46 CFR 11.313: STCW Chief Mate endorsement, 500 to under 3,000 GT
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets what an applicant must show to get an STCW endorsement as Chief Mate (management level) of vessels of 500 GT or more and less than 3,000 GT. The applicant must show sea service, the standard of competence and approved training. It also covers renewal training, exemptions and entry paths from certain national endorsements.
Applies toApplicants for an STCW endorsement as Chief Mate of vessels of 500 GT or more and less than 3,000 GT.
What it says
An applicant must provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICNW on vessels operating in oceans, near-coastal waters, and/or Great Lakes.
46 CFR 11.313(a)(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.
46 CFR 11.313(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.”
An applicant must provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence in Section A-II/2 of the STCW Code, which is incorporated by reference, see § 11.102 of this part.
46 CFR 11.313(a)(2)“Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/2 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 11.102 of this part); and”
An applicant must provide evidence of satisfactorily completing approved training in the listed subject areas, including ECDIS, ARPA and GMDSS if serving on a vessel with this equipment.
46 CFR 11.313(a)(3)“Provide evidence of having satisfactorily completed approved training in the following subject areas:”
For a renewal to be valid on or after January 1, 2017, each candidate must provide evidence of approved training in leadership and managerial skills, and in ECDIS if serving on a vessel with this equipment.
46 CFR 11.313(b)“each candidate must provide evidence of successful completion of approved training in the following:”
The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/2 of the STCW Code. The credential may then include a corresponding limitation.
46 CFR 11.313(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.”
Common questions
How much sea service do I need for a Chief Mate STCW endorsement under 3,000 GT?
An applicant must provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICNW on vessels operating in oceans, near-coastal waters, and/or Great Lakes. Inland service may substitute for up to 50 percent of it.
“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 the service requirement?
Experience gained in the engine department on vessels 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 standard?
Yes. The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/2 of the STCW Code, based upon vessel type.
“These exemptions must be approved by the Coast Guard based upon vessel type.”
The text of 46 CFR 11.313
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 500 GT or more and less than 3,000 GT (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) Provide evidence of meeting 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) Management of medical care.
(vii) ECDIS, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.
(viii) ARPA, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.
(ix) GMDSS, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.
(b) For a renewal of an STCW endorsement as Chief Mate of vessels of 500 GT or more and less than 3,000 GT 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 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 § 11.313(d)—STCW Endorsement as Chief Mate of Vessels of 500 GT or More and Less Than 3,000 GT 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 OSV None Yes Yes. Master oceans or near-coastal, less than 500 GRT 6 months Yes Yes. Master of Towing Vessels oceans or near-coastal 6 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.