46 CFR 11.428: Master of near-coastal vessels under 100 GRT

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the requirements for an endorsement as Master of self-propelled, seagoing vessels of less than 100 GRT on near-coastal domestic voyages. It requires 2 years of deck department service. It also covers sail endorsements, STCW compliance and tonnage increments.

Applies toApplicants for and holders of an endorsement as Master of self-propelled, seagoing vessels of less than 100 GRT limited to domestic voyages upon near-coastal waters.

What it says

  1. The minimum service to qualify is 2 years of service in the deck department of a self-propelled vessel on ocean or near-coastal waters.

    46 CFR 11.428(a)“is 2 years of service in the deck department of a self-propelled vessel on ocean or near-coastal waters”

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

    46 CFR 11.428(a)“Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to 1 year of the required service.”

  3. To obtain an endorsement for sail or auxiliary sail vessels, the applicant must submit evidence of 12 months of service on sail or auxiliary-sail vessels.

    46 CFR 11.428(b)“the applicant must submit evidence of 12 months of service on sail or auxiliary-sail vessels”

  4. The required sail or auxiliary-sail service may have been obtained before issuance of the MMC.

    46 CFR 11.428(b)“This required service may have been obtained before issuance of the MMC.”

  5. Holders of this endorsement are considered to be in compliance with the STCW Convention while operating within the limitations of this endorsement.

    46 CFR 11.428(c)“Holders of this endorsement are considered to be in compliance with the STCW Convention”

  6. All endorsements for Master or Mate of vessels of less than 100 GRT are issued in tonnage increments based on the applicant's qualifying experience, in accordance with § 11.422.

    46 CFR 11.428(d)“are issued in tonnage increments based on the applicant's qualifying experience in accordance with the provisions of § 11.422”

Common questions

How much service do I need for a near-coastal Master under 100 GRT endorsement?

The minimum is 2 years of service in the deck department of a self-propelled vessel on ocean or near-coastal waters.

“is 2 years of service in the deck department of a self-propelled vessel on ocean or near-coastal waters”

Can Great Lakes or inland service count toward this 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.”

How much sail service is needed for a sail or auxiliary sail endorsement?

The applicant must submit evidence of 12 months of service on sail or auxiliary-sail vessels. That service may have been obtained before issuance of the MMC.

“the applicant must submit evidence of 12 months of service on sail or auxiliary-sail vessels”

The text of 46 CFR 11.428

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

Requirements for Master of near-coastal self-propelled vessels of less than 100 GRT

(a) The minimum service required to qualify for the endorsement as Master of self-propelled, seagoing vessels of less than 100 GRT limited to domestic voyages upon near-coastal waters is 2 years of service in the deck department of a self-propelled vessel on ocean or near-coastal waters. Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to 1 year of the required service.

(b) To obtain an endorsement for sail or auxiliary sail vessels, the applicant must submit evidence of 12 months of service on sail or auxiliary-sail vessels. This required service may have been obtained before issuance of the MMC.

(c) Holders of this endorsement are considered to be in compliance with the STCW Convention (incorporated by reference, see § 11.102 of this part) while operating within the limitations of this endorsement.

(d) All endorsements issued for Master or Mate of vessels of less than 100 GRT are issued in tonnage increments based on the applicant's qualifying experience in accordance with the provisions of § 11.422.

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.