46 CFR 11.465: Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels national endorsement

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets out how a mariner qualifies for a national endorsement as Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels. It gives service requirements by route in a table, plus rules for Western Rivers, companies, other credential holders and approved training courses.

Applies toApplicants for a national endorsement as Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels, and companies that operate towing vessels.

What it says

  1. Applicants for a route endorsement must complete the service in columns 2 through 5 of table 1 to paragraph (a).

    46 CFR 11.465(a)“applicants must complete the service in columns 2 through 5.”
  2. Mariners holding an MMC endorsement as Master of Towing Vessels-Limited who want to raise of grade to Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels must complete the service in columns 5 and 6.

    46 CFR 11.465(a)“Mariners holding an MMC endorsement as Master of Towing Vessels-Limited wishing to raise of grade to Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels must complete the service in columns 5 and 6.”
  3. Before serving as Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels on the Western Rivers, mariners must possess 90 days of observation and training and have an MMC that includes a Western Rivers endorsement.

    46 CFR 11.465(b)“mariners must possess 90 days of observation and training and have their MMC include an endorsement for Western Rivers.”
  4. 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 11.465(c)“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”
  5. A License or MMC does not need to include a towing endorsement if the holder has a TOAR or a course completion certificate.

    46 CFR 11.465(e)“A License or MMC does not need to include a towing endorsement if you hold a TOAR or a course completion certificate.”
  6. Certain Masters of self-propelled vessels of any tonnage that is less than 200 GRT may obtain a Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels endorsement, except holders of the Limited Master endorsements specified in §§ 11.429 and 11.456. They must provide proof of 36 months of service as a Master under an endorsement described in that paragraph.

    46 CFR 11.465(f)(1)“Providing proof of 36 months of service as a Master under the authority of an endorsement described in this paragraph;”
  7. An approved training course must include formal instruction and practical demonstration of proficiency, either onboard a towing vessel or at a shoreside training facility before a designated examiner.

    46 CFR 11.465(g)“must include formal instruction and practical demonstration of proficiency either onboard a towing vessel or at a shoreside training facility before a designated examiner”

Common questions

Can Apprentice Mate service time be reduced for Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels?

Yes. Time of service as an Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels may be reduced by the time specified in the approval letter for a completed Coast Guard-approved training program.

“Time of service requirements as an Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels may be reduced by an amount equal to the time specified in the approval letter for a completed Coast Guard-approved training program.”

What is needed before serving as Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels on the Western Rivers?

Mariners must possess 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 have their MMC include an endorsement for Western Rivers.”

Does my MMC need a towing endorsement if I hold a TOAR?

No. A License or MMC does not need to include a towing endorsement if you hold a TOAR or a course completion certificate.

“A License or MMC does not need to include a towing endorsement if you hold a TOAR or a course completion certificate.”

Can a Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels endorsement lead to an STCW endorsement?

Yes. 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 11.465

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

Requirements for national endorsements as Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels

(a) To obtain an endorsement as Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels endorsed with a route listed in column 1 of table 1 to paragraph (a) of this section, applicants must complete the service in columns 2 through 5. Mariners holding an MMC endorsement as Master of Towing Vessels-Limited wishing to raise of grade to Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels must complete the service in columns 5 and 6. An endorsement with a route endorsed in column 1 authorizes service on the subordinate routes listed in column 7 without further endorsement. Time of service requirements as an Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels may be reduced by an amount equal to the time specified in the approval letter for a completed Coast Guard-approved training program.

Table 1 to § 11.465(a)—Requirements for National Endorsement as Mate (Pilot 1) of Towing Vessels 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Route endorsed Total service 2 TOS 3 on T/V as apprentice mate of towing vessels4 TOS on particular route TOAR 5 or an approved course 30 days of observation and training while holding master of towing vessels-limited and pass an examination Subordinate route authorized

(1) OCEANS (O) 30 12 3 YES YES

(1) OCEANS (O)

(2) NEAR-COASTAL (NC) 30 12 3 YES YES

(2) NEAR-COASTAL (NC)

(3) GREAT LAKES-INLAND (GL-I) 30 12 3 YES YES

(3) GREAT LAKES-INLAND (GL-I)

(4) WESTERN RIVERS (WR) 30 12 3 YES NO (90 days service required)

(4) WESTERN RIVERS (WR) 1 For all inland routes, as well as Western Rivers, the endorsement as Pilot of Towing Vessels is equivalent to that as Mate of Towing Vessels. All qualifications and equivalencies are the same. 2 Service is in months unless otherwise indicated. 3 TOS is time of service. 4 Time of service requirements as an Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels may be reduced by an amount equal to the time specified in the approval letter for a completed Coast Guard-approved training program. 5 TOAR is a Towing Officer Assessment Record.

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

(c) 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.

(d) Those holding an MMC endorsement as a Mate of inspected, self-propelled vessels of more than 200 GRT or one as First-Class Pilot, may operate towing vessels within any restrictions on their credential 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 (b) of this section; and

(2) 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.

(e) A License or MMC does not need to include a towing endorsement if you hold a TOAR or a course completion certificate.

(f) Those holding any endorsement as a Master of self-propelled vessels of any tonnage that is less than 200 GRT, except for the Limited Master endorsements specified in §§ 11.429 and 11.456, may obtain an endorsement as Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels by meeting the following requirements:

(1) Providing proof of 36 months of service as a Master under the authority of an endorsement described in this paragraph;

(2) Successfully completing the appropriate TOAR;

(3) Successfully completing the appropriate Apprentice Mate exam; and

(4) Having a minimum of 30 days of training and observation on towing vessels for the route being assessed, except as noted in paragraph (b) of this section.

(g) An approved training course for Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels must include formal instruction and practical demonstration of proficiency either onboard a towing vessel or at a shoreside training facility before a designated examiner, and must cover the material (dependent upon route) required by table 2 to § 11.910 for Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels on ocean and near-coastal routes; Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels on Great Lakes and inland routes; or Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels on Western Rivers routes.

(h) 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.