46 CFR 11.321: STCW OICNW endorsement for near-coastal vessels under 500 GT

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets out how to qualify for an STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on vessels of less than 500 GT limited to near-coastal waters. An applicant must show seagoing service, meet the standard of competence, and complete approved training. It also covers renewals, exemptions and entry paths from national endorsements.

Applies toApplicants for an STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch of vessels of less than 500 GT limited to near-coastal waters, and seafarers holding the listed national officer endorsements.

What it says

  1. An applicant may meet the service requirement with twenty-four months of seagoing service in the deck department on vessels operating in oceans, near-coastal waters, and/or Great Lakes.

    46 CFR 11.321(a)(1)(i)“Twenty-four months of seagoing service in the deck department 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 11.321(a)(1)(i)“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. An applicant may instead meet the service requirement by completing approved training for this section and obtaining 12 months of seagoing service.

    46 CFR 11.321(a)(1)(iii)“Successful completion of approved training for this section and obtain 12 months of seagoing service;”

  4. An applicant must provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code, which is incorporated by reference (see § 11.102).

    46 CFR 11.321(a)(2)“Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 11.102); and”

  5. An applicant must show satisfactory completion of approved training in Basic and Advanced Firefighting in accordance with § 11.303, among the other listed subject areas.

    46 CFR 11.321(a)(3)(ii)“Basic and Advanced Firefighting in accordance with § 11.303.”

  6. For a renewal of an STCW endorsement as OICNW of vessels of less than 500 GT limited to near-coastal waters to be valid on or after January 1, 2017, each candidate must provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence in leadership and teamworking skills.

    46 CFR 11.321(b)(1)“Evidence of meeting the standard of competence in leadership and teamworking skills.”

  7. For that same renewal to be valid on or after January 1, 2017, each candidate must also provide completion of approved training in ECDIS, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.

    46 CFR 11.321(b)(2)“Completion of approved training in ECDIS, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.”

  8. The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code.

    46 CFR 11.321(c)“The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code.”

Common questions

How much seagoing service do I need for an OICNW endorsement on vessels under 500 GT near-coastal?

One path requires twenty-four months of seagoing service in the deck department. Another path requires approved training for this section plus 12 months of seagoing service.

“Twenty-four months of seagoing service in the deck department on vessels operating in oceans, near-coastal waters, and/or Great Lakes.”

Can inland service count toward the OICNW sea service requirement?

Yes. 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.

“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.”

Can engine department time count toward OICNW service?

Experience gained in the engine department may be creditable for up to 3 months of the service requirements.

“Experience gained in the engine department may be creditable for up to 3 months of the service requirements; or”

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

Yes. The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from individual items in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code, and exemptions must be approved based upon vessel type.

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

The text of 46 CFR 11.321

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

Requirements to qualify for an STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch of vessels of less than 500 GT limited to near-coastal waters (operational level)

Link to an amendment published at 91 FR 60883, Sept. 25, 2026.

(a) To qualify for an STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW), an applicant must—

(1) Provide evidence of seagoing service as follows:

(i) Twenty-four months of seagoing service in the deck department 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 may be creditable for up to 3 months of the service requirements; or

(ii) Successful completion of an approved training program that includes seagoing service as required by the Coast Guard; or

(iii) Successful completion of approved training for this section and obtain 12 months of seagoing service;

(2) Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 11.102); and

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

(i) Medical First-aid Provider.

(ii) Basic and Advanced Firefighting in accordance with § 11.303.

(iii) Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats (PSC) or Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Lifeboats and Fast Rescue Boats (PSC-Limited).

(iv) Bridge resource management;

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

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

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

(b) For a renewal of an STCW endorsement as OICNW of vessels of less than 500 GT limited to near-coastal waters to be valid on or after January 1, 2017, each candidate must provide the following:

(1) Evidence of meeting the standard of competence in leadership and teamworking skills.

(2) Completion of approved training in 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/3 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 § 11.321(d)—STCW Endorsement as OICNW of Vessels of Less Than 500 GT Limited to Near-Coastal Waters Entry path from national endorsements Sea service under authority of the endorsement 1 Competence—STCW Table A-II/3 2 Training required by this section 3 Mate oceans or near-coastal less than 500 GRT None Yes Yes. Mate of Towing Vessels oceans or near-coastal None Yes Yes. Master oceans or near-coastal, less than 200 GRT None Yes Yes. Mate oceans or near-coastal, less than 200 GRT 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.