The Assistance Towing Endorsement may be issued to those who hold an OUPV/Six-Pack or Master's license and would like to engage in assisting vessels for a fee. To "commercially assist" other vessels that may be aground, disabled, out of fuel, or experiencing some other malfunction requires an endorsement for Commercial Assistance Towing.
With a Towing Endorsement, you are authorized to perform commercial assistance towing, also known as "towing for hire." This includes services such as towing a disabled vessel back to its homeport, similar to the operations of a TowBoat U.S. operator. This endorsement expands your capabilities as a licensed captain, enabling you to offer critical assistance services on the water.
The Assistance Towing Endorsement is attached to your existing OUPV/Six-Pack or Master's level license and covers those areas of operation.
No. The USCG Assistance Towing Endorsement is often misunderstood. This endorsement does not authorize a mariner to operate a tugboat, nor is it a “towing license” for handling tug or tow operations involving barges, cargo, or commercial towing vessels.
Instead, the Towing Endorsement only allows a credentialed mariner to engage in assistance towing - typically smaller recreational vessels - not to serve as a Mate or Master of a towing vessel.
If you are seeking the credentials required to operate a tugboat or other commercial towing vessel, the Coast Guard has separate licensing pathways with specific sea service, training, and examination requirements. For accurate guidance on obtaining the correct towing vessel officer endorsement, please contact the National Maritime Center (NMC) directly.
Ask a question, share an experience, or add a helpful tip related to this article. Comments may appear after review to prevent spam.
Learn what questions to ask and how to prepare for a captain’s license drug test to ensure you avoid the most common application delays.
Discover the three types of drug tests working captains must submit to even after they’ve met the initial USCG drug testing requirements for their license.
Discover how a retired airline pilot became obsessed with the Great Loop and built a thriving captain training business through Mariners Learning System.
Learn which substances the MMC drug test looks for, plus how masking agents and false positives factor in.
Discover the five most common mistakes mariners make on the captain’s license physical, plus a checklist for how to avoid them.
Discover why so many charter captains run out of money and how to plan every startup cost from your vessel purchase to guest-ready outfitting.
Learn how to build a charter business plan that covers pricing, expenses, and marketing so your captain’s license leads to lasting profit.
Transform how you talk about price with proven anchoring strategies and value-first framing that stops charter guests from shopping around.
Discover how charter captains use hybrid pricing models and seasonal adjustments to increase revenue and simplify bookings for every guest type.
Learn how Mariners Learning System and We Make built an eight-year partnership creating meaningful careers for adults with autism through real operations.
