46 CFR 11.410: Deck officer endorsements under 1,600 GRT

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers deck officer endorsements as Master and Mate of vessels of less than 1,600 GRT. It lists the tonnage categories and allows limited credit for engine department service. It also limits endorsements obtained with an orally assisted examination to 200 GRT.

Applies toEndorsements as Master and Mate of vessels of less than 1,600 GRT.

What it says

  1. Endorsements as Master and Mate of vessels of less than 1,600 GRT are issued in set tonnage categories.

    46 CFR 11.410(a)“Endorsements as Master and Mate of vessels of less than 1,600 GRT are issued in the following tonnage categories:”

  2. One tonnage category is vessels of less than 1,600 GRT.

    46 CFR 11.410(a)(1)“Less than 1,600 GRT.”

  3. Another tonnage category is vessels of less than 500 GRT.

    46 CFR 11.410(a)(2)“Less than 500 GRT.”

  4. A further category covers vessels between 25 and 200 GRT in 50-ton increments, with the appropriate mode of propulsion, such as self-propelled, sail, or auxiliary sail.

    46 CFR 11.410(a)(3)“Between 25 and 200 GRT in 50-ton increments and with appropriate mode of propulsion such as self-propelled, sail, or auxiliary sail.”

  5. Engine department experience on vessels of appropriate tonnage may be creditable for up to 90 days of the service requirements for any Master or Mate endorsement in this category.

    46 CFR 11.410(b)“Experience gained in the engine department on vessels of appropriate tonnage may be creditable for up to 90 days of the service requirements for any Master or Mate endorsement in this category.”

  6. An officer's endorsement in this category obtained with an orally assisted examination will be limited to 200 GRT.

    46 CFR 11.410(c)“An officer's endorsement in this category obtained with an orally assisted examination will be limited to 200 GRT.”

  7. To raise the 200 GRT limit to 1,600 GRT, the written examination and service requirements must be satisfied.

    46 CFR 11.410(c)“In order to raise that tonnage limit to 1,600 GRT, the written examination and service requirements must be satisfied.”

Common questions

What tonnage categories are available for Master and Mate endorsements under 1,600 GRT?

Endorsements are issued for less than 1,600 GRT, less than 500 GRT, and between 25 and 200 GRT in 50-ton increments with the appropriate mode of propulsion.

“Endorsements as Master and Mate of vessels of less than 1,600 GRT are issued in the following tonnage categories:”

Can engine department service count toward deck officer service requirements?

Yes. Engine department experience on vessels of appropriate tonnage may be creditable for up to 90 days of the service requirements for any Master or Mate endorsement in this category.

“Experience gained in the engine department on vessels of appropriate tonnage may be creditable for up to 90 days of the service requirements for any Master or Mate endorsement in this category.”

What is the tonnage limit for an endorsement obtained with an orally assisted examination?

An endorsement in this category obtained with an orally assisted examination will be limited to 200 GRT.

“An officer's endorsement in this category obtained with an orally assisted examination will be limited to 200 GRT.”

How can an orally assisted examination limit be raised to 1,600 GRT?

The written examination and service requirements must be satisfied.

“In order to raise that tonnage limit to 1,600 GRT, the written examination and service requirements must be satisfied.”

The text of 46 CFR 11.410

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Requirements for deck officer endorsements for vessels of less than 1,600 GRT

(a) Endorsements as Master and Mate of vessels of less than 1,600 GRT are issued in the following tonnage categories:

(1) Less than 1,600 GRT.

(2) Less than 500 GRT.

(3) Between 25 and 200 GRT in 50-ton increments and with appropriate mode of propulsion such as self-propelled, sail, or auxiliary sail.

(b) Experience gained in the engine department on vessels of appropriate tonnage may be creditable for up to 90 days of the service requirements for any Master or Mate endorsement in this category.

(c) An officer's endorsement in this category obtained with an orally assisted examination will be limited to 200 GRT. In order to raise that tonnage limit to 1,600 GRT, the written examination and service requirements must be satisfied.

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 April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.