A license endorsed as Master, Mate, or Apprentice Mate (steersman) of Towing
Vessels is required to operate any uninspected towing vessel over 26 feet in
length that is not exclusively engaged in commercial assistance towing
operations. These licenses are issued with Western Rivers, inland, near coastal
and ocean routes.
An Apprentice Mate (steersman) of Towing Vessel license authorizes the
authority to participate in a navigational watch under the direct supervision of
the master or mate in charge of the watch. The Apprentice Mate (steersman) is
considered a training position for a Mate of Towing license.
A Mate of Towing Vessel license authorizes the authority to be the Officer in
Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW) on any uninspected towing vessel
within the route description 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.
To qualify for a Mate of Towing license the applicant must complete an
approved Radar Observer course if not previously completed, complete a
Towing Officers Assessment Record (TOAR) for each route requested and meet
one of the following sea service requirements.
If you hold a license as Mate of Inspected vessels greater than 200 GRT
(meaning 500 GRT or more) and have a TOAR and 30 days of observation and
training for each route, you can sail as Mate of any towing vessel within the
authority of your license.
A Master of Towing Vessel license authorizes the authority to be the master
in charge of any uninspected towing vessel within the route description on the
license.
If you hold a license as Master of Inspected vessels greater than 200 GRT
(meaning 500 GRT or more) and have a TOAR and 30 days of observation and
training for each route, you can sail as Master of any towing vessel within the
authority of your license.
Towing Officers Assessment Record (TOAR)
A TOAR requires 30 days of observation and training for each route; Western
Rivers, Inland, and Near Coastal / Oceans. The assessments contained in the
TOAR must be observed and signed off as completed correctly by a Designated
Examiner (DE). Click on the following links to view or download the TOAR for
that route.
Approved Courses
If the applicant holds a valid Master 200 ton license or course completion
certificate the following course will satisfy the training and exam requirements
for the Apprentice Mate (steersman) exam. Advancement from Apprentice Mate
to Mate of Towing and from Mate to Master of Towing is based on sea service
experience alone.
16-hour Apprentice Mate (Steersman) Upgrade
Applicants holding a valid license as Master 100 ton or less or course
completion certificate will need to complete the following prerequisite course.
Vessels is required to operate any uninspected towing vessel over 26 feet in
length that is not exclusively engaged in commercial assistance towing
operations. These licenses are issued with Western Rivers, inland, near coastal
and ocean routes.
An Apprentice Mate (steersman) of Towing Vessel license authorizes the
authority to participate in a navigational watch under the direct supervision of
the master or mate in charge of the watch. The Apprentice Mate (steersman) is
considered a training position for a Mate of Towing license.
- Qualifying Sea Service Experience for Apprentice Mate (steersman) is
18 months; at least 12 months of the qualifying experience must have
been working on the deck of towing vessels; at least 90 days of the
required must have been on the route requested; at least 90 days must
have been within the past three years.
A Mate of Towing Vessel license authorizes the authority to be the Officer in
Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW) on any uninspected towing vessel
within the route description 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.
To qualify for a Mate of Towing license the applicant must complete an
approved Radar Observer course if not previously completed, complete a
Towing Officers Assessment Record (TOAR) for each route requested and meet
one of the following sea service requirements.
- Have 30 months of sea service experience; at least 12 months of the
qualifying experience must have been on towing vessels while holding a
license as Apprentice Mate (steersman); at least 90 days of the qualifying
experience must have been on the route requested; at least 90 days of
the qualifying experience must have been within the past three years. - Have three years of sea service experience operating vessels under the
authority of a Master 200 ton or less license and 30 days of observation
and training on each route requested.
If you hold a license as Mate of Inspected vessels greater than 200 GRT
(meaning 500 GRT or more) and have a TOAR and 30 days of observation and
training for each route, you can sail as Mate of any towing vessel within the
authority of your license.
A Master of Towing Vessel license authorizes the authority to be the master
in charge of any uninspected towing vessel within the route description on the
license.
- To qualify for Master of Towing the applicant must have four years of
sea service experience; 12 months of the qualifying experience must
have been as Mate of Towing vessels while holding a license as Mate of
Towing (18 months if the Towing vessel was used as a Harbor Assist
tug); 90 days of the qualifying experience must have been on each route
requested; 90 days of the qualifying experience must have been within
the past three years.
If you hold a license as Master of Inspected vessels greater than 200 GRT
(meaning 500 GRT or more) and have a TOAR and 30 days of observation and
training for each route, you can sail as Master of any towing vessel within the
authority of your license.
Towing Officers Assessment Record (TOAR)
A TOAR requires 30 days of observation and training for each route; Western
Rivers, Inland, and Near Coastal / Oceans. The assessments contained in the
TOAR must be observed and signed off as completed correctly by a Designated
Examiner (DE). Click on the following links to view or download the TOAR for
that route.
Approved Courses
If the applicant holds a valid Master 200 ton license or course completion
certificate the following course will satisfy the training and exam requirements
for the Apprentice Mate (steersman) exam. Advancement from Apprentice Mate
to Mate of Towing and from Mate to Master of Towing is based on sea service
experience alone.
16-hour Apprentice Mate (Steersman) Upgrade
- Any applicant successfully completing your 16-
hour Apprentice Mate (Steersman) Upgrade course
and presenting your Certificate of Training within
one year of the completion of training, will satisfy
the examination requirements of 46 CFR 10.205(i)
for original issuance of a license as Apprentice
Mate (Steersman) of Towing Vessels (Near Coastal
or Inland); provided that they either hold a license
as Master Not More Than 200 Gross Tons or have
satisfied the examination requirements for a
license as Master Not More Than 200 Gross Tons
within the previous 12 months.
Applicants holding a valid license as Master 100 ton or less or course
completion certificate will need to complete the following prerequisite course.
- 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.
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| Master / Mate of Towing Vessels |
