46 CFR 11.705: Route familiarization roundtrips for First-Class Pilot
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers the route familiarization roundtrips an applicant must complete for a First-Class Pilot endorsement on a particular route. The OCMI decides the number within set ranges. Some roundtrips must be made in darkness, and one must be recent.
Applies toApplicants seeking an endorsement as First-Class Pilot for a particular route.
What it says
The OCMI has jurisdiction and decides the number of roundtrips needed to qualify an applicant for a route, within the range limits in this section.
46 CFR 11.705(a)“The Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) has jurisdiction and determines within the range limitations specified in this section, the number of roundtrips required to qualify an applicant for a particular route”
An applicant holding no other deck officer endorsement must furnish evidence of a minimum number of roundtrips over the route sought. The applicant must have served as quartermaster, wheelsman, Able Seafarer, Apprentice Pilot, or in an equivalent capacity, standing regular watches at the wheel or in the pilot house as part of routine duties.
46 CFR 11.705(b)“while serving as quartermaster, wheelsman, Able Seafarer, Apprentice Pilot, or in an equivalent capacity, standing regular watches at the wheel or in the pilot house as part of routine duties, over the route sought”
Evidence of roundtrips made as an observer is also acceptable if the Master and/or Pilot of the vessel properly certifies it.
46 CFR 11.705(b)“Evidence of having completed a minimum number of roundtrips while serving as an observer, properly certified by the Master and/or Pilot of the vessel, is also acceptable.”
For an applicant holding no other deck officer endorsement, the range is a minimum of 12 roundtrips and a maximum of 20 roundtrips.
46 CFR 11.705(b)“The range of roundtrips for an endorsement is a minimum of 12 roundtrips and a maximum of 20 roundtrips.”
An applicant who currently holds a deck officer MMC endorsement must complete the number of roundtrips the OCMI specifies, within a range of a minimum of eight roundtrips and a maximum of 15 roundtrips.
46 CFR 11.705(c)“The range of roundtrips for an endorsement is a minimum of eight roundtrips and a maximum of 15 roundtrips.”
Unless the OCMI determines it impracticable, 25 percent of the roundtrips the OCMI requires must be made during the hours of darkness.
46 CFR 11.705(d)“Unless determined impracticable by the OCMI, 25 percent of the roundtrips required by the OCMI under this section must be made during the hours of darkness.”
One of the roundtrips the OCMI requires must be made over the route within the 6 months immediately preceding the date of application.
46 CFR 11.705(e)“One of the roundtrips required by the OCMI under this section must be made over the route within the 6 months immediately preceding the date of application.”
Common questions
How many roundtrips do I need for a First-Class Pilot endorsement if I hold no other deck officer endorsement?
The range is a minimum of 12 roundtrips and a maximum of 20 roundtrips. The OCMI decides the number within that range.
“The range of roundtrips for an endorsement is a minimum of 12 roundtrips and a maximum of 20 roundtrips.”
How many roundtrips are needed if I already hold a deck officer MMC endorsement?
The range is a minimum of eight roundtrips and a maximum of 15 roundtrips, as specified by the OCMI.
“The range of roundtrips for an endorsement is a minimum of eight roundtrips and a maximum of 15 roundtrips.”
Do any route familiarization roundtrips have to be made at night?
Yes. Unless the OCMI determines it impracticable, 25 percent of the required roundtrips must be made during the hours of darkness.
“Unless determined impracticable by the OCMI, 25 percent of the roundtrips required by the OCMI under this section must be made during the hours of darkness.”
How recent must a route roundtrip be?
One of the required roundtrips must be made over the route within the 6 months immediately preceding the date of application.
“One of the roundtrips required by the OCMI under this section must be made over the route within the 6 months immediately preceding the date of application.”
The text of 46 CFR 11.705
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Route familiarization requirements
(a) The Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) has jurisdiction and determines within the range limitations specified in this section, the number of roundtrips required to qualify an applicant for a particular route, considering the following:
(1) The geographic configuration of the waterway.
(2) The type and size of vessels using the waterway.
(3) The abundance or absence of aids to navigation.
(4) The background lighting effects.
(5) The known hazards involved, including waterway obstructions or constrictions such as bridges, narrow channels, or sharp turns.
(6) Any other factors unique to the route that the OCMI deems appropriate.
(b) An applicant holding no other deck officer endorsement seeking an endorsement as First-Class Pilot must furnish evidence of having completed a minimum number of roundtrips, while serving as quartermaster, wheelsman, Able Seafarer, Apprentice Pilot, or in an equivalent capacity, standing regular watches at the wheel or in the pilot house as part of routine duties, over the route sought. Evidence of having completed a minimum number of roundtrips while serving as an observer, properly certified by the Master and/or Pilot of the vessel, is also acceptable. The range of roundtrips for an endorsement is a minimum of 12 roundtrips and a maximum of 20 roundtrips. An applicant may have additional routes added to the First-Class Pilot endorsement by meeting the requirements in paragraph (c) of this section.
(c) An applicant who currently holds a deck officer MMC endorsement seeking an endorsement as First-Class Pilot for a particular route must furnish evidence of having completed the number of roundtrips over the route, specified by the OCMI, within the range limitations of this paragraph, for the particular grade of existing MMC endorsement held. The range of roundtrips for an endorsement is a minimum of eight roundtrips and a maximum of 15 roundtrips.
(d) Unless determined impracticable by the OCMI, 25 percent of the roundtrips required by the OCMI under this section must be made during the hours of darkness.
(e) One of the roundtrips required by the OCMI under this section must be made over the route within the 6 months immediately preceding the date of application.
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.