46 CFR 12.617: STCW endorsement in Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section lists what an applicant must meet to qualify for an STCW endorsement in Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats. It also sets rules for showing continued professional competence every 5 years, including credit for sea service or assessments ashore.

Applies toApplicants for an STCW endorsement in Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats, and seafarers qualified under paragraph (a) of this section.

What it says

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

    46 CFR 12.617(a)(1)“Be not less than 18 years of age;”

  2. An applicant must already hold a PSC endorsement or a PSC-Limited endorsement under this subpart.

    46 CFR 12.617(a)(2)“Hold an endorsement in Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats (PSC) or in Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than lifeboats and Fast Rescue Boats-Limited (PSC-Limited) under this subpart;”

  3. An applicant must provide evidence of successfully completing a Coast Guard-approved or -accepted course.

    46 CFR 12.617(a)(3)“Provide evidence of successful completion of a Coast Guard-approved or -accepted course; and”

  4. An applicant must provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence in Table A-VI/2-2 of the STCW Code, which is incorporated by reference; see § 12.103.

    46 CFR 12.617(a)(4)“Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Table A-VI/2-2 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 12.103).”

  5. Qualified seafarers must provide evidence every 5 years that they maintain the standard of competence in Table A-VI/2-2 of the STCW Code.

    46 CFR 12.617(b)(1)“must provide evidence of maintaining the standard of competence as set out in Table A-VI/2-2 of the STCW Code every 5 years.”

  6. The Coast Guard will accept onboard training and experience, shown by 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years, for the areas listed in paragraph (b)(2), such as taking charge of a Fast Rescue Boat during and after launch.

    46 CFR 12.617(b)(2)“The Coast Guard will accept onboard training and experience, through evidence of 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years”

  7. For areas not included in paragraph (b)(2), the Coast Guard will only accept evidence of assessments conducted ashore.

    46 CFR 12.617(b)(3)“The Coast Guard will only accept evidence of assessments conducted ashore as meeting the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section for the areas not included in paragraph (b)(2) of this section”

  8. Applicants who cannot meet the requirement for 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years will be required to meet the course requirement in paragraph (a)(3) of this section or complete approved or accepted refresher training.

    46 CFR 12.617(b)(4)“will be required to meet the requirements of paragraph (a)(3) of this section or complete approved or accepted refresher training.”

Common questions

How old must I be for a Fast Rescue Boats endorsement?

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

“Be not less than 18 years of age;”

How often must I show continued competence for Fast Rescue Boats?

Qualified seafarers must provide evidence of maintaining the standard of competence every 5 years.

“must provide evidence of maintaining the standard of competence as set out in Table A-VI/2-2 of the STCW Code every 5 years.”

Does sea service count toward continued competence for Fast Rescue Boats?

Yes, for the areas in paragraph (b)(2), the Coast Guard will accept 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years.

“The Coast Guard will accept onboard training and experience, through evidence of 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years”

The text of 46 CFR 12.617

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Requirements to qualify for an STCW endorsement in Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats

(a) To qualify for an STCW endorsement in Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats, an applicant must—

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

(2) Hold an endorsement in Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats (PSC) or in Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than lifeboats and Fast Rescue Boats-Limited (PSC-Limited) under this subpart;

(3) Provide evidence of successful completion of a Coast Guard-approved or -accepted course; and

(4) Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Table A-VI/2-2 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 12.103).

(b) Continued professional competence. (1) Seafarers qualified in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section must provide evidence of maintaining the standard of competence as set out in Table A-VI/2-2 of the STCW Code every 5 years.

(2) The Coast Guard will accept onboard training and experience, through evidence of 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years, as meeting the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section for the following areas, as set out in Table A-VI/2-2 of the STCW Code:

(i) Taking charge of a Fast Rescue Boat during and after launch, including—

(A) Controlling safe launching, operating of the engine, and recovering a Fast Rescue Boat;

(B) Handling a Fast Rescue Boat in prevailing weather and sea conditions;

(C) Using communication and signaling equipment between the Fast Rescue Boat and a helicopter and a ship;

(ii) [Reserved]

(3) The Coast Guard will only accept evidence of assessments conducted ashore as meeting the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section for the areas not included in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, as set out in Table A-VI/2-2 of the STCW Code.

(4) Applicants who cannot meet the requirement for 1 year of sea service within the last 5 years, as described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, will be required to meet the requirements of paragraph (a)(3) of this section or complete approved or accepted refresher training.

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 March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.