46 CFR 11.518: Chief Engineer-Limited service requirements

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the minimum service needed to qualify for endorsement as Chief Engineer-Limited of steam, motor, and/or gas turbine-propelled vessels. An applicant needs 5 years of total engineroom service, with set amounts as an engineer officer and as a QMED or equivalent. A holder may also qualify for an STCW endorsement.

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

What it says

  1. An applicant must have 5 years of total service in the engineroom of vessels to qualify as Chief Engineer-Limited.

    46 CFR 11.518(a)“is 5 years of total service in the engineroom of vessels”

  2. Two years of the required service must have been as an engineer officer while holding an engineer officer endorsement.

    46 CFR 11.518(a)“Two years of this service must have been as an engineer officer while holding an engineer officer endorsement.”

  3. Thirty months of the service must have been as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) or equivalent position.

    46 CFR 11.518(a)“Thirty months of the service must have been as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) or equivalent position.”

  4. A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.325 and 11.331 of this part.

    46 CFR 11.518(b)“A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.325 and 11.331 of this part.”

Common questions

How much service do I need for Chief Engineer-Limited?

The minimum is 5 years of total service in the engineroom of vessels.

“is 5 years of total service in the engineroom of vessels”

How much of the service must be as an engineer officer?

Two years of the service must have been as an engineer officer while holding an engineer officer endorsement.

“Two years of this service must have been as an engineer officer while holding an engineer officer endorsement.”

Can a Chief Engineer-Limited get an STCW endorsement?

Yes, a holder may qualify for an STCW endorsement according to §§ 11.325 and 11.331 of this part.

“A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.325 and 11.331 of this part.”

The text of 46 CFR 11.518

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

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

(a) The minimum service required to qualify an applicant for endorsement as Chief Engineer-Limited of steam, motor, and/or gas turbine-propelled vessels is 5 years of total service in the engineroom of vessels. Two years of this service must have been as an engineer officer while holding an engineer officer endorsement. Thirty months of the service must have been as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) or equivalent position.

(b) A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to §§ 11.325 and 11.331 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.