46 CFR 11.540: Engineer endorsements for mobile offshore drilling units

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section describes what Chief Engineer-Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) and Assistant Engineer-MODU endorsements authorize. They authorize service on certain units of unlimited propulsion power. The vessel's certificate of inspection must authorize that service.

Applies toEndorsements as Chief Engineer-Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) or Assistant Engineer-MODU.

What it says

  1. Endorsements as Chief Engineer-MODU or Assistant Engineer-MODU authorize service on certain self-propelled or non-self-propelled units of unlimited propulsion power.

    “Endorsements as Chief Engineer-Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) or Assistant Engineer-MODU authorize service on certain self-propelled or non-self-propelled units of unlimited propulsion power”

  2. The service these endorsements authorize is limited to units where the vessel's certificate of inspection authorizes it.

    “where authorized by the vessel's certificate of inspection.”

Common questions

What does a Chief Engineer-MODU endorsement authorize?

It authorizes service on certain self-propelled or non-self-propelled units of unlimited propulsion power. This applies where the vessel's certificate of inspection authorizes it.

“Endorsements as Chief Engineer-Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) or Assistant Engineer-MODU authorize service on certain self-propelled or non-self-propelled units of unlimited propulsion power”

Does the certificate of inspection matter for MODU engineer endorsements?

Yes. The endorsements authorize service only where the vessel's certificate of inspection authorizes it.

“where authorized by the vessel's certificate of inspection.”

The text of 46 CFR 11.540

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

Endorsements as engineers of mobile offshore drilling units

Endorsements as Chief Engineer-Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) or Assistant Engineer-MODU authorize service on certain self-propelled or non-self-propelled units of unlimited propulsion power where authorized by the vessel's certificate of inspection.

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.