§ 15.403 When credentials for ratings are required.

(a) Every seafarer referred to in this section, when required, must produce a valid MMC with all applicable rating endorsements for the position sought, a valid TWIC unless the mariner is exempt under § 10.203(b)(2) of this subchapter, and a valid medical certificate, to the Master of the vessel at the time of employment or before signing Articles of Agreement. Seafarers who do not possess one of these credentials may be employed at a foreign port or place within the limitations specified in § 15.720.

(b)(1) Every person below the grades of officer and staff officer employed on any U.S.-flagged merchant vessel of 100 GRT or more, except those navigating rivers exclusively and the smaller inland lakes, must possess a valid MMC, along with a valid medical certificate, with all appropriate endorsements for the positions served.

(2) No endorsements are required of any person below the rank of officer employed on any barges except seagoing barges and barges to which 46 U.S.C. chapter 37 applies.

(3) No endorsements are required of any person below the rank of officer employed on any sail vessel of less than 500 net tons while not carrying passengers for hire and while not operating outside the line dividing inland waters from the high seas. 33 U.S.C. 151.

(c) Each person serving as an Able Seafarer-Deck or a Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW) on a seagoing vessel of 500 GT or more must hold an STCW endorsement certifying them as qualified to perform the navigational function at the support level, in accordance with the STCW Convention (incorporated by reference, see § 15.103).

(d) Each person serving as an Able Seafarer-Engine or an RFPEW on a seagoing vessel driven by main propulsion machinery of 1,000 HP/750 kW propulsion power or more must hold an STCW endorsement certifying them as qualified to perform the marine-engineering function at the support level, in accordance with the STCW Convention.

(e) Notwithstanding any other rule in this part, no person subject to this part serving on any of the following vessels needs an STCW endorsement:

(1) Vessels exempted from the application of the STCW Convention, including—

(i) Fishing vessels as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101;

(ii) Fishing vessels used as fish-tender vessels as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101;

(iii) Barges as defined in 46 U.S.C. 102, including non-self-propelled mobile offshore-drilling units;

(iv) Vessels operating exclusively on the Great Lakes; or

(v) Pilot vessels engaged in pilotage duty.

(2) Vessels not subject to any obligation under the STCW Convention due to their special operating conditions as small vessels engaged in domestic, near-coastal voyages, including—

(i) Small passenger vessels subject to subchapter T or K of this chapter;

(ii) Vessels of less than 200 GRT (other than passenger vessels subject to subchapter H of this chapter); or

(iii) Uninspected passenger vessels (UPVs) as defined in subparagraph (B) of the definition of uninspected passenger vessel in 46 U.S.C. 2101.

[USCG-2004-17914, 78 FR 78001, Dec. 24, 2013, as amended by USCG-2024-1103, 90 FR 52880, Nov. 24, 2025]