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).