46 CFR 11.467: National endorsement as Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers national endorsements as Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) of less than 100 GRT. It sets the service time needed for near-coastal, Great Lakes and inland endorsements. It also allows limited and restricted endorsements for particular activities, waters or localities.
Applies toAn applicant for an endorsement as OUPV of less than 100 GRT, equipped with propulsion machinery of any type, carrying six or fewer passengers.
What it says
A near-coastal OUPV endorsement limits the holder to domestic, near-coastal waters not more than 100 miles offshore, the Great Lakes, and all inland waters.
46 CFR 11.467(b)“An endorsement as OUPV for near-coastal waters limits the holder to service on domestic, near-coastal waters not more than 100 miles offshore, the Great Lakes, and all inland waters.”
An applicant for a near-coastal OUPV endorsement must have a minimum of 12 months of experience operating vessels, including at least 3 months of service on vessels operating on ocean or near-coastal waters.
46 CFR 11.467(c)“an applicant must have a minimum of 12 months of experience in the operation of vessels, including at least 3 months of service on vessels operating on ocean or near-coastal waters.”
An applicant for an OUPV endorsement on the Great Lakes and inland waters must have 12 months of service on Great Lakes or inland waters, including at least 3 months operating vessels on Great Lakes waters.
46 CFR 11.467(d)“an applicant must have 12 months of service on Great Lakes or inland waters, including at least 3 months of service operating vessels on Great Lakes waters.”
An applicant for an OUPV endorsement on inland waters must have a minimum of 12 months of experience in the operation of vessels.
46 CFR 11.467(e)“an applicant must have a minimum of 12 months of experience in the operation of vessels.”
A limited OUPV endorsement may be issued to an applicant employed by organizations such as camps, yacht clubs, educational institutions and marinas. It is limited to the specific activity and the locality of the camp, yacht club, or marina.
46 CFR 11.467(f)“An endorsement issued under this paragraph will be limited to the specific activity and the locality of the camp, yacht club, or marina.”
An applicant for a limited endorsement must have 3 months of service in the operation of the type of vessel for which the endorsement is requested.
46 CFR 11.467(f)(1)“Have 3 months of service in the operation of the type of vessel for which the endorsement is requested;”
A restricted OUPV endorsement for inland navigable waters is limited to specific bodies of water approved by the cognizant OCMI.
46 CFR 11.467(g)“An endorsement under this paragraph will be limited to specific bodies of water that have been approved by the cognizant OCMI.”
An applicant for an OUPV officer endorsement who speaks Spanish, but not English, may be issued an endorsement restricted to the navigable waters of the United States in the vicinity of Puerto Rico.
46 CFR 11.467(h)“An applicant for an officer endorsement as OUPV who speaks Spanish, but not English, may be issued an officer endorsement restricted to the navigable waters of the United States in the vicinity of Puerto Rico.”
Common questions
How much experience do I need for an inland OUPV endorsement?
An applicant for an OUPV endorsement on inland waters must have a minimum of 12 months of experience in the operation of vessels.
“an applicant must have a minimum of 12 months of experience in the operation of vessels.”
Does an inland waters OUPV endorsement cover the Great Lakes?
No. Endorsements issued for inland waters include all inland waters except the Great Lakes.
“Endorsements issued for inland waters include all inland waters except the Great Lakes.”
Who can get a limited OUPV endorsement?
A limited OUPV endorsement may be issued to an applicant to be employed by organizations such as formal camps, yacht clubs, educational institutions, and marinas.
“A limited OUPV endorsement may be issued to an applicant to be employed by organizations such as formal camps, yacht clubs, educational institutions, and marinas.”
Can a Spanish-speaking applicant get an OUPV endorsement?
An applicant who speaks Spanish, but not English, may be issued an officer endorsement restricted to the navigable waters of the United States in the vicinity of Puerto Rico.
“who speaks Spanish, but not English, may be issued an officer endorsement restricted to the navigable waters of the United States in the vicinity of Puerto Rico.”
The text of 46 CFR 11.467
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Requirements for a national endorsement as Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels of less than 100 GRT
(a) This section applies to an applicant for an endorsement as Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) of less than 100 GRT, equipped with propulsion machinery of any type, carrying six or fewer passengers.
(b) An endorsement as OUPV for near-coastal waters limits the holder to service on domestic, near-coastal waters not more than 100 miles offshore, the Great Lakes, and all inland waters. Endorsements issued for inland waters include all inland waters except the Great Lakes. Endorsements may be issued for a particular local area under paragraph (f) or paragraph (g) of this section.
(c) For an endorsement as OUPV on near-coastal waters, an applicant must have a minimum of 12 months of experience in the operation of vessels, including at least 3 months of service on vessels operating on ocean or near-coastal waters.
(d) For an endorsement as OUPV on the Great Lakes and inland waters, an applicant must have 12 months of service on Great Lakes or inland waters, including at least 3 months of service operating vessels on Great Lakes waters.
(e) For an endorsement as OUPV on inland waters, an applicant must have a minimum of 12 months of experience in the operation of vessels.
(f) A limited OUPV endorsement may be issued to an applicant to be employed by organizations such as formal camps, yacht clubs, educational institutions, and marinas. An endorsement issued under this paragraph will be limited to the specific activity and the locality of the camp, yacht club, or marina. In order to obtain this restricted endorsement, an applicant must—
(1) Have 3 months of service 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 those public education courses conducted by the U.S. Power Squadron or the American National Red Cross or a Coast Guard-approved course; and
(3) Pass a limited examination appropriate for the activity to be conducted and the route authorized.
(4) Hold the first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course certificates required by § 11.201(i) of this part when, in the opinion of the Coast Guard, the geographic area over which service is authorized precludes obtaining medical services within a reasonable time.
(g) Restricted OUPV endorsements may be issued to applicants to be employed on inland navigable waters. An endorsement under this paragraph will be limited to specific bodies of water that have been approved by the cognizant OCMI. In order to obtain this endorsement, the applicant must be qualified for the endorsement under this section; however, the OCMI may modify the service and examination requirements as follows:
(1) At least 3 months of service in the operation of the type of vessel and on each body of water for which the endorsement is requested.
(2) Satisfactorily pass an examination appropriate for the activity to be conducted and the waters authorized.
(h) An applicant for an officer endorsement as OUPV who speaks Spanish, but not English, may be issued an officer endorsement restricted to the navigable waters of the United States in the vicinity of Puerto Rico.
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.