46 CFR 11.474: Ballast Control Operator endorsement requirements

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets out how an applicant qualifies for an endorsement as Ballast Control Operator (BCO). The applicant must show either MODU employment or an engineering degree, and must also show completion of three training courses. An applicant who holds certain unlimited endorsements must satisfy the paragraph (a)(2) training and have trainee service.

Applies toApplicants for an endorsement as Ballast Control Operator (BCO).

What it says

  1. An applicant may qualify with one year of employment assigned to MODUs, which must include at least 28 days of service as a trainee under the supervision of an individual holding an MMC endorsement as BCO.

    46 CFR 11.474(a)(1)(i)“One year of employment assigned to MODUs, including at least 28 days of service as a trainee under the supervision of an individual holding an MMC endorsement as BCO.”

  2. An applicant may instead qualify with a degree from an engineering or engineering technology program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

    46 CFR 11.474(a)(1)(ii)“A degree from a program in engineering or engineering technology that is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).”

  3. The National Maritime Center will give consideration to accepting education credentials from programs that do not have ABET accreditation.

    46 CFR 11.474(a)(1)(ii)“The National Maritime Center will give consideration to accepting education credentials from programs having other than ABET accreditation.”

  4. An applicant who qualifies through a degree program must also have at least 28 days of service as a trainee under the supervision of an individual holding a License or MMC endorsement as BCO.

    46 CFR 11.474(a)(1)(ii)“An applicant qualifying through a degree program must also have at least 28 days of service as a trainee under the supervision of an individual holding a License or MMC endorsement as BCO; and”

  5. The applicant must provide a certificate from a Coast Guard-approved stability course approved for Barge Supervisor or BCO.

    46 CFR 11.474(a)(2)(i)“A certificate from a Coast Guard-approved stability course approved for Barge Supervisor or BCO.”

  6. The applicant must provide a certificate from a firefighting training course as required by § 11.201(h).

    46 CFR 11.474(a)(2)(iii)“A certificate from a firefighting training course as required by § 11.201(h).”

  7. An applicant who holds an unlimited MMC endorsement as Master, Mate, Chief Engineer, or Assistant Engineer must satisfy the requirements in paragraph (a)(2) and have at least 28 days of service as a trainee under the supervision of an individual holding an endorsement as BCO.

    46 CFR 11.474(b)“must satisfy the requirements in paragraph (a)(2) of this section and have at least 28 days of service as a trainee under the supervision of an individual holding an endorsement as BCO.”

Common questions

What training certificates do I need for a BCO endorsement?

The applicant must provide a certificate from a Coast Guard-approved stability course approved for Barge Supervisor or BCO. The applicant must also provide a certificate from a Coast Guard-approved survival suit and survival craft training course, and a firefighting course certificate as required by § 11.201(h).

“A certificate from a Coast Guard-approved survival suit and survival craft training course.”

How much trainee service does a Master, Mate or Engineer need for a BCO endorsement?

An applicant who holds an unlimited MMC endorsement as Master, Mate, Chief Engineer, or Assistant Engineer must have at least 28 days of service as a trainee under a BCO. That applicant must also satisfy the training requirements in paragraph (a)(2).

“must satisfy the requirements in paragraph (a)(2) of this section and have at least 28 days of service as a trainee under the supervision of an individual holding an endorsement as BCO.”

Does my engineering degree have to be ABET accredited for a BCO endorsement?

The text names a degree from an ABET-accredited program. The National Maritime Center will give consideration to accepting credentials from programs with other accreditation.

“The National Maritime Center will give consideration to accepting education credentials from programs having other than ABET accreditation.”

The text of 46 CFR 11.474

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

National officer endorsements as Ballast Control Operator

(a) To qualify for an endorsement as Ballast Control Operator (BCO), an applicant must—

(1) Provide evidence of one of the following:

(i) One year of employment assigned to MODUs, including at least 28 days of service as a trainee under the supervision of an individual holding an MMC endorsement as BCO.

(ii) A degree from a program in engineering or engineering technology that is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The National Maritime Center will give consideration to accepting education credentials from programs having other than ABET accreditation. An applicant qualifying through a degree program must also have at least 28 days of service as a trainee under the supervision of an individual holding a License or MMC endorsement as BCO; and

(2) Provide evidence of training course completion as follows:

(i) A certificate from a Coast Guard-approved stability course approved for Barge Supervisor or BCO.

(ii) A certificate from a Coast Guard-approved survival suit and survival craft training course.

(iii) A certificate from a firefighting training course as required by § 11.201(h).

(b) An applicant for an endorsement as BCO who holds an unlimited MMC endorsement as Master, Mate, Chief Engineer, or Assistant Engineer must satisfy the requirements in paragraph (a)(2) of this section and have at least 28 days of service as a trainee under the supervision of an individual holding an endorsement as BCO.

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.