46 CFR 12.623: STCW endorsement as GMDSS At-sea Maintainer
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section lists what an applicant must meet to qualify for an STCW endorsement as Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) At-sea Maintainer. The applicant must be at least 18, provide training evidence, and hold a valid FCC certificate as GMDSS At-sea Maintainer.
Applies toApplicants for an STCW endorsement as Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) At-sea Maintainer.
What it says
An applicant must be not less than 18 years of age.
46 CFR 12.623(a)“Be not less than 18 years of age;”
An applicant must provide evidence of successful completion of a training program that covers at least the scope and content of the training outlined in Section B-IV/2 of the STCW Code. The text refers to § 12.103 of this part for the incorporation by reference of the STCW Code.
46 CFR 12.623(b)(1)“Successful completion of a training program that covers at least the scope and content of the training outlined in Section B-IV/2 of the STCW Code”
As the alternative to the training program, an applicant may instead provide evidence of passing an approved GMDSS At-sea Maintainer course.
46 CFR 12.623(b)(2)“Passing an approved GMDSS At-sea Maintainer course; and”
An applicant must hold a valid Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certificate as GMDSS At-sea Maintainer.
46 CFR 12.623(c)“Hold a valid Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certificate as GMDSS At-sea Maintainer.”
Common questions
What is the minimum age for a GMDSS At-sea Maintainer STCW endorsement?
An applicant must be not less than 18 years of age.
“Be not less than 18 years of age;”
Do I need an FCC certificate for a GMDSS At-sea Maintainer endorsement?
Yes. An applicant must hold a valid Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certificate as GMDSS At-sea Maintainer.
“Hold a valid Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certificate as GMDSS At-sea Maintainer.”
What training counts toward a GMDSS At-sea Maintainer endorsement?
An applicant may provide evidence of completing a training program covering at least the scope and content of Section B-IV/2 of the STCW Code, or of passing an approved GMDSS At-sea Maintainer course.
“Passing an approved GMDSS At-sea Maintainer course; and”
The text of 46 CFR 12.623
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Requirements to qualify for an STCW endorsement as Global Maritime Distress and Safety System At-sea Maintainer
To qualify for an STCW endorsement as Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) At-sea Maintainer, an applicant must—
(a) Be not less than 18 years of age;
(b) Provide evidence of—
(1) Successful completion of a training program that covers at least the scope and content of the training outlined in Section B-IV/2 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 12.103 of this part); or
(2) Passing an approved GMDSS At-sea Maintainer course; and
(c) Hold a valid Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certificate as GMDSS At-sea Maintainer.
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 April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.