---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 11.463"
title: "46"
number: "11.463"
heading: "General requirements for national endorsements as Master, Mate"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/11.463"
---

# §11.463. General requirements for national endorsements as Master, Mate

- (a) **The Coast Guard issues the following endorsements for towing vessels—**
  - (1) **Master of Towing Vessels.**
  - (2) **Master of Towing Vessels-Limited.**
  - (3) **Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels.**
  - (4) **Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels.**
  - (5) **Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels-Limited.**
- (b) An endorsement as Master of Towing Vessels means an endorsement to operate towing vessels not restricted to local areas designated by OCMIs. This also applies to a Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels.
- (c) For this section, “Limited” means an endorsement to operate a towing vessel of less than 200 GRT only within a local area on the Great Lakes, inland waters, or Western Rivers designated by the OCMI.
- (d) Mariners who met the training and service requirements for towing vessels before May 21, 2001, and have maintained a valid Coast Guard-issued credential may obtain a towing endorsement if they meet the following:
  - (1) Demonstrate at least 90 days of towing service before May 21, 2001;
  - (2) Provide evidence of successfully completing the Apprentice Mate exam, its predecessor exam, or a superior exam' and
  - (3) Meet the renewal requirements in [§ 10.227(e)(6)(i)](/cfr/46/10.227.md?p=e-6-i) of this subchapter.
- (e) Mariners who operated towing vessels in the offshore oil and mineral industry prior to October 15, 2010, may obtain a towing endorsement until December 24, 2018 as follows:
  - (1) Mariners who held an officer endorsement as Operator of Uninspected Towing Vessels (OUTV) or Mate or Master of Inspected Self-propelled Vessels may qualify for a towing endorsement if they meet the following:
    - (i) Provide evidence of at least 90 days of service on towing vessels in the offshore oil and mineral industry prior to October 15, 2010;
    - (ii) Provide evidence of successfully completing the Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels examination, its predecessor exam, or a superior exam; and
    - (iii) Meet the renewal requirements in [§ 10.227(e)(6)](/cfr/46/10.227.md?p=e-6) of this subchapter.
  - (2) Mariners who have not held any of the officer endorsements listed in [paragraph (e)(1)](#e-1) of this section may qualify for an endorsement as Master of Towing Vessels if they meet the following:
    - (i) Provide evidence of at least 48 months of service on towing vessels in the offshore oil and mineral industry prior to October 15, 2010; and
    - (ii) **Successfully complete the appropriate Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels exam.**
  - (3) Mariners who have not held any of the officer endorsements listed in [paragraph (e)(1)](#e-1) of this section may qualify for an endorsement as Mate of Towing Vessels if they meet the following:
    - (i) Provide evidence of at least 36 months of service on towing vessels in the offshore oil and mineral industry prior to October 15, 2010; and
    - (ii) **Successfully complete the appropriate Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels exam.**
- (f) Deck officers who serve on the following seagoing vessels must comply with the requirements of §§ [11.309](/cfr/46/11.309.md) and [11.311](/cfr/46/11.311.md) of this subpart for the appropriate STCW endorsement:
  - (1) **A towing vessel on an oceans voyage operating beyond near-coastal waters.**
  - (2) **A towing vessel on an international voyage.**
  - (3) **A towing vessel of 200 GRT or more on a domestic, near-coastal voyage.**
- (g) Endorsements as Mate (Pilot) or Master of Towing Vessels may be issued with a restriction to specific types of towing vessels and/or towing operations such as vessels that do not routinely perform all of the tasks identified in the Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR).
- (h) Figure 11.463(h) illustrates the towing officer endorsement structure, including crossover points. The section numbers on the diagram refer to the specific requirements applicable.

## Notes

### Amendments

[USCG-2004-17914, 78 FR 77909, Dec. 24, 2013, as amended by USCG-2021-0097, 89 FR 93085, Nov. 25, 2024]

### Authority

Authority: 14 U.S.C. 503; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 46 U.S.C. 2101, 2103, and 2110; 46 U.S.C. chapter 71; 46 U.S.C. 7502, 7505, 7701, 8903, 8904, 8906, and 70105; E.O. 10173; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4. Section 11.107 is also issued under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 3507.

### Source

Source: USCG-2004-17914, 78 FR 77909, Dec. 24, 2013, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[USCG-2004-17914, 78 FR 77909, Dec. 24, 2013, as amended by USCG-2021-0097, 89 FR 93085, Nov. 25, 2024]