Requirements
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TWIC Card
Citizenship Requirements
Must have US Citizenship
Minimum Age Requirements
21 Years
Medical Certificate Requirements
- Original – Must hold a valid Medical Certificate or be approved for Medical Certificate.
- Renewal, ROG, New Endorsement or Modification – Must hold an unexpired Medical Certificate or submit a Medical Certificate application.
Drug Testing Requirements
- Must be Drug Testing Compliant
- DOT
Fee Requirements
Mariner Fees must be paid
Exams
- Examination
- A person holding this endorsement may qualify for an STCW endorsement, according to § 11.307.
Recency
90 days in the past 3 years on vessels of appropriate tonnage
Chief Mate
360 days of service as OICNW on Ocean/NC Great lakes steam or motor vessels while holding an endorsement as 2nd Mate.
NOTE:
Service towards an Oceans, NC endorsement will be credited as follows:
- Service on GL will be credited day for day.
- Service on inland waters, other than GL, may substitute for up to 50% of the total required service.
- Service on vessels to which STCW applies (inland or NC) will be credited day for day.
Unlimited Tonnage
- All required service is on vessels of 100 GRT or more, AND
- 50% of the required service is on vessels 1600 GRT or more or a tonnage limitation may apply (see below).
A Tonnage Limitation may be issued if 50% of the required service is not on vessels 1600 GRT or more; however, ALL required service MUST be on vessels 100 GRT or more).
- Limited to max tonnage on which 25% of experience is obtained rounded up to the nearest 1,000 GRT, OR
- Limited to 150% tonnage which 50% of service is obtained rounded up to the nearest 1,000 GRT, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. When the calculated limitation equals or exceeds 10,000 GRT, the applicant is issued an endorsement without a tonnage limitation.
Sail / Auxiliary Sail
- 360 days of deck service on sail or auxiliary sail vessels.
(Note: Tonnage for Sail or Auxiliary Sail endorsements must be calculated separately) - Unlimited Tonnage
- 360 days of deck service on sail or auxiliary sail vessels of 100 GRT or more, AND
- 180 days on sail or auxiliary sail vessels of 1600 GRT or more, OR
- A tonnage limitation may be issued if 50% of the required service is not on vessels of 1600 GRT or more), AND
- Complete CG exam module for Auxiliary Sail or approved Auxiliary Sail course
- Chief Mate Unlimited Exams (*Examinations for unlimited license is held at applicants local regional exam center)
- Basic Firefighting
- Advanced Firefighting
- Radar Observer Unlimited
- Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA)
- FCC License Element 1
- Visual Communication (Required for Near Coastal / Oceans)
- Celestial Navigation (Required for Oceans)
- Auxiliary Sail (Optional)
- ECDIS (Optional)
- GMDSS (Optional)
- *If you are looking to obtain an STCW Endorsement, please visit the associated STCW Career Guide below, or CONTACT US for more information:
***This information is from the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center please visit their site to check for the most up to date forms and checklists https://www.dco.uscg.mil/national_maritime_center/. The licensing and career information published here is provided as a courtesy, convenience and without cost. We do not claim to represent the U.S. Coast Guard or other licensing Administrations. NMI does not provide formal advice regarding USCG license eligibility and cannot guarantee an individual’s eligibility for any specific license or credential. NMI accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or validity of general information provided. Individuals seeking confirmation of eligibility for any specific USCG license or credential must contact the USCG directly for an evaluation.***