46 CFR 12.605: STCW endorsement as Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the requirements for an STCW endorsement as Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW) on a seagoing vessel of 500 GT or more. An applicant must meet an age requirement, show sea service or approved training, and show the standards of competence. The section also covers Coast Guard exemptions and an entry path for holders of certain national rating endorsements.

Applies toApplicants for an STCW endorsement as Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch on a seagoing vessel of 500 GT or more.

What it says

  1. An applicant for an RFPNW endorsement on a seagoing vessel of 500 GT or more must be not less than 16 years of age.

    46 CFR 12.605(a)(1)“Be not less than 16 years of age;”

  2. An applicant may show six months of seagoing service that includes training and experience associated with navigational watchkeeping functions, with duties performed under the supervision of the Master, Mate, or qualified STCW deck rating.

    46 CFR 12.605(a)(2)(i)“Six months of seagoing service, which includes training and experience associated with navigational watchkeeping functions and involves the performance of duties carried out under the supervision of the Master, Mate, or qualified STCW deck rating; or”

  3. Alternatively, an applicant may show proof of successful completion of Coast Guard-approved or -accepted training that includes not less than 2 months of approved seagoing service.

    46 CFR 12.605(a)(2)(ii)“Proof of successful completion of Coast Guard-approved or -accepted training, which includes not less than 2 months of approved seagoing service; and”

  4. An applicant must provide evidence of meeting the standards of competence in Table A-II/4 of the STCW Code, which is incorporated by reference as described in § 12.103 of this part.

    46 CFR 12.605(a)(3)“Provide evidence of meeting standards of competence prescribed in Table A-II/4 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 12.103 of this part).”

  5. The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/4 of the STCW Code. The Coast Guard must approve these exemptions based upon vessel type.

    46 CFR 12.605(b)“The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/4 of the STCW Code.”

  6. When an exemption is granted, the endorsement may include a corresponding limitation.

    46 CFR 12.605(b)“Under these circumstances, the endorsement may include a corresponding limitation.”

  7. Seafarers with the national rating endorsements listed in Table 1 will be eligible for this endorsement once they complete the requirements designated in this section.

    46 CFR 12.605(c)“Seafarers with the following national rating endorsements will be eligible for this endorsement upon completion of requirements designated in this section:”

Common questions

How old must I be for an RFPNW endorsement?

An applicant must be not less than 16 years of age.

“Be not less than 16 years of age;”

Can training replace six months of sea service for an RFPNW endorsement?

Yes. An applicant may instead show completion of Coast Guard-approved or -accepted training that includes not less than 2 months of approved seagoing service.

“Proof of successful completion of Coast Guard-approved or -accepted training, which includes not less than 2 months of approved seagoing service; and”

Can the Coast Guard exempt me from parts of the RFPNW competence requirements?

Yes. The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/4 of the STCW Code, and it must approve these exemptions based upon vessel type.

“These exemptions must be approved by the Coast Guard based upon vessel type.”

The text of 46 CFR 12.605

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

Requirements to qualify for an STCW endorsement as Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch

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

(a) To qualify for endorsement as Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW) on a seagoing vessel of 500 GT or more, an applicant must—

(1) Be not less than 16 years of age;

(2) Provide evidence of service as follows:

(i) Six months of seagoing service, which includes training and experience associated with navigational watchkeeping functions and involves the performance of duties carried out under the supervision of the Master, Mate, or qualified STCW deck rating; or

(ii) Proof of successful completion of Coast Guard-approved or -accepted training, which includes not less than 2 months of approved seagoing service; and

(3) Provide evidence of meeting standards of competence prescribed in Table A-II/4 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 12.103 of this part).

(b) The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/4 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.

(c) Seafarers with the following national rating endorsements will be eligible for this endorsement upon completion of requirements designated in this section:

Table 1 to § 12.605(c)—STCW Endorsement as RFPNW Entry path from national endorsements Sea service under authority of the endorsement 1 Competence—STCW Table A-II/4 2 Able Seafarer-Unlimited None Y Able Seafarer-Limited None Y Able Seafarer-Special None Y Able Seafarer-OSV None Y Able Seafarer-Sail None Y Able Seafarer-Fishing Industry None Y Ordinary Seafarer 6 mo.3 Y 1 This column provides the minimum additional service required of the seafarer in order to meet the requirements of this section. 2 Complete any items in paragraph (a)(3) of this section not previously satisfied. 3 The service may be reduced to 2 months if training has been completed as part of an approved training program meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(2)(ii) 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.