46 CFR 13.503: Service requirements for Tank Vessel-Engineer endorsement

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the service an applicant must prove for a Tank Vessel-Engineer endorsement. The applicant needs 90 days of qualifying service as an engineering officer, in the engine department, or a combination. An applicant who already holds the endorsement for DL or LG needs at least half that service to add the other.

Applies toApplicants for a Tank Vessel-Engineer endorsement, including those who already hold an MMC endorsed as Tank Vessel-Engineer for DL or LG.

What it says

  1. An applicant for a Tank Vessel-Engineer endorsement must provide evidence of at least 90 days of service as an engineering officer on tankships or self-propelled tank vessels certified to carry DL or LG appropriate to the endorsement applied for.

    46 CFR 13.503(a)(1)“90 days of service as an engineering officer on tankships or self-propelled tank vessels certified to carry DL or LG appropriate to the endorsement applied for;”

  2. An applicant may instead provide evidence of at least 90 days of rating or cadet service in the engine department on tankships or self-propelled tank vessels certified to carry DL or LG appropriate to the endorsement applied for.

    46 CFR 13.503(a)(2)“90 days of rating or cadet service in the engine department on tankships or self-propelled tank vessels certified to carry DL or LG appropriate to the endorsement applied for; or”

  3. An applicant may also provide a combination of the engineering officer service and the engine department rating or cadet service described in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2).

    46 CFR 13.503(a)(3)“A combination of the service in paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section.”

  4. An applicant who already holds an MMC endorsed as Tank Vessel-Engineer for DL and seeks an endorsement for LG, or the converse, must prove at least half the service required by paragraph (a).

    46 CFR 13.503(b)“must prove at least half the service required by paragraph (a) of this section.”

Common questions

How much service do I need for a Tank Vessel-Engineer endorsement?

You must provide evidence of at least 90 days of qualifying service, as an engineering officer or in engine department rating or cadet service. A combination of the two also counts.

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

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

You must prove at least half the service required by paragraph (a). The same applies in the converse case, from LG to DL.

“must prove at least half the service required by paragraph (a) of this section.”

What kind of vessels count for Tank Vessel-Engineer service?

Service must be on tankships or self-propelled tank vessels certified to carry DL or LG appropriate to the endorsement applied for.

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

The text of 46 CFR 13.503

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

Service requirements

(a) Each applicant for a Tank Vessel-Engineer endorsement must provide evidence of at least—

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

(2) 90 days of rating or cadet service in the engine department on 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 already holding an MMC endorsed as Tank Vessel-Engineer for DL and seeking an endorsement for LG, or the converse, must prove at least half the service required by paragraph (a) 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.