Document ID: USCG-2021-0609-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Notice
Title: Policy Letter: Issuance of Endorsements for Master of Self-Propelled Vessels of Less Than 100 GRT to Mariners Holding Endorsements as Mate of Self-Propelled Vessels of 200 GRT or More
Posted Date: 2021-08-23T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 160 (Monday, August 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47126-47127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18090]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2021-0609]

Policy Letter: Issuance of Endorsements for Master of Self-
Propelled Vessels of Less Than 100 GRT to Mariners Holding Endorsements 
as Mate of Self-Propelled Vessels of 200 GRT or More

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a policy letter 
regarding Issuance of Endorsements for Master of Self-Propelled Vessels 
of Less Than 100 GRT to Mariners Holding Endorsements as Mate of Self-
Propelled Vessels of 200 GRT or More. This policy letter provides 
guidance to mariners for the issuance of national officer endorsements 
for master of self-propelled vessels of less than 100 GRT for mariners 
who hold national endorsements for mate of inspected self-propelled 
vessels of 200 GRT or more. The Coast Guard will use applicable 
regulations and this policy to evaluate whether mariners may be issued 
an endorsement for master of self-propelled vessels of less than 100 
GRT.

DATES: The policies announced in the policy letter are effective as of 
August 18, 2021.

ADDRESSES: To view the policy letter mentioned in this notice, search 
the docket number USCG-2021-0609 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal 
at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document, 
contact the James Cavo, Mariner Credentialing Program Policy Division 
(CG-MMC-2), Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1205; email 
MMCPolicy@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As specified in 46 CFR 15.901(a), an 
individual holding an MMC endorsed as mate or pilot of inspected self-
propelled

[[Page 47127]]

vessels of over 200 gross registered tons (GRT) is authorized to serve 
as master on inspected vessels of less than 100 GRT within any 
restrictions on their merchant mariner credential (MMC). The Coast 
Guard will use the Policy Letter ``Issuance of Endorsements for Master 
of Self-Propelled Vessels of Less Than 100 GRT to Mariners Holding 
Endorsements as Mate of Self-Propelled Vessels of 200 GRT or More'' and 
46 CFR 15.901 in issuing endorsements for mariners to serve as a master 
on vessels less than 100 GRT. The Coast Guard issued this policy letter 
to clarify the process for the issuance of national officer 
endorsements for master of self-propelled vessels of less than 100 GRT 
for mariners who hold national endorsements for mate of inspected self-
propelled vessels of 200 GRT or more.
    For mariners holding a MMC endorsement that authorizes service as 
mate on inspected self-propelled vessels of 200 GRT or more, the Coast 
Guard may include in the mariner's MMC a national endorsement as master 
of self-propelled vessels of less than 100 GRT. This will apply to the 
following national endorsements:
    (1) Chief Mate of Self-Propelled Vessels of Unlimited Tonnage;
    (2) Second Mate of Self-Propelled Vessels of Unlimited Tonnage;
    (3) Third Mate of Self-Propelled Vessels of Unlimited Tonnage;
    (4) Mate of Self-Propelled Vessels of Less Than 1,600 GRT;
    (5) Mate of Self-Propelled Vessels of Less Than 500 GRT;
    (6) Chief Mate (OSV);
    (7) Mate (OSV); and
    (8) Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels.
    Mariners holding one of the endorsements above authorizing service 
on either near-coastal waters or oceans will be issued an endorsement 
as Master of Near Coastal Self-Propelled Vessels of Less Than 100 GRT. 
Mariners holding one of the endorsements above for inland waters or for 
Great Lakes and inland waters will be issued a master less than 100 GRT 
endorsement with the same route as their mate endorsement. Mariners 
holding endorsements as Chief Mate (OSV) and Mate (OSV) will be issued 
endorsements as master of less than 100 GRT that are not restricted to 
offshore supply vessels. Mariners holding endorsements as Mate (Pilot) 
of Towing Vessels will be issued endorsements as master of less than 
100 GRT that are not restricted to towing vessels. All other 
restrictions on the mariner's mate endorsement will apply to the 
endorsement for master for less than 100 GRT.
    Mariners seeking to add the master less than 100 GRT endorsement to 
their MMCs, must specifically apply for it in order for the Coast Guard 
to add the endorsement to their credential. However, mariners holding 
one of the endorsements listed in above are not required to have the 
endorsement as master in their MMC in order to serve as master on an 
inspected vessel of less than 100 GRT. As specified in 46 CFR 
15.901(a), any mariner holding an endorsement authorizing service as 
mate on an inspected vessel of 200 GRT or more may serve as master on a 
vessel of less than 100 GRT on the same route as their equivalent mate 
endorsement.
    This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: August 18, 2021.
J.G. Lantz,
U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2021-18090 Filed 8-20-21; 8:45 am]
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