46 CFR 11.331: STCW Chief Engineer Officer endorsement, 750 to under 3,000 kW
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets the requirements for an STCW endorsement as Chief Engineer Officer (management level) on vessels with main propulsion machinery of 750 kW/1,000 HP or more and less than 3,000 kW/4,000 HP. An applicant needs OICEW qualification, sea service, the standard of competence in Section A-III/3 of the STCW Code, and approved training. It also covers renewals, exemptions and entry paths from national endorsements.
Applies toApplicants for, and holders renewing, an STCW endorsement as Chief Engineer Officer on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW/1,000 HP or more and less than 3,000 kW/4,000 HP propulsion power.
What it says
An applicant must show evidence of meeting the requirements for OICEW certification and have at least 24 months of seagoing service on vessels with main propulsion machinery of not less than 750 kW/1,000 HP, including at least 12 months while qualified as Second Engineer Officer.
46 CFR 11.331(a)(1)“Provide evidence of meeting the requirements for certification as OICEW, and have not less than 24 months of service on seagoing vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of not less than 750 kW/1,000 HP”
Experience gained in the deck department may be credited for up to 2 months of the total service requirements.
46 CFR 11.331(a)(1)“Experience gained in the deck department may be creditable for up to 2 months of the total service requirements”
An applicant must provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence in Section A-III/3 of the STCW Code.
46 CFR 11.331(a)(2)“Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Section A-III/3 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 11.102)”
An applicant must have satisfactorily completed 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 11.331(a)(3)“Provide evidence of having satisfactorily completed approved training in the following areas:”
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 11.331(b)“each candidate must provide evidence of successful completion of approved training in the following:”
An engineer officer qualified as Second Engineer Officer on vessels of 3,000 kW/4,000 HP or more may serve as Chief Engineer Officer on vessels of 750 kW/1,000 HP or more and less than 3,000 kW/4,000 HP, provided the certificate is so endorsed.
46 CFR 11.331(c)“may serve as Chief Engineer Officer on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW/1,000 HP or more and less than 3,000 kW/4,000 HP provided the certificate is so endorsed.”
The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-III/3 of the STCW Code. The Coast Guard must approve these exemptions based upon vessel type, and the credential may include a corresponding limitation.
46 CFR 11.331(d)“These exemptions must be approved by the Coast Guard based upon vessel type.”
Common questions
How much sea service do I need for a Chief Engineer Officer STCW endorsement under 3,000 kW?
An applicant must have not less than 24 months of service on seagoing vessels with main propulsion machinery of not less than 750 kW/1,000 HP. At least 12 months of that must be served while qualified as Second Engineer Officer.
“of which not less than 12 months must be served while qualified to serve as Second Engineer Officer.”
Can deck department time count toward the sea service?
Yes. Experience gained in the deck department may be credited for up to 2 months of the total service requirements.
“Experience gained in the deck department may be creditable for up to 2 months of the total 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-III/3 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/3 of the STCW Code.”
What training is required to renew a Chief Engineer Officer STCW endorsement?
For a renewal to be valid on or after January 1, 2017, a candidate must show approved training in ERM if not completed at the operational level, leadership and managerial skills, and management of electrical and electronic control equipment.
“For a renewal of an STCW endorsement as Chief Engineer Officer on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW/1,000 HP or more”
The text of 46 CFR 11.331
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 750 kW/1,000 HP or more and less than 3,000 kW/4,000 HP propulsion power (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 meeting the requirements for certification as OICEW, and have not less than 24 months of service on seagoing vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of not less than 750 kW/1,000 HP, of which not less than 12 months must be served while qualified to serve as Second Engineer Officer. Experience gained in the deck department may be creditable for up to 2 months of the total service requirements;
(2) Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Section A-III/3 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 750 kW/1,000 HP or more and less than 3,000 kW/4,000 HP propulsion power 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) An engineer officer qualified to serve as Second Engineer Officer on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW/4,000 HP or more, may serve as Chief Engineer Officer on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW/1,000 HP or more and less than 3,000 kW/4,000 HP provided the certificate is so endorsed.
(d) The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-III/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.
(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 § 11.331(e)—STCW Endorsement as Chief Engineer Officer on Vessels Powered by Main Propulsion Machinery of 750 kW/1,000 HP or More and Less Than 3,000 kW/4,000 HP Propulsion Power Entry path from national endorsements Sea service 1 Competence—STCW Table A-III/3 2 Training required by this section 3 Chief Engineer None Yes Yes. First Assistant Engineer None Yes Yes. Chief Engineer-Limited None Yes Yes. Chief Engineer-OSV None Yes Yes. Chief Engineer-MODU 12 months Yes Yes. Designated Duty Engineer, 3,000 kW/4,000 HP 4 12 months Yes Yes. Designated Duty Engineer, 750 kW/1,000 HP 4 24 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. 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.