Coast Guard Ditches Six Outdated Mariner Training Requirements
Published Date: 10/1/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The Coast Guard wants to simplify training rules for certain mariners, like Masters and Officers in charge of smaller vessels and engineers with big engines. They’re removing six outdated or duplicate requirements to make things clearer and easier while matching international standards. If you’re affected, get ready to share your thoughts by December 30, 2026—no extra costs, just smoother sailing ahead!
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Remove LMS training for small-ship Masters
If you are a Master of a vessel under 500 gross tonnage (GT) limited to near-coastal waters, the Coast Guard proposes to remove the requirement to complete Leadership and Managerial Skills (LMS) training to get or renew an STCW endorsement. The proposal estimates about 172 Masters would benefit each year and reports an annualized mariner cost savings of $991,977 and a 10-year savings of $6,967,231 (7% discount).
Drop BRM training for small-ship watch officers
If you are an Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW) on vessels under 500 GT limited to near-coastal waters, the Coast Guard proposes to remove the Bridge Resource Management (BRM) training requirement for STCW endorsements. The proposal estimates about 25 mariners would benefit each year and reports an annualized mariner cost savings of $98,545 and a 10-year savings of $692,139 (7% discount).
Remove ETSO training for engineering officers
If you are qualifying as an Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch (OICEW) in a manned engineroom or as a Designated Duty Engineer (DDE) in a periodically unmanned engineroom on vessels with propulsion ≥750 kW / 1,000 HP, the Coast Guard proposes to remove the Engineering Terminology and Shipboard Operations (ETSO) course requirement for STCW endorsements. The proposal estimates about 460 mariners would benefit each year and reports an annualized mariner cost savings of $4,920,634 and a 10-year savings of $34,560,474 (7% discount).
Total estimated cost savings to mariners and government
The Coast Guard estimates that removing the six identified training and competency requirements would save mariners and the Federal Government about $42,817,136 over 10 years (discounted at 7%), with annualized savings of about $6,096,197 (7% discount). Using perpetual discounting to 2024 dollars, the Coast Guard estimates annualized savings of $3,833,921.
Remove LTW competency requirement for renewals
If you are an OICNW on vessels under 500 GT limited to near-coastal waters, the Coast Guard proposes removing the requirement to demonstrate meeting the leadership and teamworking (LTW) standard of competence to obtain or renew the STCW endorsement. The proposal estimates annualized mariner cost savings of $83,094 and a 10-year savings of $583,617 (7% discount), and identifies about 168 mariners benefiting per year.
Remove CSM and HVPS training for ETR endorsements
If you seek an Electro-Technical Rating (ETR) endorsement for vessels with propulsion ≥750 kW / 1,000 HP, the Coast Guard proposes to remove Computer Systems and Maintenance (CSM) and High Voltage Power Systems (HVPS) course requirements. The Coast Guard did not estimate cost savings for these removals because 46 CFR part 15 currently has no vessel manning requirement for an ETR and the affected population could not be determined.
Reinstate endorsements without 2017 LMS renewal
The proposed rule would remove transitional language tied to January 1, 2017. If a mariner held an STCW endorsement and has not renewed it since January 1, 2017, they would not need to complete LMS training to reinstate that endorsement if the final rule is published. The proposal also removes similar January 1, 2017 transitional references for LTW skills.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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