREG rules, IALA buoyage, lights and shapes, and sound signals; study the rest of the syllabus with the official material.
Ministry: Amatör Denizci Bilgi Sistemi (ADBS) ·
Who can apply for the Amatör Denizci Belgesi?
The standard route is open to Turkish citizens, citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, foreigners of Turkish origin covered by Law No. 2527, and foreign nationals holding a Turkish residence permit. ADB 10 is open from age 16 (applicants under 18 need the notarised consent in Annex 3 and may skipper only with an adult ADB 10 holder on board); ADB 24 needs age 18 and at least 12 months as an ADB 10 holder. You need a medical report unless you hold any Turkish driving licence or a report from the last 2 years marked fit to drive, fit as an amateur seafarer or fit as a seafarer.
Topics you can practise here
Free practice questions
Practice questions (with answers)
To which vessels do the COLREGs apply?
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Correct answer: C. All vessels on the high seas and connected navigable waters
Rule 1 states the COLREGs apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels.
According to Rule 2, departure from the COLREGs is permitted when:
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Correct answer: B. It is necessary to avoid immediate danger
Rule 2(b) allows departure from the rules when necessary to avoid immediate danger.
If fitted, the topmark of an isolated danger mark is:
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Correct answer: B. Two black spheres vertically
Isolated danger marks have two black spheres (balls) as topmark. (if fitted).
Safe water marks are used as:
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Correct answer: B. Fairway or mid-channel marks
Safe water marks are used as fairway, mid-channel, or landfall marks.
If fitted, the topmark of a special mark is:
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Correct answer: B. A yellow X-shape (cross)
Special marks have a yellow X-shaped (St. Andrew's cross) topmark. (if fitted).
Emergency wreck marking buoys are coloured:
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Correct answer: C. Blue and yellow vertical stripes
equal numbers and widths of blue and yellow vertical stripes; 4 to 8 stripes in total. 1 s blue + 0.5 s darkness + 1 s yellow + 0.5 s darkness; period 3 s.
At night a vessel engaged in fishing other than trawling has outlying gear extending more than 150 metres horizontally to starboard. Which extra light is required?
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Correct answer: A. An all-round white light in the direction of the outlying gear
Rule 26(c)(ii) requires an additional all-round white light toward outlying gear extending more than 150 metres for fishing other than trawling. The corresponding day shape is a cone with apex upward.
In thick fog another vessel is detected only by ARPA and is not in sight. Its bearing is steady and range is closing fast. Which rule governs the avoiding action?
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Correct answer: C. Rule 19 — restricted visibility, because vessels are not in sight
Rule 11 restricts Section II (including crossing, head-on and overtaking) to vessels in sight of one another. A target detected only on radar is not 'in sight'; Rule 19 governs instead.
How to get an Amatör Denizci Belgesi
Start with ADB 10, or apply for ADB 24 after holding ADB 10 for at least 12 months. Eligible maritime graduates can request ADB 24 without training or examinations. For the standard route, apply through the Ministry’s online system (ADBS), finish the online theory within 30 days of starting it, begin practical training within 90 days after theory, pass the online exam with at least 70 out of 100, pay the certificate duty (653.70 TL in 2026), and get your certificate from the administration or an authorised harbour authority.
