Licenses as Master or Mate 200 tons or less are issued in 50 ton increments
and with either an inland, near coastal or an ocean route depending on the
qualifying experience of the applicant.

Sea service experience gained under the authority of a Master or Mate 200 tons
or less license can be used to upgrade the license to Master 200 tons, Master
of Fishing Industry Vessels, or to Mate of Towing Vessels.

Tonnage limitations for licenses of less that 200 tons are issued in 50 ton
increments, rounding up, depending on the size of vessels the qualifying
experience of the applicant was on.

    A 25 ton limitation will be issued if all the qualifying experience was on
    state registered vessels of less than 5 gross tons (GRT).

    A 50 ton limitation will be issued if any of the qualifying experience was
    on documented vessels of greater than 5 gross tons.

    A 100 ton limitation will be issued if either: 50% or more of the
    qualifying experience was on documented vessels of greater than 34
    gross tons; or 25% or more of the qualifying experience was on
    documented vessels of greater than 50 gross tons.

    A 150 ton limitation will be issued if either: 50% or more of the
    qualifying experience was on documented vessels of greater than 67
    gross tons; or 25% or more of the qualifying experience was on
    documented vessels of greater than 100 gross tons.

    A 200 ton limitation will be issued if either: 50% or more of the
    qualifying experience was on documented vessels of greater than 100
    gross tons; or 25% or more of the qualifying experience was on
    documented vessels of greater than 150 gross tons.

A Mate 200 tons or less license issues the authority to be the Officer in
Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW) on any uninspected passenger vessel
or any inspected vessel within the limitations of the license. A license as Mate
does not issue any authority to be the master of any vessel, only to be in
charge of the watch under the authority of a licensed master. This license will
be issued with an inland or near coastal route depending on the qualifying sea
service of the applicant.

A Master 200 tons or less license issues the full authority of the OUPV
license and the additional authority to operate any inspected vessel and any
uninspected passenger vessel within the limitations of the license. This license
will be issued with an inland, near coastal or all oceans route depending on the
qualifying experience of the applicant. (Note: for Master 100 tons or less CLICK
HERE)

    An Inland Route includes all inland waters of the US.

    A Mate 200 tons or less license with an inland route requires 180 days of
    qualifying experience on power-driven vessels; 90 days of the qualifying
    experience must have been within the past three years.

    A Master 200 tons or less license with an inland route requires 360 days
    of qualifying experience on power-driven vessels; at least 180 days of the
    qualifying experience must have been as master or mate while holding
    an OUPV, mate or master's license; 90 days of the qualifying experience
    must have been within the past three years.

    A Near Coastal Route includes all inland waters of the US and all near
    coastal ocean waters within 200 miles of the coast.

    A Mate 200 tons or less license with a near coastal route requires 360
    days of qualifying experience on power-driven vessels; at least 180 days
    of the qualifying experience must have been on ocean or near coastal
    waters; and 90 days of the qualifying experience must have been within
    the past three years.

    A Master 200 tons or less license with a near coastal route requires 720
    days of qualifying experience on power-driven vessels; at least 360 days
    must have been on near coastal or ocean water; at least 360 days of the
    qualifying experience must have been as master or mate while holding
    an OUPV, mate or master's license; 90 days of the qualifying experience
    must have been within the past three years.

    An All Ocean Route includes all inland waters of the US and all near
    coastal ocean waters and are not issued on a Mate license of 200 tons or
    less.

    A Master 200 tons or less license with an all oceans route requires 1080
    days of qualifying experience on power-driven vessels; at least 540 days
    must have been on near coastal or ocean water; at least 720 days of the
    qualifying experience must have been as master or mate while holding
    an OUPV, mate or master's license; 90 days of the qualifying experience
    must have been within the past three years.

Approved Courses

Applicants holding a valid Master 100 ton or less license or course completion
certificate can satisfy the training and exam requirements for upgrading their
license to Master or Mate 200 tons or less by completing the following four day
upgrade course. Applicants applying for an all oceans route are required to
complete training and exams in celestial navigation in addition to the following.

    32-hour Upgrade Master 100 ton to Master 200 ton
    Any applicant who has successfully completed
    your 32-hour Upgrade Master 100 Tons to Master
    200 Tons course and presents your Certificate of
    Training WITHIN ONE YEAR of the completion of
    training, will satisfy the examination requirements
    of 46 CFR 10.207 for upgrade of a license from
    Master 100 Tons Near Coastal to Master 200 Tons
    Near Coastal.

Applicants not holding a valid Master 100 ton or less license or course
completion certificate and applicants qualifying for a master or mate license of
100 tons or less can satisfy the training and exam requirements for the license
by completing the following course.

    80-hour Master 100 tons Course
    Any applicant who has successfully completed
    your 80-hour Master 100 Tons course and presents
    your Certificate of Training at a Regional Exam
    Center WITHIN ONE YEAR of the completion of
    training, will satisfy the examination requirements
    of 46 CFR 10.205(i) for original issuance, 46 CFR
    10. 209(c)(iii) for renewal, and 46 CFR 10.209(f)
    for reissuance of a license as Master of Steam or
    Motor Vessels of Not More Than 100 Gross Tons
    (except oceans).
Columbia Pacific Maritime Information
Columbia Pacific Maritime Home Page
Course approvals and schedule for USCG approved courses
Workbooks for USCG approved courses
Information about Columbia Pacific Maritime
How to contact Columbia Pacific Maritime
Information on USCG Merchant Marine Licenses
Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) or 6-pack license information
Master 100 ton license information, this includes Master 25 tons and Master 50 tons
Master or Mate 200 ton license information, this includes Master and Mate 150 tons
Master / Mate of fishing industry vessels license information
Master and Mate of towing vessel license information
Able Seaman and Ordinary Seaman credential information
Radar observer courses for original issue and renewal
STCW 95 Visual Communications (Flashing Light) information
Celestial Navigation for adding an
Assistance towing and auxiliary sail endorsements for existing licenses
USCG Merchant Marine license information
Documenting the qualifying sea service experience is the first step to qualifying for a USCG Merchant Mariner Credential
Getting a Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) is the second step in getting a Merchant Mariner Credential
Completing the USCG application is the third step in getting a Merchant Mariner Credential
General information regarding resources, student feedback, emploment and license questions
Information on how to become an Oregon fishing guide or Charter Boat operator
USMariner.info news and information forums
Lodging and other resources in the Portland area
Columbia Pacific Maritime provides USCG approved courses for Merchant Mariner Credentials.
Click here to view the Master 100 ton Course Schedule
Click here to view the Upgrade Master 100 to 200 ton Course Schedule
Click here ask a question or send a message to Dennis
Master / Mate 25, 50, 100, 150, 200 tons