46 CFR 11.464: Master of Towing Vessels national endorsement requirements

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the service requirements for a national endorsement as Master of Towing Vessels on each route, and for Master of Towing Vessels-Limited. It also covers Western Rivers observation and training, company duties, and how masters of larger self-propelled vessels may operate towing vessels.

Applies toApplicants for endorsement as Master of Towing Vessels or Master of Towing Vessels-Limited, companies operating towing vessels, and masters of self-propelled vessels of more than 200 GRT.

What it says

  1. An applicant for Master of Towing Vessels on a route listed in column 1 of table 1 must complete the service requirements in columns 2 through 5, and may serve on the subordinate routes listed in column 5 without further endorsement.

    46 CFR 11.464(a)“Applicants may serve on the subordinate routes listed in column 5 without further endorsement.”

  2. To obtain a Master of Towing Vessels-Limited endorsement, applicants must complete the requirements in columns 2 through 5 of table 2 to paragraph (c).

    46 CFR 11.464(c)“applicants must complete the requirements listed in columns 2 through 5 of table 2 to paragraph (c) of this section.”

  3. A holder of an MMC endorsement as Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels may have Master of Towing Vessels-Limited added for a limited local area within the scope of the current route.

    46 CFR 11.464(d)“may have Master of Towing Vessels-Limited added to their MMC for a limited local area within the scope of their current route.”

  4. Before serving as Master of Towing Vessels on the Western Rivers, mariners must have 90 days of observation and training, and their MMC must include a Western Rivers endorsement.

    46 CFR 11.464(e)“mariners must possess 90 days of observation and training and their MMC must include an endorsement for Western Rivers.”

  5. Each company must maintain evidence that every vessel it operates is under the direction and control of a mariner with the appropriate endorsement and experience, including 30 days of observation and training on the intended route other than Western Rivers.

    46 CFR 11.464(f)“Each company must maintain evidence that every vessel it operates is under the direction and control of a mariner with the appropriate endorsement and experience”

  6. A master of self-propelled vessels of more than 200 GRT may operate towing vessels within any restrictions on the endorsement if the conditions in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) are met.

    46 CFR 11.464(g)“may operate towing vessels within any restrictions on their endorsement if they-”

  7. A License or MMC does not need to include a towing endorsement if the mariner holds a TOAR or completes an approved training course.

    46 CFR 11.464(h)“A License or MMC does not need to include a towing endorsement if mariners hold a TOAR or complete an approved training course.”

Common questions

Do I need a separate endorsement for subordinate routes as Master of Towing Vessels?

No. Applicants may serve on the subordinate routes listed in column 5 of table 1 without further endorsement.

“Applicants may serve on the subordinate routes listed in column 5 without further endorsement.”

What is required before serving as Master of Towing Vessels on the Western Rivers?

Mariners must have 90 days of observation and training. Their MMC must also include an endorsement for Western Rivers.

“mariners must possess 90 days of observation and training and their MMC must include an endorsement for Western Rivers.”

Can a mariner qualify for an STCW endorsement with a Master of Towing Vessels endorsement?

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

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

The text of 46 CFR 11.464

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Requirements for national endorsements as Master of Towing Vessels

(a) An applicant for an endorsement as Master of Towing Vessels with a route listed in column 1 of table 1 to this section, must complete the service requirements indicated in columns 2 through 5. Applicants may serve on the subordinate routes listed in column 5 without further endorsement.

Table 1 to § 11.464(a)—Requirements for Endorsement as Master of Towing Vessels 1 1 2 3 4 5 Route endorsed Total service 2 TOS 3 on T/V as Mate

(Pilot) TOS 3 on particular route Sub-ordinate route authorized

(1) OCEANS (O) 48 18 3 NC, GL-I.

(2) NEAR-COASTAL (NC) 48 18 3 GL-I.

(3) GREAT LAKES-INLAND (GL-I) 48 18 3 None.

(4) WESTERN RIVERS (WR) 48 18 3 None. 1 The holder of an endorsement as Master of Towing Vessels may have an endorsement placed on the MMC as Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels for a route superior to the current route on which the holder has no operating experience after passing an examination for that additional route. After the holder completes 90 days of experience and completes a Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR) on that route, the Coast Guard will add it to the holder's endorsement as Master of Towing Vessels and remove the endorsement for Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels. 2 Service is in months. 3 TOS is time of service.

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

(c) To obtain an endorsement as Master of Towing Vessels-Limited, applicants must complete the requirements listed in columns 2 through 5 of table 2 to paragraph (c) of this section.

Table 2 to § 11.464(c)—Requirements for National Endorsement as Master of Towing Vessels-Limited 1 2 3 4 5 Route endorsed Total service 1 TOS 2 on T/V as apprentice mate of towing- limited TOAR or an approved course TOS on particular route LIMITED LOCAL AREA (LLA) 36 18 Yes 3. 1 Service is in months. 2 TOS is time of service.

(d) Those holding an MMC endorsement as Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels, may have Master of Towing Vessels-Limited added to their MMC for a limited local area within the scope of their current route.

(e) Before serving as Master of Towing Vessels on the Western Rivers, mariners must possess 90 days of observation and training and their MMC must include an endorsement for Western Rivers.

(f) Each company must maintain evidence that every vessel it operates is under the direction and control of a mariner with the appropriate endorsement and experience, including 30 days of observation and training on the intended route other than Western Rivers.

(g) Those holding an MMC endorsement as a Master of self-propelled vessels of more than 200 GRT, may operate towing vessels within any restrictions on their endorsement if they-

(1) Have a minimum of 30 days of training and observation on towing vessels for the route being assessed, except as noted in paragraph (e) of this section; and

(2) Either—

(i) Hold a completed Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR) described in § 10.404(c) of this subchapter that shows evidence of assessment of practical demonstration of skills; or

(ii) Complete an approved training course.

(h) A License or MMC does not need to include a towing endorsement if mariners hold a TOAR or complete an approved training course.

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 March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.