46 CFR 15.840: Able Seafarer crew requirements on vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers Able Seafarer requirements for deck crews. With certain exceptions, at least 65 percent of the deck crew on vessels of at least 100 GRT, excluding officers, must be Able Seafarers. The Master or Person in Charge must ensure the Able Seafarers meet the requirements.

Applies toVessels of at least 100 GRT, with certain exceptions, and on vessels subject to STCW for the endorsement requirement.

What it says

  1. With certain exceptions, 46 U.S.C. 8702 applies to all vessels of at least 100 GRT.

    46 CFR 15.840(a)“With certain exceptions, 46 U.S.C. 8702 applies to all vessels of at least 100 GRT.”

  2. At least 65 percent of the deck crew of these vessels, excluding individuals serving as officers, must be Able Seafarers.

    46 CFR 15.840(a)“At least 65 percent of the deck crew of these vessels, excluding individuals serving as officers, must be Able Seafarers.”

  3. For vessels permitted to maintain a two-watch system, the percentage of Able Seafarers may be reduced to 50 percent.

    46 CFR 15.840(a)“For vessels permitted to maintain a two-watch system, the percentage of Able Seafarers may be reduced to 50 percent.”

  4. Able Seafarers are rated as Unlimited, Limited, Special, OSV, Sail, and Fishing Industry, under the provisions of part 12 of this subchapter.

    46 CFR 15.840(b)“Able Seafarers are rated as: Unlimited, Limited, Special, OSV, Sail, and Fishing Industry, under the provisions of part 12 of this subchapter.”

  5. On vessels subject to STCW, the individual meeting the requirement must also hold an STCW endorsement as Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW) or Able Seafarer-Deck, according to § 15.404(a) and (b), except as noted in § 15.105(g) for vessels on domestic near-coastal voyages.

    46 CFR 15.840(c)“the individual meeting the requirement of this section must also hold an STCW endorsement as Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW) or Able Seafarer-Deck”

  6. The Master or Person in Charge (PIC) is responsible for ensuring that the Able Seafarers in the service of the vessel meet the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 7312 and 8702.

    46 CFR 15.840(d)“It is the responsibility of the Master or Person in Charge (PIC) to ensure that the Able Seafarers in the service of the vessel meet the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 7312 and 8702.”

Common questions

What percentage of deck crew must be Able Seafarers?

At least 65 percent of the deck crew, excluding officers, must be Able Seafarers on vessels of at least 100 GRT, with certain exceptions. The text allows 50 percent for vessels permitted a two-watch system.

“At least 65 percent of the deck crew of these vessels, excluding individuals serving as officers, must be Able Seafarers.”

Who is responsible for making sure Able Seafarers meet the requirements?

The Master or Person in Charge (PIC) is responsible for ensuring that the Able Seafarers in the vessel's service meet the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 7312 and 8702.

“It is the responsibility of the Master or Person in Charge (PIC) to ensure that the Able Seafarers in the service of the vessel meet the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 7312 and 8702.”

What Able Seafarer ratings exist?

Able Seafarers are rated Unlimited, Limited, Special, OSV, Sail, and Fishing Industry, under the provisions of part 12 of this subchapter.

“Able Seafarers are rated as: Unlimited, Limited, Special, OSV, Sail, and Fishing Industry, under the provisions of part 12 of this subchapter.”

The text of 46 CFR 15.840

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

Able Seafarers

(a) With certain exceptions, 46 U.S.C. 8702 applies to all vessels of at least 100 GRT. At least 65 percent of the deck crew of these vessels, excluding individuals serving as officers, must be Able Seafarers. For vessels permitted to maintain a two-watch system, the percentage of Able Seafarers may be reduced to 50 percent.

(b) Able Seafarers are rated as: Unlimited, Limited, Special, OSV, Sail, and Fishing Industry, under the provisions of part 12 of this subchapter. 46 U.S.C. 7312 specifies the categories of Able Seafarers (i.e., Unlimited, Limited, etc.) necessary to meet the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 8702.

(c) On vessels subject to STCW, the individual meeting the requirement of this section must also hold an STCW endorsement as Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW) or Able Seafarer-Deck (according to § 15.404(a) and (b)), except as noted in § 15.105 (g) for vessels on domestic near-coastal voyages.

(d) It is the responsibility of the Master or Person in Charge (PIC) to ensure that the Able Seafarers in the service of the vessel meet the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 7312 and 8702.

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.