46 CFR 11.482: Assistance Towing endorsement requirements

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the requirements for an endorsement that lets a mariner engage in assistance towing. Holders of MMC officer and OUPV endorsements must generally have it, and applicants must pass an exam or complete a Coast Guard-approved course. The endorsement is valid as long as the MMC it is on.

Applies toHolders of MMC officer and OUPV endorsements who want to engage in assistance towing, and applicants for an Assistance Towing endorsement.

What it says

  1. Holders of MMC officer and OUPV endorsements must have an Assistance Towing endorsement to engage in assistance towing, except as the paragraph notes.

    46 CFR 11.482(a)“Except as noted in this paragraph, holders of MMC officer and OUPV endorsements must have an Assistance Towing endorsement to engage in assistance towing.”

  2. Holders of Master or Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels endorsements, or Master or Mate endorsements authorizing service on inspected vessels of 200 GRT or more, do not need the Assistance Towing endorsement.

    46 CFR 11.482(a)“Holders of endorsements as Master or Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels or Master or Mate endorsements authorizing service on inspected vessels of 200 GRT or more do not need the Assistance Towing endorsement.”

  3. An applicant must pass a written examination or complete a Coast Guard-approved course demonstrating knowledge of assistance towing safety, equipment, and procedures.

    46 CFR 11.482(b)“must pass a written examination or complete a Coast Guard-approved course demonstrating their knowledge of assistance towing safety, equipment, and procedures.”

  4. A holder of an MMC for Master, Mate, or operator endorsed for Assistance Towing is authorized to engage in assistance towing on any vessel within the scope of the MMC.

    46 CFR 11.482(c)“The holder of an MMC for Master, Mate, or operator endorsed for Assistance Towing is authorized to engage in assistance towing on any vessel within the scope of the MMC.”

  5. The endorsement is valid for the same period as the MMC it is included on, and it may be renewed with the MMC.

    46 CFR 11.482(d)“The period of validity of the endorsement is the same as the MMC on which it is included, and it may be renewed with the MMC.”

Common questions

Do I need an Assistance Towing endorsement to do assistance towing?

Holders of MMC officer and OUPV endorsements must have one, except as the text notes. Masters or Mates (Pilot) of Towing Vessels do not need it.

“Except as noted in this paragraph, holders of MMC officer and OUPV endorsements must have an Assistance Towing endorsement to engage in assistance towing.”

How do I qualify for an Assistance Towing endorsement?

An applicant must pass a written examination or complete a Coast Guard-approved course on assistance towing safety, equipment, and procedures.

“must pass a written examination or complete a Coast Guard-approved course demonstrating their knowledge of assistance towing safety, equipment, and procedures.”

How long is an Assistance Towing endorsement valid?

It is valid for the same period as the MMC it is included on. It may be renewed with the MMC.

“The period of validity of the endorsement is the same as the MMC on which it is included, and it may be renewed with the MMC.”

The text of 46 CFR 11.482

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

Assistance Towing

(a) This section contains the requirements to qualify for an endorsement authorizing a mariner to engage in assistance towing. Except as noted in this paragraph, holders of MMC officer and OUPV endorsements must have an Assistance Towing endorsement to engage in assistance towing. Holders of endorsements as Master or Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels or Master or Mate endorsements authorizing service on inspected vessels of 200 GRT or more do not need the Assistance Towing endorsement.

(b) An applicant for an Assistance Towing endorsement must pass a written examination or complete a Coast Guard-approved course demonstrating their knowledge of assistance towing safety, equipment, and procedures.

(c) The holder of an MMC for Master, Mate, or operator endorsed for Assistance Towing is authorized to engage in assistance towing on any vessel within the scope of the MMC.

(d) The period of validity of the endorsement is the same as the MMC on which it is included, and it may be renewed with the MMC.

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.