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USCG Towing Licenses for Tugboats
A license as Master of Towing Vessels or Mate of Towing Vessels authorizes the holder to be in
charge of the operation of an uninspected towing vessel. A license as Apprentice Mate (Steersman)
is a training position for Mate of Towing Vessels. Uninspected towing vessels are tugboats of less
than 200 gross tons. These licenses are issued with western rivers, inland, near coastal, or ocean
routes.
To qualify for a towing vessel license requires sea service experience on towing vessels and
experience on the requested route.
Apprentice Mate (Steersman) requires a total of 18 months of sea service experience, including 12
months on towing vessels and 3 months on a particular route. Advancement from Apprentice Mate
(Steersman) to Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels is accomplished through sea service experience and
completion of the TOAR (Towing Officers Assessment Record); no further examination is required.
Mate (Pilot) of Towing requires completion of the TOAR and a total of 30 months of sea service
experience, including 12 months on towing vessels as Apprentice Mate and 3 months on a
particular route. The holder of a Mate (Pilot) of Towing license must also complete a USCG
approved radar observer course. Advancement from Mate (Pilot) of Towing to Master of Towing is
accomplished through sea service experience alone, no further examination is required.
Master of Towing requires a total of 48 months of sea service experience, including 18 months on
towing vessels as Mate (Pilot) of Towing and 3 months on a particular route; no further examination
is required.
Course Sequence
80-hour Master 100 ton
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).
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 who presents your Certificate of Training at a Regional Exam Center WITHIN
ONE YEAR of the completion of training, will satisfy the exam requirements of 46 CFR 10.207 for
upgrade of a license from Master 100 Tons Near Coastal to Master 200 Tons Near Coastal.
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 Gtoss Tons or have satisfied the examination requirements
for a license as Master Not More Than 200 Gross Tons within the previous 12 months.
The following courses are required for an Oceans route:
60-hour Celestial Navigation (200 tons)
Any applicant who has successfully completed your 60-hour Celestial Navigation (200 Tons) course
and who presents your Certificate of Training at a Regional Exam Center WITHIN ONE YEAR of the
completion of training, will satisfy the celestial navigation examination requirements of 46 CFR
10.215(c) and 10.401(d) for adding an “Upon Oceans” endorsement to any deck license up to
Master Not More Than 200 Gross Tons, or to a license as Master or Mate of Uninspected Fishing
Industry Vessels.
5-day Radar Observer (Unlimited)
Any applicant who has successfully completed you 5-day Radar Observer (Unlimited) course will
satisfy the requirements of 46 CFR 10.480 for an endorsement as Radar Observer (Unlimited).
1-day Visual Communications (Flashing Light)
Any applicant who has successfully completed your 1-day Visual Communications (Flashing Light)
course will satisfy the practical signaling examination requirements (flashing light) of 46 CFR 10.401
(h) if presented WITHIN ONE YEAR of the completion of training; AND will be considered to have
successfully demonstrated the equivalent of assessment OICNW-4-1A from the National
Assessment Guidelines for Table A-II/1 of the STCW Code. Applicants who have successfully
completed your course need not present a completed “Control Sheet” for this assessment in
application for STCW certification.
A license as Master of Towing Vessels or Mate of Towing Vessels authorizes the holder to be in
charge of the operation of an uninspected towing vessel. A license as Apprentice Mate (Steersman)
is a training position for Mate of Towing Vessels. Uninspected towing vessels are tugboats of less
than 200 gross tons. These licenses are issued with western rivers, inland, near coastal, or ocean
routes.
To qualify for a towing vessel license requires sea service experience on towing vessels and
experience on the requested route.
Apprentice Mate (Steersman) requires a total of 18 months of sea service experience, including 12
months on towing vessels and 3 months on a particular route. Advancement from Apprentice Mate
(Steersman) to Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels is accomplished through sea service experience and
completion of the TOAR (Towing Officers Assessment Record); no further examination is required.
Mate (Pilot) of Towing requires completion of the TOAR and a total of 30 months of sea service
experience, including 12 months on towing vessels as Apprentice Mate and 3 months on a
particular route. The holder of a Mate (Pilot) of Towing license must also complete a USCG
approved radar observer course. Advancement from Mate (Pilot) of Towing to Master of Towing is
accomplished through sea service experience alone, no further examination is required.
Master of Towing requires a total of 48 months of sea service experience, including 18 months on
towing vessels as Mate (Pilot) of Towing and 3 months on a particular route; no further examination
is required.
Course Sequence
80-hour Master 100 ton
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).
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 who presents your Certificate of Training at a Regional Exam Center WITHIN
ONE YEAR of the completion of training, will satisfy the exam requirements of 46 CFR 10.207 for
upgrade of a license from Master 100 Tons Near Coastal to Master 200 Tons Near Coastal.
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 Gtoss Tons or have satisfied the examination requirements
for a license as Master Not More Than 200 Gross Tons within the previous 12 months.
The following courses are required for an Oceans route:
60-hour Celestial Navigation (200 tons)
Any applicant who has successfully completed your 60-hour Celestial Navigation (200 Tons) course
and who presents your Certificate of Training at a Regional Exam Center WITHIN ONE YEAR of the
completion of training, will satisfy the celestial navigation examination requirements of 46 CFR
10.215(c) and 10.401(d) for adding an “Upon Oceans” endorsement to any deck license up to
Master Not More Than 200 Gross Tons, or to a license as Master or Mate of Uninspected Fishing
Industry Vessels.
5-day Radar Observer (Unlimited)
Any applicant who has successfully completed you 5-day Radar Observer (Unlimited) course will
satisfy the requirements of 46 CFR 10.480 for an endorsement as Radar Observer (Unlimited).
1-day Visual Communications (Flashing Light)
Any applicant who has successfully completed your 1-day Visual Communications (Flashing Light)
course will satisfy the practical signaling examination requirements (flashing light) of 46 CFR 10.401
(h) if presented WITHIN ONE YEAR of the completion of training; AND will be considered to have
successfully demonstrated the equivalent of assessment OICNW-4-1A from the National
Assessment Guidelines for Table A-II/1 of the STCW Code. Applicants who have successfully
completed your course need not present a completed “Control Sheet” for this assessment in
application for STCW certification.
TOAR Information
If you hold an inspected vessel
license greater than 200 tons
you can operate any towing
vessel within the limitation of
your license.
There are four different TOAR
assessments, one for each
route. The TOAR assessments
must be completed by an
Designated Examiner.
Click on the following links to
view or download the TOAR.
Inland / Great Lakes TOAR
Western Rivers TOAR
Limited TOAR
Near Coastal / Oceans TOAR
If you hold an inspected vessel
license greater than 200 tons
you can operate any towing
vessel within the limitation of
your license.
There are four different TOAR
assessments, one for each
route. The TOAR assessments
must be completed by an
Designated Examiner.
Click on the following links to
view or download the TOAR.
Inland / Great Lakes TOAR
Western Rivers TOAR
Limited TOAR
Near Coastal / Oceans TOAR