USCG Rules of the Road: Inland and International

A creditable day is 8 hours of watchstanding or day-work (46 CFR 10.107); a 14-hour charter day is still one day. The 1.5-day credit in 10.232 is for vessels authorised to run two watches under 46 U.S.C. 8104 and 15.705. Yachts are exempt from the three-watch rule, which is not the same as being authorised for two. Count one day per day unless the NMC says otherwise in writing.

46 CFR 10.232(f)(2): for a raise of grade, foreign-vessel service counts only if earned while holding a valid US endorsement. Service on foreign-flag yachts can count towards an original endorsement if the NMC finds it a fair equivalent, and letters must be in English or officially translated. Get your first MMC early so later yacht seasons count.

46 CFR 11.201(c)(1)(i) requires 3 months' service within the past 3 years. NMC checklist MCP-FM-NMC5-06 (15 Sept 2025) says 90 days in the past 7 years on vessels of 50 GRT (Master <500) or 100 GRT (Master <1,600). Plan to meet the 3-year figure until the NMC confirms which it applies.

For sea service credit, 46 CFR 10.107 says "the inland waters of another country are not considered oceans." Canal, river and harbour-refit time abroad will not build Able Seafarer-Unlimited or ocean officer service. Letters should name the waters so the evaluator can credit them correctly.

Many large yachts carry only a Convention GT figure. For national officer endorsements, 46 CFR 11.211(h) credits a vessel measured only under the Convention system as GRT. Whether the NMC applies the same rule to AB-Limited's 100 GRT threshold is not confirmed. Make sure every letter states the tonnage from the registry document, not the brochure.

The STCW Convention excludes pleasure yachts not engaged in trade, but 46 CFR Part 15 does not repeat that exclusion in terms. How the Coast Guard treats a US-flag yacht used privately, including on foreign cruising, was not settled by the sources read. If the yacht is purely private, get the Coast Guard's position in writing.

US STCW endorsements need Coast Guard-approved or accepted training (46 CFR Parts 10–12). An MCA-approved STCW refresher proves your MCA certificate, not your MMC endorsement; use a Coast Guard-approved course unless the NMC confirms otherwise. Policy Letter 07-01 on foreign-approved courses is listed by the NMC as active, but its text was not available to check.

The Coast Guard rule effective 17 January 2025 renamed Ordinary Seaman to Ordinary Seafarer, Able Seaman to Able Seafarer and Lifeboatman to Lifeboat Operator. You do not need to apply to change titles; they update at your next transaction. The statute (46 U.S.C. 7306) and many old letters and job adverts still use the old names.

No NMC source found addresses in-port, at-anchor or yard days on yachts specifically, and NMC letters are asked to show underway days. Count yard periods conservatively and keep your own log of underway days, waters, tonnage and watches.

A yacht with COLREGS-compliant lights needs no refit (33 CFR 83.01(b)), but her watch must use Inland whistle signals, right-of-way and bridge-to-bridge rules. Any self-propelled vessel of 12 m or more must carry the Inland Rules (83.01(g)); electronic carriage is allowed only as NVIC 01-16 defines it.

The 50-question, 90% figures come from an industry study guide and the NMC Q100 sample; the NMC Deck Guide could not be retrieved to confirm them. Prepare for 90% regardless: it is the figure every provider teaches to.