46 CFR 11.429: Limited Master endorsement for near-coastal vessels under 100 GRT

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers a restricted Limited Master endorsement for near-coastal service on vessels of less than 100 GRT. It is limited to the specific activity and locality of the yacht club, marina, or camp. An applicant needs 4 months of service, an approved safe boating course, and a limited examination.

Applies toApplicants to be employed by organizations such as yacht clubs, marinas, formal camps, and educational institutions who seek a Limited Master endorsement for near-coastal waters on vessels of less than 100 GRT.

What it says

  1. The endorsement may be issued to an applicant employed by organizations such as yacht clubs, marinas, formal camps, and educational institutions.

    46 CFR 11.429(a)“may be issued to an applicant to be employed by organizations such as yacht clubs, marinas, formal camps, and educational institutions”

  2. An endorsement issued under this section is limited to the specific activity and the locality of the yacht club, marina, or camp.

    46 CFR 11.429(a)“An endorsement issued under this section is limited to the specific activity and the locality of the yacht club, marina, or camp.”

  3. The applicant must have 4 months of service on any waters in the operation of the type of vessel for which the endorsement is requested.

    46 CFR 11.429(a)(1)“Have 4 months of service on any waters in the operation of the type of vessel for which the endorsement is requested;”

  4. The applicant must complete a safe boating course within 5 years before the date of application. The course may be one approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, one conducted by the U.S. Power Squadron or the American Red Cross, or a Coast Guard-approved course.

    46 CFR 11.429(a)(2)“This course must have been completed within 5 years before the date of application; and”

  5. The applicant must pass a limited examination appropriate for the activity to be conducted and the route authorized.

    46 CFR 11.429(a)(3)“Pass a limited examination appropriate for the activity to be conducted and the route authorized.”

  6. The first aid and CPR course certificates required by § 11.201(i) of this part are required only when, in the opinion of the Coast Guard, the authorized geographic area precludes obtaining medical services within a reasonable time.

    46 CFR 11.429(b)“will only be required when, in the opinion of the Coast Guard, the geographic area over which service is authorized precludes obtaining medical services within a reasonable time.”

  7. An applicant for a sail or auxiliary sail vessel endorsement must submit evidence of 4 months of service on sail or auxiliary sail vessels. That service may have been obtained before the MMC endorsement was issued.

    46 CFR 11.429(c)“The required 4 months of service may have been obtained prior to issuance of the MMC endorsement.”

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

    46 CFR 11.429(d)“Holders of this endorsement are considered to be in compliance with the STCW Convention”

Common questions

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

You must have 4 months of service on any waters in operating the type of vessel for which you request the endorsement. For sail or auxiliary sail vessels, you must show 4 months of service on those vessels.

“Have 4 months of service on any waters in the operation of the type of vessel for which the endorsement is requested;”

How recent must my safe boating course be?

The safe boating course must have been completed within 5 years before the date of application.

“This course must have been completed within 5 years before the date of application; and”

Do I need first aid and CPR certificates for this endorsement?

Only when, in the Coast Guard's opinion, the authorized geographic area precludes obtaining medical services within a reasonable time. The certificates are those required by § 11.201(i) of this part.

“will only be required when, in the opinion of the Coast Guard, the geographic area over which service is authorized precludes obtaining medical services within a reasonable time.”

Does this endorsement satisfy the STCW Convention?

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

“Holders of this endorsement are considered to be in compliance with the STCW Convention”

The text of 46 CFR 11.429

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

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

(a) An endorsement as Limited Master for service on near-coastal waters on vessels of less than 100 GRT may be issued to an applicant to be employed by organizations such as yacht clubs, marinas, formal camps, and educational institutions. An endorsement issued under this section is limited to the specific activity and the locality of the yacht club, marina, or camp. To obtain this restricted endorsement, an applicant must—

(1) Have 4 months of service on any waters in the operation of the type of vessel for which the endorsement is requested;

(2) Satisfactorily complete a safe boating course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, or a safe boating course conducted by the U.S. Power Squadron or the American Red Cross, or a Coast Guard-approved course. This course must have been completed within 5 years before the date of application; and

(3) Pass a limited examination appropriate for the activity to be conducted and the route authorized.

(b) The first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course certificates required by § 11.201(i) of this part will only be required when, in the opinion of the Coast Guard, the geographic area over which service is authorized precludes obtaining medical services within a reasonable time.

(c) To obtain an endorsement for sail or auxiliary sail vessels, the applicant must submit evidence of 4 months of service on sail or auxiliary sail vessels. The required 4 months of service may have been obtained prior to issuance of the MMC endorsement.

(d) 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.

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.