Any boater considering carriage of passengers for hire or starting their own charter business in the United States will need an appropriate license from the Coast Guard. These licenses are required for operations on what are considered navigable waters of the United States. The coast and most larger rivers and lakes are classified as navigable. Skippers are allowed to split the cost of fuel and related expenses with your friends, but once you start receiving formal payments for your services as a Captain, a license is needed. Many states now require fishing charter operators to hold a Coast Guard license.
Immediate Questions - While the process of obtaining a license isn't an easy one, most would be captains are successful after making an organized effort to wade through the licensing bureaucracy. There are some basis questions you need to answer before the process can begin:
- What kind of license do you need to operate? - An Operator of an Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) with a coastal endorsement can carry up to six passengers in an uninspected boat up to a hundred miles from the coast. The operator of an inspected vessel will be required to hold a Masters license with the appropriate tonnage endorsement.
- Do you have the required sea time? Applicants for OUPV and Master licenses are required to document 360 days of operating experience at sea. Limited licenses can be obtained with less experience.
- Have you planned ahead? - What has always been an exhaustive process has been made more complicated by requirement arising from homeland security concerns. Get yourself adequate time to prepare, apply and test for your new license. The time to complete the process can reach six months in some parts of the country.
- How will you prepare for the license? - Many boaters with solid maritime backgrounds are more than capable of completing self-study test preparation courses and taking their license test at a local Coast Guard Regional Examination Center (REC). Many would be skippers take commercially offered courses that are certified by the Coast Guard to conduct required tests in-house and issue a certificate of completion. Many successful candidates start the formal application process a couple weeks before attending an approved school.
Application Prerequisites - A mariner is required to meet several training and safety requirements before a license can be issued.
- Application for License as an Officer, Staff Officer, or Operator and for Merchant Mariner’s Document (CG-719B)
- Merchant Mariner Physical Examination Report (CG-719K)
- Proof of Sea Service. This can be documented by original Certificates of Discharge, a letter from the employer on company letterhead, or through completion of the Small Vessel Sea Service Form (CG-719S)). You can self certify for sea time on your own vessel
- Report of Chemical Drug Test completed within the past six months
- Payment of appropriate user fees
- Proof of US citizenship or proof of nationality and immigration status for non-US citizens
- Proof of current first-aid and CPR training
- Original Social Security Card
- Three character references from other license holders
- Completed Fingerprint Card (FD-258) and Security Check (SF-86). Electronic fingerprints will be taken at the REC
Earning your Coast Guard license can be a difficult process, but most mariners take pride in it as a professional milestone in their nautical careers. Earning a license is an excellent way to learn more about boating and brings a better understanding of nautical traditions to participants.
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