46 CFR 11.327: STCW endorsement as Second Engineer Officer, management level

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets out what an applicant must show to get an STCW endorsement as Second Engineer Officer on vessels with main propulsion of 3,000kW/4,000 HP or more. The applicant must show sea service, the standard of competence in Section A-III/2 of the STCW Code, and approved training. It also covers renewals, Coast Guard exemptions and entry paths from national endorsements.

Applies toApplicants for an STCW endorsement as Second Engineer Officer on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000kW/4,000 HP propulsion power or more.

What it says

  1. An applicant must provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICEW on vessels of 750kW/1,000 HP or more, or 12 months of sea service as a Chief Engineer on vessels with propulsion machinery between 750kW/1,000 HP and 3,000 kW/4,000 HP.

    46 CFR 11.327(a)(1)“Provide evidence of not less than 12 months of service as OICEW on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 750kW/1,000 HP or more;”

  2. 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 11.327(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”

  3. An applicant must provide evidence of satisfactorily completing approved training in Engineroom Resource Management (if not completed at the operational level), leadership and managerial skills, and management of electrical and electronic control equipment.

    46 CFR 11.327(a)(3)“Provide evidence of having satisfactorily completed approved training in the following areas:”

  4. For a renewal to be valid on or after January 1, 2017, each candidate must provide evidence of successful completion 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 11.327(b)“each candidate must provide evidence of successful completion of approved training in the following:”

  5. The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required 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 11.327(c)“These exemptions must be approved by the Coast Guard based upon vessel type.”

  6. Seafarers with the listed national officer endorsements are eligible to apply once they complete the requirements in Table 1 to § 11.327(d).

    46 CFR 11.327(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 a Second Engineer Officer STCW endorsement?

The applicant must provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICEW on vessels of 750kW/1,000 HP or more, or 12 months of sea service as a Chief Engineer on vessels between 750kW/1,000 HP and 3,000 kW/4,000 HP.

“or 12 months of sea service as a Chief Engineer on vessels powered by propulsion machinery of vessels between 750kW/1,000 HP and 3,000 kW/4,000 HP;”

What training is required for the Second Engineer Officer STCW endorsement?

The applicant must complete approved training in Engineroom Resource Management 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, and 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 11.327

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

Requirements to qualify for an STCW endorsement as Second Engineer Officer on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000kW/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 Second Engineer Officer, an applicant must—

(1) Provide evidence of not less than 12 months of service as OICEW on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 750kW/1,000 HP or more; or 12 months of sea service as a Chief Engineer on vessels powered by propulsion machinery of vessels between 750kW/1,000 HP and 3,000 kW/4,000 HP;

(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 Second 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 § 11.327(d)—STCW Endorsement as Second 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 First Assistant Engineer None Yes Yes. Second Assistant Engineer None Yes Yes. Third Assistant Engineer 12 months Yes Yes. Assistant Engineer-Limited 12 months Yes Yes. Chief Engineer-MODU 12 months Yes Yes. Chief Engineer-OSV None Yes Yes. Designated Duty Engineer-Unlimited 4 12 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 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.