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ESPrepare the PNB online
The first step in recreational boating in Spain. A 27-question exam, a free syllabus and real official exams to practise with.
Practice exams
The PNB exam consists of the same first 27 questions as the PER exam — nomenclature, mooring and anchoring, safety, legislation, buoyage and COLREGs. Practise with real official exams from previous sittings, trimmed down to the PNB format.
PNB · Corrección automática
Official exam from the sitting, with automatic marking and the PNB pass criteria (17/27 + sub-minimums).
PNB · Mismo banco que el PER
Same question bank as the PER exam for that sitting — only the number of questions and the time differ.
PNB · Por comunidad autónoma
Available by region and sitting, just like the PER.
What is the PNB?
The Patrón para la Navegación Básica (PNB) is an official nautical licence issued by Spain's Directorate General of the Merchant Marine (DGMM), regulated by Royal Decree 875/2014. It is the first step in recreational boating, below the PER.
The PNB entitles you to skipper recreational vessels up to 8 metres in length, provided they stay within 5 nautical miles of a harbour, marina or place of shelter, in any direction.
Motor vessels
Entitles you to skipper recreational motor vessels up to 8 metres in length, with no power limit.
Sailing practice (optional)
The base licence covers motor vessels. To add sailing, 16 hours of additional specific practical training are required.
Night navigation
The PNB allows navigation both day and night, with no time restrictions.
The next step: the PER
If later on you want bigger vessels or to sail further from the coast, the PER extends this to 15 metres in length and 12 miles — and you'll already have studied its first 6 topics.
Requirements to get the PNB
To sit the official PNB exam you must meet the following requirements:
- ✓Minimum age: 18 years old, or 16 with parental or legal guardian authorisation.
- ✓Physical and mental fitness certificate: Issued by an authorised doctor, under chapter IV of Royal Decree 875/2014.
- ✓Pass the official theory exam: Organised by the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine or by regional authorities with transferred powers.
- ✓Safety and navigation practice: 8 hours on board an approved vessel, with an instructor.
- ✓Radiocommunications practice: A minimum of 2 hours ashore, on an approved simulator at a school.
- ✓Sailing practice (optional): If you want to add sailing to your licence, you need 16 hours of additional specific practical training.
- ✓Administrative fees: Payment of the corresponding fees for issuing the licence.
Recursos gratuitos
Syllabus for the PNB
The PNB theory exam covers exactly the first 6 topics of the official PER syllabus — the same content, without the manoeuvring, emergencies, meteorology, navigation theory or chart work sections.
Nautical nomenclature — Hull, structure, anchoring equipment, rudder, propeller and dimensions. 4 questions.
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Mooring and anchoring elements — Knots, lines and the complete anchoring manoeuvre. 2 questions.
Safety at sea — Safety equipment, man overboard, heavy weather. 4 questions.
Nautical legislation — Maritime Navigation Act, flag, rescue. 2 questions.
Buoyage — IALA system: lateral, cardinal, danger and special marks. 5 questions.
COLREGs — Steering and sailing rules, lights, shapes and signals. 10 questions.
Why use SailVoyager to prepare for the PNB
SailVoyager is an online nautical studies campus with real official exams and a free syllabus, designed to get you to the exam with the theory firmly in place.
Real official exams
Practise with the same questions from previous official sittings, already trimmed to the PNB format, with automatic marking.
At your own pace
Study whenever you want, with no fixed schedule. Access it from your computer whenever you have free time.
Start free, no signup
Topics 1 and 2 of the PNB syllabus are free and without registration; the rest requires an active subscription, with diagrams and examples.
Ready to keep progressing
If you want the PER in the future, you'll already have studied its first 6 topics — all that's left is to build on them.
Frequently asked questions
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