46 CFR 11.430: Great Lakes and inland waters officer endorsements

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section says where officer endorsements for Great Lakes and inland waters are valid. It requires a COLREGS examination for waters seaward of the demarcation lines, and sets added training for Master or Mate endorsements of 200 GRT or more.

Applies toOfficer endorsements issued for service on Great Lakes and inland waters or inland waters self-propelled vessels, excluding towing vessels, and inland waters or inland route endorsements.

What it says

  1. An officer endorsement for Great Lakes and inland waters self-propelled vessels, excluding towing vessels, is valid on all of the inland waters of the United States as defined in § 10.107 of this subchapter.

    46 CFR 11.430(a)“is valid on all of the inland waters of the United States as defined in § 10.107 of this subchapter”

  2. An officer endorsement for inland waters self-propelled vessels, excluding towing vessels, is valid for the inland waters of the United States, but not the Great Lakes.

    46 CFR 11.430(b)“is valid for the inland waters of the United States, excluding the Great Lakes”

  3. An officer endorsement for service on inland waters or an inland route is valid for service on the sheltered waters of the Inside Passage between Puget Sound and Cape Spencer, Alaska.

    46 CFR 11.430(c)“is valid for service on the sheltered waters of the Inside Passage between Puget Sound and Cape Spencer, Alaska”

  4. Because these endorsements authorize service seaward of the COLREGS demarcation lines, the applicant must complete a COLREGS examination, or the endorsement will exclude those waters.

    46 CFR 11.430(d)“the applicant must complete an examination on the COLREGS or the endorsement will exclude such waters”

  5. An applicant for a Master or Mate endorsement with a tonnage limit of 200 GRT or more must meet the training requirements in § 11.201(h) and (i) and complete Radar Observer training in § 11.480. This applies to an original, a raise of grade, or an increase in the scope of authority.

    46 CFR 11.430(e)“the applicant must meet the training requirements in § 11.201(h) and (i) and successfully complete Radar Observer training in § 11.480”

Common questions

Where is an inland waters officer endorsement valid?

An officer endorsement for inland waters self-propelled vessels, excluding towing vessels, is valid for the inland waters of the United States, excluding the Great Lakes.

“is valid for the inland waters of the United States, excluding the Great Lakes”

Is an inland endorsement valid in the Inside Passage in Alaska?

Yes. An officer endorsement for inland waters or an inland route is valid on the sheltered waters of the Inside Passage between Puget Sound and Cape Spencer, Alaska.

“is valid for service on the sheltered waters of the Inside Passage between Puget Sound and Cape Spencer, Alaska”

Do I need a COLREGS exam for an inland or Great Lakes endorsement?

The applicant must complete a COLREGS examination, or the endorsement will exclude waters seaward of the COLREGS demarcation lines.

“the applicant must complete an examination on the COLREGS or the endorsement will exclude such waters”

What training is needed for a Master or Mate endorsement of 200 GRT or more?

The applicant must meet the training requirements in § 11.201(h) and (i) and complete Radar Observer training in § 11.480.

“the applicant must meet the training requirements in § 11.201(h) and (i) and successfully complete Radar Observer training in § 11.480”

The text of 46 CFR 11.430

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

Endorsements for the Great Lakes and inland waters

(a) Any officer endorsement issued for service on Great Lakes and inland waters self-propelled vessels, excluding towing vessels, is valid on all of the inland waters of the United States as defined in § 10.107 of this subchapter.

(b) Any officer endorsement issued for service on inland waters self-propelled vessels, excluding towing vessels, is valid for the inland waters of the United States, excluding the Great Lakes.

(c) Any officer endorsement issued for service on inland waters or an inland route is valid for service on the sheltered waters of the Inside Passage between Puget Sound and Cape Spencer, Alaska.

(d) Because these officer endorsements authorize service on waters seaward of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) demarcation lines, as defined in 33 CFR part 80, the applicant must complete an examination on the COLREGS or the endorsement will exclude such waters.

(e) To obtain a Master or Mate endorsement with a tonnage limit of 200 GRT or more, whether an original, raise of grade, or increase in the scope of authority, the applicant must meet the training requirements in § 11.201(h) and (i) and successfully complete Radar Observer training in § 11.480.

(f) Figure 11.430(f) illustrates the deck officer endorsement structure, including crossover points, for Great Lakes and inland waters service. The section numbers on the diagram refer to the specific requirements applicable.

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.