46 CFR 11.418: Master of ocean or near-coastal vessels under 500 GRT service

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the minimum service an applicant needs for an endorsement as Master of ocean or near-coastal self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT. It gives two service routes and a separate route for towing vessel Masters and Mates (Pilot). It also says the holder may qualify for an STCW endorsement.

Applies toApplicants for an endorsement as Master of ocean or near-coastal self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT.

What it says

  1. One route requires three years total of service on ocean or near-coastal waters.

    46 CFR 11.418(a)(1)“Three years total of service on ocean or near-coastal waters.”

  2. Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to 18 months of the required service.

    46 CFR 11.418(a)(1)“Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to 18 months of the required service.”

  3. Two years of the required service must have been as a Master, Mate, or equivalent position while holding an MMC endorsement as Master, Mate, or Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels.

    46 CFR 11.418(a)(1)“Two years of the required service must have been as a Master, Mate, or equivalent position while holding an MMC endorsement as Master, Mate, or Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels.”

  4. One year of the required service as Master, Mate, or equivalent position must have been on vessels of more than 50 GRT.

    46 CFR 11.418(a)(1)“One year of the required service as Master, Mate, or equivalent position must have been on vessels of more than 50 GRT; or”

  5. The other route requires one year of service on vessels of more than 50 GRT on ocean or near-coastal waters as a Master or Mate of self-propelled vessels, or Master or Mate of Towing Vessels, while holding an MMC endorsement as Mate of ocean self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT.

    46 CFR 11.418(a)(2)“One year of service on vessels of more than 50 GRT on ocean or near-coastal waters as a Master or Mate of self-propelled vessels, or Master or Mate of Towing Vessels while holding an MMC endorsement as Mate of ocean self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT.”

  6. A holder of an MMC endorsement as Master or Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels authorizing service on oceans or near-coastal routes is eligible after both 1 year of service as Master or Mate of Towing Vessels on oceans or near-coastal routes and completion of a limited examination.

    46 CFR 11.418(b)“is eligible for an endorsement as Master of ocean or near-coastal self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT after both 1 year of service as Master or Mate of Towing Vessels on oceans or near-coastal routes and completion of a limited examination.”

  7. A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement according to the sections the text names.

    46 CFR 11.418(c)“A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.307, 11.309, 11.311, 11.313, and 11.315 of this part.”

Common questions

How much service do I need to be Master of ocean or near-coastal vessels under 500 GRT?

One route requires three years total of service on ocean or near-coastal waters, with the conditions in paragraph (a)(1). Another route requires one year of service on vessels of more than 50 GRT under paragraph (a)(2).

“Three years total of service on ocean or near-coastal waters.”

Can Great Lakes or inland service count toward the required service?

Yes. Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to 18 months of the required service.

“Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to 18 months of the required service.”

What does a towing vessel Master or Mate (Pilot) need for this endorsement?

The holder must have 1 year of service as Master or Mate of Towing Vessels on oceans or near-coastal routes and must complete a limited examination.

“after both 1 year of service as Master or Mate of Towing Vessels on oceans or near-coastal routes and completion of a limited examination.”

Can this endorsement lead to an STCW endorsement?

Yes. A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement according to §§ 11.307, 11.309, 11.311, 11.313, and 11.315 of this part.

“A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.307, 11.309, 11.311, 11.313, and 11.315 of this part.”

The text of 46 CFR 11.418

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

Service requirements for Master of ocean or near-coastal self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT

(a) The minimum service required to qualify an applicant for an endorsement as Master of ocean or near-coastal self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT is—

(1) Three years total of service on ocean or near-coastal waters. Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to 18 months of the required service. Two years of the required service must have been as a Master, Mate, or equivalent position while holding an MMC endorsement as Master, Mate, or Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels. One year of the required service as Master, Mate, or equivalent position must have been on vessels of more than 50 GRT; or

(2) One year of service on vessels of more than 50 GRT on ocean or near-coastal waters as a Master or Mate of self-propelled vessels, or Master or Mate of Towing Vessels while holding an MMC endorsement as Mate of ocean self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT.

(b) The holder of an MMC endorsement as Master or Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels authorizing service on oceans or near-coastal routes is eligible for an endorsement as Master of ocean or near-coastal self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT after both 1 year of service as Master or Mate of Towing Vessels on oceans or near-coastal routes and completion of a limited examination.

(c) A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.307, 11.309, 11.311, 11.313, and 11.315 of this part.

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