CFR

11.401—Ocean and near-coastal officer or STCW endorsements.

(a) Any license or MMC endorsement for service as master or mate on ocean waters qualifies the mariner to serve in the same grade on any waters, subject to the limitations of the endorsement.

(b) A license or MMC endorsement issued for service as master or mate on near-coastal waters qualifies the mariner to serve in the same grade on near-coastal, Great Lakes, and inland waters, subject to the limitations of the endorsement.

(c) Near-coastal endorsements for any gross tons require the same number of years of service as the ocean-unlimited endorsements. The primary differences in these endorsements are the nature of the service and the professional examination as explained in subpart I of this part.

(d) A mariner having a master or mate near-coastal license or MMC endorsement obtained with ocean service may have an MMC endorsed for ocean service by completing the appropriate examination deficiencies, provided that the additional service requirements of paragraph (e) of this section do not apply.

(e) Master or third mate near-coastal unlimited endorsements may be obtained by completing the prescribed examination in subpart I of this part and satisfying the requirements of paragraph (g) of this section while holding a license or MMC endorsement as unlimited master or mate, respectively, upon Great Lakes and inland waters. To have a near-coastal-unlimited endorsement obtained in this manner endorsed for ocean service, the mariner must obtain 12 months of service as a deck-watch officer or higher on ocean waters on vessels of 1,600 GRT or over, in addition to completing the examination topics.

(f) Masters and mates endorsements for service on vessels of more than 200 gross tons may be endorsed for sail or auxiliary sail as appropriate. The applicant must present the equivalent total qualifying service required for conventional officer endorsements including at least one year of deck experience on that specific type of vessel. For example, for an officer endorsement as a master of vessels of not more than 1,600 gross tons endorsed for auxiliary sail, the applicant must meet the total experience requirements for the conventional officer endorsement, including time as mate and the proper tonnage experience, including at least one year of deck service on appropriately sized auxiliary-sail vessels. For an endorsement to serve on vessels of 200 gross tons or less, see individual endorsement requirements.

(g) In order to obtain a master or mate endorsement with a tonnage limit above 200 gross tons, or an endorsement for 200 gross tons or less with an ocean route, whether an original, raise in grade, or increase in the scope of the endorsement authority to a higher tonnage category, the applicant must successfully complete the following training and examination requirements:

(1) Approved firefighting course;

(2) Approved radar-observer course; and

(3) Qualification as an able seaman unlimited or able seaman limited (able seaman special or able seaman offshore supply vessels satisfy the able seaman requirement for endorsements permitting service on vessels of 1,600 gross tons or less).

(h) Each applicant for a deck officer endorsement, which authorizes service on vessels above 1,600 gross tons on ocean or near-coastal waters, whether original or raise of grade, must pass a practical-signaling examination (flashing light). An applicant who fails in practical signaling, but passes every other part of the examination, may be issued an endorsement with a 1,600 gross ton limitation. The tonnage limitation can be removed upon successful completion of the signaling examination.

[USCG-2006-24371, 74 FR 11240, Mar. 16, 2009]

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