46 CFR 11.522: Service for Assistant Engineer-Limited endorsement

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the minimum service needed for a national endorsement as Assistant Engineer-Limited of steam, motor, and/or gas turbine-propelled vessels. An applicant needs 3 years of engineroom service, and 18 months of it must be as a QMED or equivalent. It also says a holder may qualify for an STCW endorsement under other sections.

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

What it says

  1. An applicant for endorsement as Assistant Engineer-Limited of steam, motor, and/or gas turbine-propelled vessels must have at least 3 years of service in the engineroom of vessels.

    46 CFR 11.522(a)“is 3 years of service in the engineroom of vessels.”

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

    46 CFR 11.522(a)“Eighteen months of this service must have been as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) or equivalent position.”

  3. 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 11.522(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 Assistant Engineer-Limited?

The minimum is 3 years of service in the engineroom of vessels.

“is 3 years of service in the engineroom of vessels.”

How much of the Assistant Engineer-Limited service must be as a QMED?

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

“Eighteen months of this service must have been as a Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) or equivalent position.”

Can an Assistant Engineer-Limited get an STCW endorsement?

Yes, a holder 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 11.522

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

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

(a) The minimum service required to qualify an applicant for endorsement as Assistant Engineer-Limited of steam, motor, and/or gas turbine-propelled vessels is 3 years of service in the engineroom of vessels. Eighteen months of this 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 §§ 11.327, 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.