46 CFR 12.707: Student observer endorsements on merchant mariner credentials
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers students in technical schools who are enrolled in certain marine courses. With proof of enrollment, they will be issued an MMC endorsed as "student observer—any department" and may be signed on ships. They do not take the place of any required crew.
Applies toStudents in technical schools who are enrolled in courses in marine management, naval architecture, and ship operations.
What it says
A student in a technical school enrolled in marine management, naval architecture, or ship operations courses, who provides a letter or other documentary evidence of enrollment, will be issued an MMC endorsed as "student observer—any department."
“will be issued an MMC endorsed as “student observer—any department””
Students must provide a letter or other documentary evidence that they are enrolled.
“who provides a letter or other documentary evidence that they are enrolled”
Students with the student observer endorsement may be signed on ships as student observers.
“and may be signed on ships as such”
Students holding these endorsements will not take the place of any of the crew, or replace any of the regular required crew.
“Students holding these endorsements will not take the place of any of the crew, or replace any of the regular required crew.”
Common questions
Who can get a student observer endorsement on an MMC?
Students in technical schools enrolled in courses in marine management, naval architecture, and ship operations can get it. They must provide a letter or other documentary evidence that they are enrolled.
“Students in technical schools who are enrolled in courses in marine management, naval architecture, and ship operations”
What proof of enrollment is needed for a student observer endorsement?
The student must provide a letter or other documentary evidence of enrollment.
“who provides a letter or other documentary evidence that they are enrolled”
Can a student observer replace a crew member?
No. Students holding these endorsements will not take the place of any of the crew, or replace any of the regular required crew.
“Students holding these endorsements will not take the place of any of the crew, or replace any of the regular required crew.”
The text of 46 CFR 12.707
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Student observers
Students in technical schools who are enrolled in courses in marine management, naval architecture, and ship operations, and who provides a letter or other documentary evidence that they are enrolled, will be issued an MMC endorsed as “student observer—any department” and may be signed on ships as such. Students holding these endorsements will not take the place of any of the crew, or replace any of the regular required crew.
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.