46 CFR 11.325: STCW endorsement as Chief Engineer Officer
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets the requirements for an STCW endorsement as Chief Engineer Officer. An applicant must show sea service, meet the STCW competence standard, and complete approved training. Renewal training applies to endorsements on vessels of 3,000 kW/4,000 HP propulsion power or more, and a table gives entry paths for holders of certain national endorsements.
What it says
An applicant must provide evidence of not less than 36 months of service as OICEW on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW/1,000 HP propulsion power or more.
46 CFR 11.325(a)(1)“Provide evidence of not less than 36 months of service as OICEW on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW/1,000 HP propulsion power or more.”
The service period may be reduced to not less than 24 months if the applicant has served for not less than 12 months as Second Engineer Officer on ships powered by propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW/4,000 HP or more.
46 CFR 11.325(a)(1)“This period may be reduced to not less than 24 months if the applicant has served for not less than 12 months as Second Engineer Officer on ships powered by propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW/4,000 HP or more;”
An applicant must provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence in Section A-III/2 of the STCW Code, which is incorporated by reference (see § 11.102).
46 CFR 11.325(a)(2)“Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Section A-III/2 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 11.102); and”
An applicant must provide evidence of satisfactorily completing approved training in Engineroom Resource Management (ERM) if not completed at the operational level, leadership and managerial skills, and management of electrical and electronic control equipment.
46 CFR 11.325(a)(3)“Provide evidence of having satisfactorily completed approved training in the following areas:”
For a renewal of an STCW endorsement as Chief Engineer Officer on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW/4,000 HP propulsion power or more to be valid on or after January 1, 2017, each candidate must provide evidence of approved training in ERM if not completed at the operational level, leadership and managerial skills, and management of electrical and electronic control equipment.
46 CFR 11.325(b)“each candidate must provide evidence of successful completion of approved training in the following:”
The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency items in Section A-III/2 of the STCW Code. Exemptions must be approved by the Coast Guard based upon vessel type, and the credential may include a corresponding limitation.
46 CFR 11.325(c)“These exemptions must be approved by the Coast Guard based upon vessel type.”
Seafarers with certain national officer endorsements are eligible to apply for this endorsement upon completing the requirements in Table 1 to § 11.325(d).
46 CFR 11.325(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:”
Common questions
How much sea service do I need for an STCW Chief Engineer Officer endorsement?
An applicant needs not less than 36 months of service as OICEW on ships of 750 kW/1,000 HP propulsion power or more. This may be reduced to not less than 24 months with 12 months as Second Engineer Officer on ships of 3,000 kW/4,000 HP or more.
“Provide evidence of not less than 36 months of service as OICEW on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW/1,000 HP propulsion power or more.”
What training is required for the Chief Engineer Officer STCW endorsement?
An applicant must complete approved training in ERM if not completed at the operational level, leadership and managerial skills, and management of electrical and electronic control equipment.
“Provide evidence of having satisfactorily completed approved training in the following areas:”
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-III/2 of the STCW Code. The credential may include a corresponding limitation.
“The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-III/2 of the STCW Code.”
The text of 46 CFR 11.325
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 Engineer Officer on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW/4,000 HP propulsion power or more (management level)
Link to an amendment published at 91 FR 60883, Sept. 25, 2026.
(a) To qualify for an STCW endorsement as Chief Engineer Officer, an applicant must—
(1) Provide evidence of not less than 36 months of service as OICEW on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW/1,000 HP propulsion power or more. This period may be reduced to not less than 24 months if the applicant has served for not less than 12 months as Second Engineer Officer on ships powered by propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW/4,000 HP or more;
(2) Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Section A-III/2 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 11.102); and
(3) Provide evidence of having satisfactorily completed approved training in the following areas:
(i) Engineroom Resource Management (ERM) if not completed at the operational level.
(ii) Leadership and managerial skills.
(iii) Management of electrical and electronic control equipment.
(b) For a renewal of an STCW endorsement as Chief Engineer Officer on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW/4,000 HP propulsion power 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) ERM if not completed at the operational level.
(2) Leadership and managerial skills.
(3) Management of electrical and electronic control equipment.
(c) The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-III/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 § 11.325(d)—STCW Endorsement as Chief Engineer Officer on Vessels Powered by Main Propulsion Machinery of 3,000 kW/4,000 HP Propulsion Power or More Entry path from national endorsements Sea service 1 Competence— STCW Table A-III/2 2 Training required by this section 3 Chief Engineer None Yes Yes. Chief Engineer-Limited 12 months Yes Yes. Chief Engineer-MODU 12 months/24 months4 Yes Yes. Chief Engineer-OSV None Yes Yes. Designated Duty Engineer, any horsepower 5 24 months as DDE 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. 4 Depending on the type of sea service used to obtain Chief Engineer-MODU (refer to § 11.542) 5 STCW certificate should be limited to vessels less than 500 GRT.
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.