46 CFR 11.420: Service requirements for Mate under 500 GRT

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the minimum service needed for an endorsement as Mate of ocean self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT. The main requirement is 2 years of total deck department service. It also says holders may qualify for an STCW endorsement under other sections.

Applies toApplicants for an endorsement as Mate of ocean self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT.

What it says

  1. An applicant needs at least 2 years of total service in the deck department of ocean or near-coastal self-propelled, sail, or auxiliary sail vessels.

    46 CFR 11.420(a)“is 2 years of total service in the deck department of ocean or near-coastal self-propelled, sail, or auxiliary sail vessels.”

  2. Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to 1 year of the required service.

    46 CFR 11.420(a)“Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to 1 year of the required service.”

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

    46 CFR 11.420(a)“One year of the required service must have been as a Master, Mate, or equivalent position while holding an endorsement as Master, Mate, or Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels.”

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

    46 CFR 11.420(a)“Six months of the required service as Master, Mate, or equivalent position must have been on vessels of more than 50 GRT.”

  5. A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.309, 11.317, 11.319, and 11.321 of this part.

    46 CFR 11.420(b)“A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.309, 11.317, 11.319, and 11.321 of this part.”

Common questions

How much service do I need for Mate of ocean self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT?

The minimum is 2 years of total service in the deck department of ocean or near-coastal self-propelled, sail, or auxiliary sail vessels.

“is 2 years of total service in the deck department of ocean or near-coastal self-propelled, sail, or auxiliary sail vessels.”

Can Great Lakes or inland service count toward the Mate under 500 GRT endorsement?

Yes. Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to 1 year of the required service.

“Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to 1 year of the required service.”

Can a Mate under 500 GRT get an STCW endorsement?

A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.309, 11.317, 11.319, and 11.321 of this part.

“A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.309, 11.317, 11.319, and 11.321 of this part.”

The text of 46 CFR 11.420

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

Service requirements for Mate of ocean self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT

(a) The minimum service required to qualify an applicant for an endorsement as Mate of ocean self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT is 2 years of total service in the deck department of ocean or near-coastal self-propelled, sail, or auxiliary sail vessels. Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to 1 year of the required service. One year of the required service must have been as a Master, Mate, or equivalent position while holding an endorsement as Master, Mate, or Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels. Six months of the required service as Master, Mate, or equivalent position must have been on vessels of more than 50 GRT.

(b) A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.309, 11.317, 11.319, and 11.321 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.