46 CFR 12.101: Purpose of merchant mariner rating requirements

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section states the purpose of this part. It provides a means of determining and verifying the professional qualifications an applicant must have to be certified to serve on merchant vessels of the United States, and a means of determining eligibility for the STCW endorsement. Training requirements have moved to 46 CFR part 10, subpart D.

Applies toApplicants for certification to serve on merchant vessels of the United States and for the endorsement required by the STCW Convention.

What it says

  1. This part provides a comprehensive and adequate means of determining and verifying the professional qualifications an applicant must have to be eligible for certification to serve on merchant vessels of the United States.

    46 CFR 12.101(a)(1)“A comprehensive and adequate means of determining and verifying the professional qualifications an applicant must possess to be eligible for certification to serve on merchant vessels of the United States”

  2. This part also provides a means of determining that an applicant is qualified to receive the endorsement required by the STCW Convention.

    46 CFR 12.101(a)(2)“A means of determining that an applicant is qualified to receive the endorsement required by the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended”

  3. The requirements for approved and accepted training, training for a particular rating endorsement, and training and assessment for the STCW standards of competence have been moved to 46 CFR part 10, subpart D.

    46 CFR 12.101(b)“have been moved to 46 CFR part 10, subpart D.”

Common questions

What is the purpose of 46 CFR part 12?

It provides a means of determining and verifying the professional qualifications an applicant must have to be eligible for certification to serve on merchant vessels of the United States. It also provides a means of determining eligibility for the STCW endorsement.

“A comprehensive and adequate means of determining and verifying the professional qualifications an applicant must possess to be eligible for certification to serve on merchant vessels of the United States”

Where did the training requirements for ratings go?

They have been moved to 46 CFR part 10, subpart D. This includes approved and accepted training and training for a particular rating endorsement.

“have been moved to 46 CFR part 10, subpart D.”

The text of 46 CFR 12.101

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

Purpose

(a) The purpose of this part is to provide—

(1) A comprehensive and adequate means of determining and verifying the professional qualifications an applicant must possess to be eligible for certification to serve on merchant vessels of the United States; and

(2) A means of determining that an applicant is qualified to receive the endorsement required by the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (the STCW Convention, or STCW).

(b) The requirements applicable to approved and accepted training, training for a particular rating endorsement, and training and assessment associated with meeting the standards of competence established by the STCW Convention have been moved to 46 CFR part 10, subpart D.

Sections it refers to

  • 46 CFR part 10, subpart D

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.