Master 200 Ton License Requirements

By Captain Mike · 50 years at sea · former MITAGS faculty
Checked against 46 CFR 11.201, 11.422, 11.426, 11.427, 11.452 and 11.454 · October 2026

The short answer

"200-ton license" is shorthand for Master of self-propelled vessels of less than 200 GRT (gross register tons).
The big difference from Master 100: part of your time must be as Master or Mate while already holding a Master, Mate or OUPV endorsement. You can't get it on deckhand time alone.
Near Coastal: 2 years of service, 1 year of it as Master or Mate. Great Lakes and Inland: 1 year of service, 6 months of it as Master or Mate.
You also need enough of that time on bigger boats to earn the full 200 GRT.

Requirements by route

Endorsement	Service required	Reg
Master <200 GRT, Near Coastal	2 years total on ocean or near-coastal waters; Great Lakes and inland time can cover up to 1 year. 1 year must be as Master, Mate or equivalent while holding a Master, Mate or OUPV endorsement. Alternative: 1 year as Master or Mate of Towing Vessels on ocean or near-coastal routes, plus an exam.	46 CFR 11.426
Master <200 GRT, Great Lakes and Inland	1 year of service. 6 months must be as Master, Mate or equivalent while holding a Master, Mate, Master or Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels, or OUPV endorsement. 3 months on the Great Lakes, or the endorsement is limited to inland waters.	46 CFR 11.452
Mate <200 GRT, Near Coastal	12 months in the deck department on ocean or near-coastal vessels; Great Lakes and inland time can cover up to 6 months	46 CFR 11.427
Mate <200 GRT, Great Lakes and Inland	6 months in the deck department; 3 months on the Great Lakes for Great Lakes authority	46 CFR 11.454

Sail or auxiliary sail authority needs additional service on sail vessels. Check the NMC checklist for your exact endorsement.

Who it's for

OUPV and Master 100 holders moving to bigger passenger boats, dinner and excursion vessels, or ferries.
Crew-boat, survey and workboat captains on vessels between 100 and 200 GRT.
Mates who want to run their own boat.

Who may not need it

If every boat you'll run is under 100 GRT, Master 100 may be all you need.
Six passengers or fewer on an uninspected vessel: OUPV may be enough.
Towing vessels need towing officer endorsements, not Master <200 GRT. Towing careers →

The tonnage math

Like Master 100, the tonnage on your endorsement comes from the boats you actually served on. The Coast Guard limits it to the larger of: the biggest tonnage on which you did at least 25% of the required service, or 150% of the biggest tonnage on which you did at least 50%, rounded up to the next step (25, 50, 100 or 200 GRT). 46 CFR 11.422

In practice: a quarter of your required time on boats over 100 GRT, or half of it on boats over about 67 GRT, generally earns the full 200 GRT. The NMC does the final calculation. What gross tonnage means →

Already hold a Master endorsement limited by tonnage? The regulation lets you raise the limit with additional service on vessels in your highest authorized tonnage, for example 90 days on deck for a Master endorsement, or 6 months to raise it one step. Check the details for your case in 46 CFR 11.422 and the NMC checklist.

Other requirements

Age 19 or older. 46 CFR 11.201
A Coast Guard medical certificate and drug-test compliance
For an original: a First Aid course completed within 1 year of applying, and a current CPR card
Recent service: see What Counts as Sea Time?
A Coast Guard exam, or an approved course whose exam is accepted in its place. Many schools offer a module to upgrade from Master 100.
A TWIC, if your situation requires one. Who needs a TWIC →

STCW? Vessels under 200 GRT on domestic voyages are generally exempt from STCW. If your boat goes on international voyages, check whether you also need an STCW endorsement. National vs. STCW →

Common mistakes

Counting deckhand time toward the Master-or-Mate year. That year must be in charge or as mate, while holding a license.
Too little time on bigger boats, so the endorsement comes out at 100 GRT instead of 200.
Letters that don't say your position. The evaluator needs to see "Master" or "Mate," the vessel's tonnage and the route.
Mixing inland and near-coastal time without counting how much inland time the route allows.

THE CAPTAIN SAYS…

Plan the jump to 200 tons while you're still running smaller boats. Ask for time on the bigger vessels in your company's fleet, and make sure every letter shows your position as Master or Mate. That's what the evaluator is looking for.

Ready to apply? Applications now go through Navita, the Coast Guard's online credentialing system. It changes how you apply, not what you need. Navita: what changed →

Official sources

For information only. Requirements change; confirm with the National Maritime Center before you apply or pay for training.