46 CFR 11.516: Service requirements for Third Assistant Engineer endorsement

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the minimum service needed for a national endorsement as Third Assistant Engineer of steam, motor, and/or gas turbine-propelled vessels. An applicant can qualify through engineroom service, machinist apprenticeship, academy or technology school graduation, an approved training program, or Assistant Engineer-Limited service. It also allows some deck department credit and points to other sections for STCW endorsements.

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

What it says

  1. An applicant may qualify with three years of engineroom service on vessels, and 2 years of that service must have been as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) or equivalent position.

    46 CFR 11.516(a)(1)“Three years of service in the engineroom of vessels, 2 years of which must have been as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) or equivalent position;”

  2. An applicant may qualify with three years as an apprentice to the machinist trade, engaged in construction or repair of marine, locomotive, or stationary engines, plus 1 year of engineroom service as Oiler, Boiler Technician/Watertender, or Junior Engineer.

    46 CFR 11.516(a)(2)“Three years of service as an apprentice to the machinist trade engaged in the construction or repair of marine, locomotive, or stationary engines, together with 1 year of service in the engineroom as Oiler, Boiler Technician/Watertender, or Junior Engineer;”

  3. An applicant may qualify by graduating from the engineering class of a Maritime Academy approved by and conducted under the rules prescribed by the Maritime Administrator and listed in part 310 of this title.

    46 CFR 11.516(a)(3)(iv)“The engineering class of a Maritime Academy approved by and conducted under the rules prescribed by the Maritime Administrator and listed in part 310 of this title;”

  4. An applicant may qualify by graduating from the marine engineering course of a school of technology accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, plus 3 months of service in the engine department of steam, motor, or gas turbine-propelled vessels.

    46 CFR 11.516(a)(4)“Graduation from the marine engineering course of a school of technology accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, together with 3 months of service in the engine department of steam, motor, or gas turbine-propelled vessels;”

  5. An applicant may qualify with one year of service as Assistant Engineer-Limited of self-propelled vessels and completion of the appropriate examination described in subpart I of this part.

    46 CFR 11.516(a)(7)“One year of service as Assistant Engineer-Limited of self-propelled vessels and completion of the appropriate examination described in subpart I of this part.”

  6. Deck department experience on vessels of 100 GRT or more can be credited for up to 3 months of the service required under paragraph (a)(1).

    46 CFR 11.516(b)“Experience gained in the deck department on vessels of 100 GRT or more can be credited for up to 3 months of the service requirements under paragraph (a)(1) of this section.”

Common questions

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

One route requires three years of engineroom service on vessels. Two of those years must have been as a QMED or equivalent position.

“Three years of service in the engineroom of vessels, 2 years of which must have been as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) or equivalent position;”

Does deck department time count toward Third Assistant Engineer service?

Yes, in part. Deck department experience on vessels of 100 GRT or more can be credited for up to 3 months of the service under paragraph (a)(1).

“Experience gained in the deck department on vessels of 100 GRT or more can be credited for up to 3 months of the service requirements under paragraph (a)(1) of this section.”

Can a Third 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 11.516

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

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

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

(1) Three years of service in the engineroom of vessels, 2 years of which must have been as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) or equivalent position;

(2) Three years of service as an apprentice to the machinist trade engaged in the construction or repair of marine, locomotive, or stationary engines, together with 1 year of service in the engineroom as Oiler, Boiler Technician/Watertender, or Junior Engineer;

(3) Graduation from—

(i) The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (engineering curriculum);

(ii) The U.S. Coast Guard Academy and completion of an onboard engineer officer qualification program required by the service;

(iii) The U.S. Naval Academy and completion of an onboard engineer officer qualification program required by the service; or

(iv) The engineering class of a Maritime Academy approved by and conducted under the rules prescribed by the Maritime Administrator and listed in part 310 of this title;

(4) Graduation from the marine engineering course of a school of technology accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, together with 3 months of service in the engine department of steam, motor, or gas turbine-propelled vessels;

(5) Graduation from the mechanical or electrical engineering course of a school of technology accredited by the ABET, together with 6 months of service in the engine department of steam, motor, or gas turbine-propelled vessels;

(6) Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive Apprentice Engineer training program approved by the Coast Guard; or

(7) One year of service as Assistant Engineer-Limited of self-propelled vessels and completion of the appropriate examination described in subpart I of this part.

(b) Experience gained in the deck department on vessels of 100 GRT or more can be credited for up to 3 months of the service requirements under paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(c) 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 March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.