46 CFR 11.466: National endorsements for Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the service and examination requirements for national endorsements as Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels. Table 1 lists the months of service for each route. It also lets holders obtain a restricted Limited endorsement for a new route.

Applies toMariners seeking a national endorsement as Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels, or the Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels-Limited endorsement.

What it says

  1. To get an Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels endorsement with a listed route, mariners must complete the service requirements in columns 3 through 6 of table 1.

    46 CFR 11.466(a)“mariners must complete the service requirements indicated in columns 3 through 6.”

  2. Table 1 requires 18 months of total service for each route endorsement, and service is counted in months.

    46 CFR 11.466(a)“Service is in months.”

  3. The Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels-Limited endorsement, with route not applicable, requires 18 months of total service, 12 months of time of service on a towing vessel, 3 months on a particular route, and passing the examination.

    46 CFR 11.466(a)“(2) APPRENTICE MATE OF TOWING VESSELS -LIMITED NOT APPLICABLE 18 12 3 YES.”

  4. The examination for Apprentice Mate is specified in subpart I of this part.

    46 CFR 11.466(a)“The examination for Apprentice Mate is specified in subpart I of this part.”

  5. Holders of an Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels endorsement may obtain a restricted endorsement as Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels-Limited.

    46 CFR 11.466(b)“Those holding an endorsement as Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels may obtain a restricted endorsement as Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels-Limited.”

  6. The Limited endorsement goes on the mariner's MMC after the mariner passes an examination for a route not in the current endorsements and on which the mariner has no operating experience.

    46 CFR 11.466(b)“This endorsement will go on the mariner's MMC after passing an examination for a route that is not included in the current endorsements”

  7. After completing 3 months of experience on that route, mariners may have the restriction removed.

    46 CFR 11.466(b)“Upon completion of 3 months of experience on that route, mariners may have the restriction removed.”

Common questions

How many months of service do I need for Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels?

Table 1 lists 18 months of total service for every route. The table also lists 12 months of time of service on a towing vessel and 3 months on the particular route.

“Service is in months.”

What is the Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels-Limited endorsement?

It is a restricted endorsement that holders of an Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels endorsement may obtain.

“Those holding an endorsement as Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels may obtain a restricted endorsement as Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels-Limited.”

How do I remove the Limited restriction from my endorsement?

Mariners may have the restriction removed upon completing 3 months of experience on that route.

“Upon completion of 3 months of experience on that route, mariners may have the restriction removed.”

Where is the Apprentice Mate examination specified?

The examination is specified in subpart I of this part.

“The examination for Apprentice Mate is specified in subpart I of this part.”

The text of 46 CFR 11.466

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

Requirements for national endorsements as Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels

(a) As table 1 to § 11.466(a) shows, to obtain an endorsement as Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels listed in column 1, endorsed with a route listed in column 2, mariners must complete the service requirements indicated in columns 3 through 6.

Table 1 to § 11.466(a)—Requirements for National Endorsement as Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels 1 2 3 4 5 6 Endorsement Route endorsed Total service 1 TOS 2 on T/V TOS on particular route Pass examination 3 (1) APPRENTICE MATE OF TOWING VESSELS OCEANS (O) 18 12 3 YES. NEAR-COASTAL (NC) 18 12 3 YES. GREAT LAKES 18 12 3 YES. INLAND (GL-I) 18 12 3 YES. WESTERN RIVERS (WR) 18 12 3 YES. (2) APPRENTICE MATE OF TOWING VESSELS -LIMITED NOT APPLICABLE 18 12 3 YES. 1 Service is in months. 2 TOS is time of service. 3 The examination for Apprentice Mate is specified in subpart I of this part.

(b) Those holding an endorsement as Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels may obtain a restricted endorsement as Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels-Limited. This endorsement will go on the mariner's MMC after passing an examination for a route that is not included in the current endorsements and on which the mariners have no operating experience. Upon completion of 3 months of experience on that route, mariners may have the restriction removed.

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.