The Towing Endorsement is a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) credential added to an existing captain’s license that authorizes paid assistance towing, like helping disabled vessels back to port. It requires completing a USCG-approved course and passing a 20-question written exam. No additional sea time is needed.
If you’ve ever been out on the water and come across a boat that’s run aground, lost power, or just flat-out run out of fuel, you already know there’s demand for someone who can get that vessel home safely. The difference between a good Samaritan and a captain who can charge for that service comes down to one thing: a Towing Endorsement on your captain’s license.
The Towing Endorsement allows licensed captains to charge for commercial assistance towing: pulling disabled vessels back to port, freeing boats that are aground, or helping stranded boaters. It’s a short endorsement to earn, and it opens a real revenue stream for captains who already spend their weekends on the water.
Here’s what’s involved.
An Assistance Towing Endorsement is a federal credential, governed by 46 CFR 11.482, that authorizes the holder to engage in commercial assistance towing within the scope of their existing captain’s license. “Assistance towing” means towing for hire: helping a vessel that’s aground, disabled, out of fuel, or dealing with a mechanical breakdown, and charging a fee for it. This is the same kind of work companies like Sea Tow and TowBoatU.S. perform daily.
This endorsement isn’t a standalone license. It attaches to your existing OUPV/Six-Pack or Master captain’s license and expands the types of commercial operations you’re authorized to perform. The Towing Endorsement only allows you to tow within the geographic boundaries and vessel-size limits of your underlying license. If you hold a near-coastal OUPV license, your towing authority follows those same limits.
No. The Assistance Towing Endorsement is completely separate from the Master of Towing Vessels credential required for tugboat, ATB, and ITB operations. Those licenses fall under 46 CFR 11.464 and require years of documented sea time, a Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR), and specialized training. The Assistance Towing Endorsement is a much smaller addition aimed at captains providing help to recreational and small commercial vessels.
Any USCG officer or OUPV endorsement of 200 gross tons or less can carry a Towing Endorsement. In practical terms, that includes the two licenses most MLS students hold: the OUPV/Six-Pack and the 25/50/100-Ton Master.
|
License |
Eligible for Towing Endorsement |
Towing Scope |
|
OUPV/Six-Pack Inland |
Yes |
Inland waters only |
|
OUPV/Six-Pack Near Coastal |
Yes |
Up to 100 nautical miles offshore |
|
25/50/100-Ton Master Inland |
Yes |
Inland waters only |
|
25/50/100-Ton Master Near Coastal |
Yes |
Up to 100 nautical miles offshore |
|
Master or Mate of Towing Vessels |
Endorsement not needed |
Already authorized |
|
Master or Mate on Inspected Vessels over 200 GRT |
Endorsement not needed |
Already authorized |
Captains who hold a Master or Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels endorsement, or a Master or Mate endorsement for inspected vessels over 200 GRT, don’t need a separate Towing Endorsement because their credentials already cover towing operations.
No. Unlike upgrading from an OUPV to a Master captain’s license, the Towing Endorsement has no additional sea time requirement. The only prerequisite is a valid captain’s license and successful completion of the course and exam. You can apply for your original license and this endorsement at the same time.
The process has three steps under 46 CFR 11.482(b): complete a USCG-approved course, pass the written exam, and submit the endorsement to the Coast Guard for addition to your Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), the official document behind your captain’s license.
Step 1: Complete a USCG-approved Towing Endorsement course. At Mariners Learning System, the Assistance Towing Endorsement course runs roughly four hours and covers towing safety, forces in towing, standard towing procedures, equipment, and hazards. It’s fully online and self-paced, so the average student finishes in a single sitting.
Step 2: Pass the written exam. The closed-book final exam has 20 multiple-choice questions. You need a score of 70% or higher to pass, meaning you can miss up to six questions. The exam is proctored online through Mariners, available any day, any time. No trip to a Coast Guard Regional Exam Center required.
Step 3: Submit to the National Maritime Center (NMC). Once you pass, you’ll receive a certificate of completion recognized by the USCG. Submit that certificate along with the appropriate application forms and fees to the NMC to add the endorsement to your existing MMC.
The Mariners Learning System Towing Endorsement course and exam costs $150. That price includes all online course materials, the proctored online exam, e-book training materials, downloadable audio lectures, and our White Glove application support. There’s no separate exam fee.
Once the endorsement is on your MMC, you’re authorized to perform commercial assistance towing on any vessel within the scope of your license. Typical towing operations include:
The Towing Endorsement does not authorize salvage operations, which have separate legal and insurance requirements. It also doesn’t cover tugboat or commercial towing vessel operations, which fall under a separate Master/Mate of Towing Vessels credential.
The endorsement renews with your captain’s license, which is valid for five years from the date of issue. When you renew your license, the Towing Endorsement renews with it, provided you meet the standard renewal requirements.
Yes. Many of our students add the Towing Endorsement to their initial license application. You can complete the towing course alongside your OUPV or Master course and submit both certificates in a single application packet to the NMC.
No. The Towing Endorsement is not a standalone credential. It attaches to an existing OUPV/Six-Pack or Master captain’s license. You’ll need to earn your captain’s license first, or apply for both simultaneously.
Operating an assistance towing service without the proper endorsement violates federal regulations under 46 CFR 11.482. Penalties can include fines and potential action against your captain’s license.
The exam covers towing safety, equipment, procedures, and hazards. With the course material fresh, most students find it straightforward. At Mariners, the exam is closed-book with 20 questions, and you need 70% to pass. If you don’t pass on the first attempt, you can retest after reviewing the material.
No. The endorsement is required only when towing for hire, meaning you charge a fee. Helping a friend at no charge doesn’t require the endorsement, though a solid grasp of boating safety fundamentals is always a good idea.
If you already hold a captain’s license, the Towing Endorsement is one of the fastest ways to add a new income stream. A four-hour course, a 20-question exam, and $150 stand between you and the ability to charge for the same kind of work that keeps Sea Tow and TowBoatU.S. crews busy year-round.
For captains who spend their weekends on the water anyway, it’s a practical addition that pays for itself the first time you tow a disabled vessel back to the marina. See our guide on how to make money with a captain’s license for more on the earning potential.
If you have questions about the Towing Endorsement or any other part of the licensing process, the team at Mariners Learning System is here to help. We’ve guided more than 200,000 students through this process, and we’re not going to let paperwork be the reason you don’t get your license.
Sources
Disclaimer: USCG regulations change. Confirm current requirements with the National Maritime Center or a Mariners licensing specialist before applying.
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