46 CFR 11.514: Service for Second Assistant Engineer endorsement

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the minimum service for a national endorsement as Second Assistant Engineer of steam, motor, and/or gas turbine-propelled vessels. An applicant can meet it in one of two ways, each involving one year of service while holding an MMC endorsement as Third Assistant Engineer. The section also points to other sections for STCW endorsements.

Applies toApplicants for endorsement as Second Assistant Engineer of steam, motor, and/or gas turbine-propelled vessels.

What it says

  1. The minimum service has two alternatives, listed in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2). The first is one year of service as an Assistant Engineer while holding an MMC endorsement as Third Assistant Engineer.

    46 CFR 11.514(a)(1)“One year of service as an Assistant Engineer, while holding an MMC endorsement as Third Assistant Engineer; or”

  2. The second alternative is one year of service while holding an MMC endorsement as Third Assistant Engineer, and that service must include the items in paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and (a)(2)(ii).

    46 CFR 11.514(a)(2)“One year of service while holding an MMC endorsement as Third Assistant Engineer, which includes—”

  3. Under the second alternative, the service must include a minimum of 6 months of service as Third Assistant Engineer.

    46 CFR 11.514(a)(2)(i)“A minimum of 6 months of service as Third Assistant Engineer; and”

  4. Under the second alternative, the service must also include additional service as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED), calculated on a two-for-one basis.

    46 CFR 11.514(a)(2)(ii)“Additional service as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED), calculated on a two-for-one basis.”

  5. A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement according to §§ 11.327, 11.329, and 11.333 of this part.

    46 CFR 11.514(b)“A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.327, 11.329, and 11.333 of this part.”

Common questions

How much service do I need for a Second Assistant Engineer endorsement?

The text gives two alternatives. One is one year of service as an Assistant Engineer while holding an MMC endorsement as Third Assistant Engineer; the other is in paragraph (a)(2).

“One year of service as an Assistant Engineer, while holding an MMC endorsement as Third Assistant Engineer; or”

Can QMED service count toward Second Assistant Engineer?

Yes, under the second alternative, additional QMED service counts, calculated on a two-for-one basis. That one year of service must include a minimum of 6 months as Third Assistant Engineer.

“Additional service as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED), calculated on a two-for-one basis.”

Can a Second Assistant Engineer get an STCW endorsement?

A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement according to §§ 11.327, 11.329, and 11.333 of this part.

“A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.327, 11.329, and 11.333 of this part.”

The text of 46 CFR 11.514

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

Service requirements for national endorsement as Second Assistant Engineer of steam, motor, and/or gas turbine-propelled vessels

(a) The minimum service required to qualify an applicant for endorsement as Second Assistant Engineer of steam, motor, and/or gas turbine-propelled vessels is—

(1) One year of service as an Assistant Engineer, while holding an MMC endorsement as Third Assistant Engineer; or

(2) One year of service while holding an MMC endorsement as Third Assistant Engineer, which includes—

(i) A minimum of 6 months of service as Third Assistant Engineer; and

(ii) Additional service as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED), calculated on a two-for-one basis.

(b) A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.327, 11.329, and 11.333 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.