46 CFR 15.825: Engineer credential requirements for engineering watch
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section says who must hold an Assistant Engineer credential when in charge of an engineering watch on larger seagoing vessels. It adds an STCW endorsement for vessels subject to STCW and a rule for certain offshore supply vessels. The OCMI sets the minimum number of credentialed engineers on inspected vessels.
Applies toIndividuals in charge of an engineering watch on mechanically propelled, seagoing, documented vessels of 200 GRT or more, and certain offshore supply vessels and inspected vessels as stated in the text.
What it says
An individual in charge of an engineering watch on a mechanically propelled, seagoing, documented vessel of 200 GRT or more must hold an appropriately endorsed MMC authorizing service as an Assistant Engineer, unless the individual is described in § 15.820.
46 CFR 15.825(a)“must hold an appropriately endorsed MMC authorizing service as an Assistant Engineer.”
On vessels subject to STCW, the individual meeting the requirement of this section must also hold an STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch with the appropriate propulsion power for the vessel.
46 CFR 15.825(b)“must also hold an STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch with the appropriate propulsion power for the vessel upon which they are operating”
The STCW endorsement requirement has an exception noted in § 15.105(g) for vessels on domestic near-coastal voyages.
46 CFR 15.825(b)“except as noted in § 15.105(g) for vessels on domestic near-coastal voyages.”
An offshore supply vessel of at least 6,000 GT ITC (500 GRT if GT ITC is not assigned), for which the Coast Guard has accepted automated systems to replace specific personnel under subpart 62.50 of this chapter, must carry at least one credentialed Assistant Engineer in addition to the individual described in § 15.820.
46 CFR 15.825(c)“must carry at least one credentialed Assistant Engineer, in addition to the individual described in § 15.820.”
The OCMI determines the minimum number of credentialed engineers required for the safe operation of inspected vessels.
46 CFR 15.825(d)“The OCMI determines the minimum number of credentialed engineers required for the safe operation of inspected vessels.”
Common questions
Who must hold an Assistant Engineer endorsement to be in charge of an engineering watch?
The individual in charge of an engineering watch on a mechanically propelled, seagoing, documented vessel of 200 GRT or more must hold it, unless described in § 15.820.
“must hold an appropriately endorsed MMC authorizing service as an Assistant Engineer.”
Do I need an STCW endorsement to stand an engineering watch?
On vessels subject to STCW, you must also hold an STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch with the appropriate propulsion power. Section 15.105(g) notes an exception for vessels on domestic near-coastal voyages.
“must also hold an STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch with the appropriate propulsion power for the vessel upon which they are operating”
Who decides how many credentialed engineers an inspected vessel needs?
The OCMI determines the minimum number of credentialed engineers required for the safe operation of inspected vessels.
“The OCMI determines the minimum number of credentialed engineers required for the safe operation of inspected vessels.”
The text of 46 CFR 15.825
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Engineers
(a) An individual in charge of an engineering watch on a mechanically propelled, seagoing, documented vessel of 200 GRT or more, other than an individual described in § 15.820, must hold an appropriately endorsed MMC authorizing service as an Assistant Engineer.
(b) On vessels subject to STCW, the individual meeting the requirement of this section must also hold an STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch with the appropriate propulsion power for the vessel upon which they are operating, except as noted in § 15.105(g) for vessels on domestic near-coastal voyages.
(c) An offshore supply vessel of at least 6,000 GT ITC (500 GRT if GT ITC is not assigned) as defined in § 125.160 of this chapter, for which the Coast Guard has accepted the use of automated systems to replace specific personnel pursuant to subpart 62.50 of this chapter, must carry at least one credentialed Assistant Engineer, in addition to the individual described in § 15.820.
(d) The OCMI determines the minimum number of credentialed engineers required for the safe operation of inspected vessels.
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.