46 C.F.R. § 10.101 Purpose of regulations.
Title 46 - Shipping
(a) The purposes of the regulations in this part are to provide— (1) A comprehensive means of determining the qualifications an applicant must possess to be eligible for a license as a deck officer, engineer, pilot, radio officer, or radio operator on merchant vessels, or for a license to operate uninspected towing vessels or uninspected passenger vessels, or for a certificate of registry as a staff officer; and (2) A means of determining that an applicant is competent to serve as a master, chief mate, officer in charge of a navigational watch, chief engineer officer, second engineer officer (first assistant engineer), officer in charge of an engineering watch, designated duty engineer, or radio operator, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended in 1995 (STCW), and other laws, and to receive the appropriate certificate or endorsement as required by STCW. (b) With few exceptions, these regulations do not specify or restrict licenses to particular types of service such as tankships, freight vessels or passenger vessels. However, all licensed personnel shall become familiar with the relevant characteristics of each vessel prior to assuming their duties. As appropriate, these characteristics include but are not limited to: general arrangement of the vessel; maneuvering characteristics; proper operation of the installed navigation equipment; firefighting and lifesaving equipment; stability and loading characteristics; emergency duties; and main propulsion and auxiliary machinery, including steering gear systems and controls. (c) The regulations in subpart C of this part prescribe the requirements applicable to— (1) Each approved training course, if the training course is to be acceptable as a partial substitute for service or for a required examination, or as training required for a particular license or license endorsement; and (2) All training and assessment associated with meeting the standards of competence established by STCW. [CGD 81–059, 52 FR 38623, Oct. 16, 1987, as amended by CGD 95–062, 62 FR 34528, June 26, 1997]
Title 46: Shipping
PART 10—LICENSING OF MARITIME PERSONNEL
Subpart A—General
§ 10.101 Purpose of regulations.
