What Is an Assistance Towing Endorsement? How Do You Get One?

The Assistance Towing Endorsement is a credential added to an existing OUPV/Six-Pack or Master captain’s license that authorizes the holder to tow disabled vessels for payment. It requires passing a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approved course or written exam under 46 CFR 11.482, and no additional sea time is needed.

Licensed captains looking to expand into towing services often ask us about the Assistance Towing Endorsement. Most of them already have the license to carry passengers, and now they want to add towing to their list of authorized operations. The good news is that adding this endorsement is one of the most straightforward additions you can make to your Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC).

But the endorsement is also one of the most commonly misunderstood credentials in the maritime licensing world. It doesn’t cover what many people think it does, and confusing it with a towing vessel license can send you down the wrong path entirely.

Here’s what the endorsement actually authorizes, who qualifies, and how to get it.

What the Assistance Towing Endorsement Authorizes

The Assistance Towing Endorsement allows a credentialed mariner to engage in commercial assistance towing, which means towing disabled, stranded, or distressed vessels for a fee. Think of the work that companies like TowBoatUS and Sea Tow do: a recreational boater runs out of fuel or runs aground, and a licensed captain tows them back to port for payment.

Under 46 CFR 11.482, holders of officer and Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) endorsements must carry an Assistance Towing Endorsement to engage in this type of work. The Coast Guard requires this endorsement before you can legally tow a vessel for compensation, even if you already hold a valid captain’s license.

Common assistance towing activities include:

• Towing a disabled vessel back to its home port
• Towing a grounded vessel off a sandbar or shoal
• Delivering fuel or providing a jump start for payment
• Towing a vessel with mechanical failure to a repair facility

Does the towing endorsement let you operate a tugboat?

No. This is the single biggest misconception. The Assistance Towing Endorsement does not authorize a mariner to operate a tugboat, barge, or any other commercial towing vessel. Those operations fall under entirely separate licensing pathways with their own sea service, training, and examination requirements. The National Maritime Center (NMC) can provide guidance on towing vessel officer endorsements.

Assistance Towing vs. Towing Vessel Operations

The Assistance Towing Endorsement is the maritime equivalent of roadside assistance. Towing vessel operations are an entirely different career track with a separate credentialing path.

Who Qualifies for the Endorsement

Any USCG license of 200 gross tons or less can be endorsed for assistance towing. That includes both the OUPV/Six-Pack captain’s license and the 25/50/100-Ton Master captain’s license.

Two categories of mariners don’t need this endorsement: holders of Master or Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels endorsements and holders of Master or Mate endorsements authorizing service on inspected vessels of 200 gross tons (GRT) or more. Their existing credentials already cover assistance towing under 46 CFR 11.482(a).

Do I need additional sea time for a towing endorsement?

No additional sea time is required. If you already meet the sea time and application requirements for your captain’s license, you don’t need any extra days on the water to add the Assistance Towing Endorsement.

How to Get the Assistance Towing Endorsement

Adding this endorsement to your license takes three steps:

1. Complete a USCG-approved Assistance Towing course or pass a written examination. Under 46 CFR 11.482(b), an applicant must pass a written exam or complete a Coast Guard-approved course demonstrating knowledge of assistance towing safety, equipment, and procedures.
   
   
2. Receive your certificate of completion. After passing the course or exam, you’ll receive a certificate recognized by the USCG as meeting the testing requirement for the endorsement. No testing at a USCG Regional Exam Center (REC) is necessary.
   
   
3. Submit the completed application and fee to the Coast Guard. File your endorsement application along with your certificate and the required fee to have the endorsement added to your existing MMC.
   
   

At Mariners Learning System, the Assistance Towing Endorsement course is structured as a four-hour online course. Most students finish it during a free weekend. Subjects covered include towing safety, forces in towing, standard towing procedures, and towing equipment and hazards. No additional exam fee is charged: the course and test are bundled together.

Can I get the towing endorsement at the same time as my captain’s license?

Yes. You can apply for the Assistance Towing Endorsement simultaneously with your initial captain’s license application. Many of our students bundle the towing course with their OUPV or Master course to save time and application fees.

Where the Endorsement Applies

The Assistance Towing Endorsement covers those areas of operation already authorized by your underlying license. If you hold an OUPV license with a near-coastal route, your towing endorsement applies within that same area. If you hold a Master license with an inland route, your towing authority stays inland.

Your endorsement doesn’t expand your geographic operating area or your tonnage limit. It expands the type of work you’re authorized to perform within the boundaries you already hold.

Captains looking to make money with their license often find assistance towing to be a steady income stream, particularly in areas with heavy recreational boating traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the towing endorsement cost?

The MLS Assistance Towing Endorsement course costs $150 and includes 12 months of course access plus the online proctored exam. There’s no separate testing fee.

How long does it take to complete the towing endorsement course?

The course is structured as a four-hour program, but most students complete it in two to three hours because it’s self-paced.

Is the towing endorsement the same as a towing license?

No. The Assistance Towing Endorsement is an addition to an existing captain’s license, not a standalone license. For guidance on choosing the right license type, contact the team at Mariners or the NMC.

Can I tow my friend’s boat without the endorsement?

The endorsement requirement under 46 CFR 11.482 applies to commercial assistance towing, meaning towing for compensation. If you’re helping a friend or fellow boater at no charge, the endorsement requirement doesn’t apply. That said, individual circumstances can vary, so check with a licensing specialist if you’re unsure.

The Endorsement Is Simple. The Distinction Matters.

The Assistance Towing Endorsement is one of the fastest credentials you can add to your captain’s license, but only if you understand what it actually covers. It authorizes you to tow disabled recreational vessels for a fee. Getting that distinction right before you apply saves time and sets the right expectations for your career.

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

• 46 CFR 11.482, “Assistance Towing” (eCFR)
• National Maritime Center (NMC)

Disclaimer

Regulations change. Always verify current requirements with the National Maritime Center or a Mariners Learning System licensing specialist before applying. This blog post was reviewed for accuracy against current USCG guidance by the Mariners Learning System team.