46 CFR 11.307: STCW endorsement as Chief Mate, 3,000 GT or more

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets what an applicant must show to get an STCW endorsement as Chief Mate of vessels of 3,000 GT or more (management level). The applicant needs sea service as OICNW, the STCW standard of competence, and approved training. It also covers renewal, exemptions and entry paths from other endorsements.

Applies toApplicants for, and holders renewing, an STCW endorsement as Chief Mate of vessels of 3,000 GT or more.

What it says

  1. The applicant must provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICNW on oceans, near-coastal waters, and/or Great Lakes vessels.

    46 CFR 11.307(a)(1)“Provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICNW on vessels operating in oceans, near-coastal waters, and/or Great Lakes.”

  2. Service on inland waters, bays, or sounds that are navigable waters of the United States may be substituted for up to 50 percent of the total required service.

    46 CFR 11.307(a)(1)“Service on inland waters, bays, or sounds that are navigable waters of the United States may be substituted for up to 50 percent of the total required service.”

  3. The applicant must meet the standard of competence in Section A-II/2 of the STCW Code, which is incorporated by reference (see § 11.102).

    46 CFR 11.307(a)(2)“Meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/2 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 11.102 of this part)”

  4. For a renewal to be valid on or after January 1, 2017, each candidate must show completion of approved training in leadership and managerial skills, and in ECDIS if serving on a vessel with this equipment.

    46 CFR 11.307(b)“each candidate must provide evidence of successful completion of approved training in the following:”

  5. The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency items in Section A-II/2 of the STCW Code. The credential may carry a corresponding limitation.

    46 CFR 11.307(c)“The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/2 of the STCW Code.”

  6. Chief Mates of vessels of 500 GT or more and less than 3,000 GT (see § 11.313) may apply after 6 months of sea service under that endorsement. They must complete any unmet items in paragraphs (a)(2) and (3).

    46 CFR 11.307(d)“are eligible to apply for the endorsement as Chief Mate of vessels of 3,000 GT or more upon completion of 6 months of sea service, under the authority of the endorsement”

Common questions

How much sea service do I need for an STCW Chief Mate endorsement of 3,000 GT or more?

An applicant must provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICNW. Up to 50 percent may be inland, bay, or sound service.

“Provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICNW on vessels operating in oceans, near-coastal waters, and/or Great Lakes.”

Can engine department experience count toward Chief Mate service?

Yes, it may be creditable for up to 1 month of the service requirements.

“Experience gained in the engine department on vessels may be creditable for up to 1 month of the service requirements;”

Can the Coast Guard exempt me from parts of the STCW competence requirements?

Yes. The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from individual items in Section A-II/2, approved based upon vessel type, and the credential may include a limitation.

“These exemptions must be approved by the Coast Guard based upon vessel type.”

What is needed to renew an STCW Chief Mate endorsement of 3,000 GT or more?

For validity on or after January 1, 2017, a candidate must show approved training in leadership and managerial skills, and in ECDIS if serving on a vessel with this equipment.

“For a renewal of an STCW endorsement as Chief Mate of vessels of 3,000 GT or more to be valid on or after January 1, 2017”

The text of 46 CFR 11.307

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of October 1, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Requirements to qualify for an STCW endorsement as Chief Mate of vessels of 3,000 GT or more (management level)

Link to an amendment published at 91 FR 60882, Sept. 25, 2026.

(a) To qualify for an STCW endorsement as Chief Mate, an applicant must—

(1) Provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICNW on vessels operating in oceans, near-coastal waters, and/or Great Lakes. Service on inland waters, bays, or sounds that are navigable waters of the United States may be substituted for up to 50 percent of the total required service. Experience gained in the engine department on vessels may be creditable for up to 1 month of the service requirements;

(2) Meet the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/2 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 11.102 of this part); and

(3) Provide evidence of having satisfactorily completed approved training in the following subject areas:

(i) Advanced ship handling.

(ii) Advanced stability.

(iii) Advanced meteorology.

(iv) Leadership and managerial skills.

(v) Search and rescue.

(vi) ARPA, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.

(vii) ECDIS, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.

(viii) GMDSS, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.

(ix) Management of medical care.

(b) For a renewal of an STCW endorsement as Chief Mate of vessels of 3,000 GT or more to be valid on or after January 1, 2017, each candidate must provide evidence of successful completion of approved training in the following:

(1) Leadership and managerial skills.

(2) ECDIS, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.

(c) The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/2 of the STCW Code. These exemptions must be approved by the Coast Guard based upon vessel type. Under these circumstances, the credential may include a corresponding limitation.

(d) Seafarers holding an STCW endorsement as Chief Mate of vessels of 500 GT or more and less than 3,000 GT, in accordance with § 11.313, are eligible to apply for the endorsement as Chief Mate of vessels of 3,000 GT or more upon completion of 6 months of sea service, under the authority of the endorsement, and must complete any items in paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) of this section not previously satisfied.

(e) Seafarers with one of the following national officer endorsements are eligible to apply for this endorsement upon completion of the requirements in the following table:

Table 1 to § 11.307(e)—STCW Endorsement as Chief Mate of Vessels of 3,000 GT or More Entry path from national endorsements Sea service under authority of the endorsement 1 Competence—STCW Table A-II/2 2 Training required by this section 3 Chief Mate ocean or near-coastal, unlimited tonnage None Yes Yes. Master ocean or near-coastal, less than 500 GRT 12 months Yes Yes. Chief Mate OSV None Yes Yes. Master of Towing Vessels ocean or near-coastal 12 months Yes Yes. 1 This column provides the minimum additional service required of the seafarer in order to meet the requirements of this section. 2 Complete any items in paragraph (a)(2) of this section not previously satisfied. 3 Complete any items in paragraph (a)(3) of this section not previously satisfied.

Sections it refers to

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of October 1, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.