46 CFR 12.603: STCW endorsement as Able Seafarer-Deck

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets out what an applicant must meet to receive an STCW endorsement as Able Seafarer-Deck. The applicant must be at least 18, qualify as an RFPNW, have deck seagoing service, and show competence and approved survival craft training. It also covers earlier Able Seafarer holders, Coast Guard exemptions and national rating endorsement paths.

Applies toApplicants for an STCW endorsement as Able Seafarer-Deck, including seafarers who hold certain national rating endorsements.

What it says

  1. An applicant must be not less than 18 years of age.

    46 CFR 12.603(a)(1)“To qualify for this endorsement as Able Seafarer-Deck, an applicant must— (1) Be not less than 18 years of age;”

  2. An applicant must meet the requirements for certification as Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW).

    46 CFR 12.603(a)(2)“Meet the requirements for certification as Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW);”

  3. While qualified as an RFPNW, the applicant must have seagoing service in the deck department of not less than 18 months, or not less than 12 months and have completed approved training.

    46 CFR 12.603(a)(3)“While qualified as an RFPNW, have seagoing service in the deck department of—”

  4. An applicant must provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Table A-II/5 of the STCW Code.

    46 CFR 12.603(a)(4)“Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Table A-II/5 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 12.103); and”

  5. An applicant must provide evidence of satisfactorily completed approved training in PSC or PSC-Limited, as appropriate.

    46 CFR 12.603(a)(5)“Provide evidence of having satisfactorily completed approved training in—”

  6. Seafarers holding a rating endorsement as Able Seafarer before January 1, 2017, will be eligible upon showing evidence of holding an RFPNW endorsement and completing the approved survival craft training.

    46 CFR 12.603(b)“Seafarers holding a rating endorsement as Able Seafarer before January 1, 2017, will be eligible for this endorsement upon showing evidence of—”

  7. The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/5 of the STCW Code, and the endorsement may then include a corresponding limitation.

    46 CFR 12.603(c)“The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/5 of the STCW Code.”

Common questions

How old must I be for an Able Seafarer-Deck endorsement?

An applicant must be not less than 18 years of age.

“To qualify for this endorsement as Able Seafarer-Deck, an applicant must— (1) Be not less than 18 years of age;”

Can the Coast Guard exempt me from some Able Seafarer-Deck competence requirements?

Yes. The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/5 of the STCW Code, and the endorsement may include a corresponding limitation.

“The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/5 of the STCW Code.”

What did Able Seafarers endorsed before 2017 need to show?

They will be eligible upon showing evidence of holding an RFPNW endorsement and completing approved training in PSC or PSC-Limited, as appropriate.

“Seafarers holding a rating endorsement as Able Seafarer before January 1, 2017, will be eligible for this endorsement upon showing evidence of—”

The text of 46 CFR 12.603

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of October 1, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Requirements to qualify for an STCW endorsement as Able Seafarer-Deck

Link to an amendment published at 91 FR 60884, Sept. 25, 2026.

(a) To qualify for this endorsement as Able Seafarer-Deck, an applicant must—

(1) Be not less than 18 years of age;

(2) Meet the requirements for certification as Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW);

(3) While qualified as an RFPNW, have seagoing service in the deck department of—

(i) Not less than 18 months; or

(ii) Not less than 12 months and have completed approved training;

(4) Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Table A-II/5 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 12.103); and

(5) Provide evidence of having satisfactorily completed approved training in—

(i) Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats (PSC); or

(ii) Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats, other than lifeboats or Fast Rescue Boats-Limited (PSC-Limited), as appropriate.

(b) Seafarers holding a rating endorsement as Able Seafarer before January 1, 2017, will be eligible for this endorsement upon showing evidence of—

(1) Holding an endorsement as an RFPNW; and

(2) Having satisfactorily completed approved training in—

(i) Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats, other than Fast Rescue Boats (PSC); or

(ii) Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats, other than lifeboats or Fast Rescue Boats (PSC-Limited), as appropriate.

(c) The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/5 of the STCW Code. These exemptions must be approved by the Coast Guard, based upon vessel type. Under these circumstances, the endorsement may include a corresponding limitation.

(d) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, seafarers with the following national rating endorsements will be eligible for this endorsement upon completion of the requirements designated in this section:

Table 1 to § 12.603(d)—STCW Endorsement as Able Seafarer-Deck Entry path from national endorsements Sea service under authority of the endorsement 1 Competence—STCW Table A-II/4 2 Competence—STCW Table A-II/5 3 Training required by this section 4 Able Seafarer-Unlimited None Y Y N Able Seafarer-Limited None Y Y N Able Seafarer-Special 6 months 5 Y Y N Able Seafarer-OSV 12 months 6 Y Y N Able Seafarer-Sail 12 months 6 Y Y N Able Seafarer-Fishing Industry 12 months 6 Y Y N 1 This column provides the minimum additional service required of the seafarer already holding an RFPNW endorsement in order to meet the requirements of this section. 2 Complete any items in paragraph (a)(2) of this section not previously satisfied. 3 Complete any items in paragraph (a)(4) of this section not previously satisfied. 4 Complete any items in paragraph (a)(5) of this section not previously satisfied. 5 The service may be reduced to 3 months if training has been completed as part of an approved training program meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(4) of this section. 6 The service may be reduced to 6 months if training has been completed as part of an approved training program meeting the requirements of (a)(4) of this section.

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 October 1, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.