46 CFR 13.203: Service requirements for Tank Vessel-PIC endorsement

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the service an applicant must show for a Tank Vessel-PIC endorsement for DL or LG. An applicant must meet either paragraphs (a) and (b), or paragraph (c). The requirements cover days of service and supervised liquid cargo transfers.

Applies toEach applicant for a Tank Vessel-PIC endorsement for DL or LG.

What it says

  1. Each applicant must meet the requirements of either paragraphs (a) and (b) or paragraph (c) of this section.

    “must meet the requirements of either paragraphs (a) and (b) or paragraph (c) of this section.”

  2. Under paragraph (a), an applicant must provide evidence of at least 90 days of service as a deck officer or an engineering officer on tankships or self-propelled tank vessels certified to carry DL or LG appropriate to the endorsement applied for.

    46 CFR 13.203(a)(1)“At least 90 days of service as a deck officer or an engineering officer on one or more tankships or self-propelled tank vessels certified to carry DL or LG appropriate to the endorsement applied for;”

  3. Under paragraph (a), an applicant may instead provide evidence of at least 90 days of rating or cadet service on deck or in the engine department on those vessels.

    46 CFR 13.203(a)(2)“At least 90 days of rating or cadet service on deck or in the engine department on one or more tankships or self-propelled tank vessels certified to carry DL or LG appropriate to the endorsement applied for; or”

  4. Under paragraph (a), an applicant may also provide a combination of the service described in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2).

    46 CFR 13.203(a)(3)“A combination of the service in paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section.”

  5. Under paragraph (b), which goes with paragraph (a), an applicant must provide evidence of participation, under the supervision of a Tank Vessel-PIC, in at least 10 transfers of liquid cargo in bulk of the classification desired.

    46 CFR 13.203(b)“participation, under the supervision of a Tank Vessel-PIC, in at least 10 transfers of liquid cargo in bulk of the classification desired on tankships or self-propelled tank vessels”

  6. Under paragraph (b), the transfers must include at least five loadings and five discharges, two commencements of loading and two completions of loading, and two commencements of discharge and two completions of discharge.

    46 CFR 13.203(b)(2)“Two commencements of loading and two completions of loading; and”

  7. Under paragraph (c), an applicant already holding an MMC endorsed as Tank Vessel-PIC for DL and seeking LG, or the converse, must provide evidence of at least half the service required by paragraph (a).

    46 CFR 13.203(c)(1)“Provide evidence of at least half the service required by paragraph (a) of this section; and”

  8. Under paragraph (c), that applicant must also comply with paragraph (b), except that the applicant needs evidence of only three loadings and three discharges, along with evidence of compliance with paragraphs (b)(2) and (3).

    46 CFR 13.203(c)(2)“they need provide evidence of only three loadings and three discharges along with evidence of compliance with paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this section.”

Common questions

How many days of service do I need for a Tank Vessel-PIC endorsement?

Under paragraph (a), an applicant needs at least 90 days of qualifying service as a deck or engineering officer, or in rating or cadet service, or a combination of those. An applicant who holds the DL or LG endorsement and seeks the other needs at least half that service under paragraph (c).

“At least 90 days of service as a deck officer or an engineering officer on one or more tankships or self-propelled tank vessels certified to carry DL or LG appropriate to the endorsement applied for;”

How many cargo transfers does paragraph (b) require?

Under paragraph (b), an applicant must show participation in at least 10 transfers of liquid cargo in bulk, under the supervision of a Tank Vessel-PIC. Those transfers must include at least five loadings and five discharges.

“participation, under the supervision of a Tank Vessel-PIC, in at least 10 transfers of liquid cargo in bulk of the classification desired on tankships or self-propelled tank vessels”

What if I already hold a Tank Vessel-PIC endorsement for DL and want LG?

You must provide evidence of at least half the service required by paragraph (a). You must also comply with paragraph (b), but you need evidence of only three loadings and three discharges, along with compliance with paragraphs (b)(2) and (3).

“they need provide evidence of only three loadings and three discharges along with evidence of compliance with paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this section.”

The text of 46 CFR 13.203

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Service requirements

Each applicant for a Tank Vessel-PIC endorsement for DL or LG must meet the requirements of either paragraphs (a) and (b) or paragraph (c) of this section.

(a) Each applicant must provide evidence of—

(1) At least 90 days of service as a deck officer or an engineering officer on one or more tankships or self-propelled tank vessels certified to carry DL or LG appropriate to the endorsement applied for;

(2) At least 90 days of rating or cadet service on deck or in the engine department on one or more tankships or self-propelled tank vessels certified to carry DL or LG appropriate to the endorsement applied for; or

(3) A combination of the service in paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section.

(b) Each applicant must provide evidence of participation, under the supervision of a Tank Vessel-PIC, in at least 10 transfers of liquid cargo in bulk of the classification desired on tankships or self-propelled tank vessels, including at least—

(1) Five loadings and five discharges;

(2) Two commencements of loading and two completions of loading; and

(3) Two commencements of discharge and two completions of discharge.

(c) Each applicant already holding an MMC endorsed as Tank Vessel-PIC for DL and seeking an endorsement for LG, or the converse, must—

(1) Provide evidence of at least half the service required by paragraph (a) of this section; and

(2) Comply with paragraph (b) of this section, except that they need provide evidence of only three loadings and three discharges along with evidence of compliance with paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this section.

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.