Captain's License / Near Coastal License
USCG Near Coastal License Endorsement
Near coastal authority extends your OUPV or Master license to operate up to 200 nautical miles offshore. Here's what near coastal means, how to qualify, what the exam tests, and what gear your vessel needs.
Near Coastal at a Glance
200 NM
From baseline — the geographic limit
90 days
Near coastal sea time required
3 extra
Additional exam sections
EPIRB
Required for near coastal voyages
What Near Coastal Actually Means
The USCG divides navigable waters into three route categories: inland, near coastal, and oceans. Your license endorsement specifies which routes you are authorized to operate on. Near coastal is the middle tier — it extends beyond the COLREGS Demarcation Lines that mark the boundary of inland waters, and reaches out to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
The legal definition
Under 46 CFR 10.107, "near coastal waters" means the waters of the United States lying seaward of the COLREGS Demarcation Lines and extending to 200 nautical miles from those lines. The baseline is generally the low-water mark along the coast, following the outer edge of fringing islands, reefs, and river mouths.
Practically speaking, near coastal authority lets you operate in the Gulf of Mexico, along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, in the waters of Alaska and Hawaii, and on offshore passages to nearby islands — as long as you remain within 200 nautical miles of the nearest coastline. Voyages to Bermuda (about 650 NM from Cape Hatteras), for example, require an oceans endorsement.
Key distinction: baseline vs. 3 NM line
The COLREGS Demarcation Lines are not the 3 NM territorial sea boundary — they are an administrative line that roughly follows inlets, bays, and river mouths. Waters inside the line are inland regardless of how far they are from the coast. Waters outside the line are near coastal even if they are only 100 yards from shore.
Inland vs. Near Coastal vs. Oceans — Route Comparison
Understanding how the three route categories differ is essential both for your career planning and for the exam. The table below covers the most-tested distinctions.
| Feature | Inland | Near Coastal | Oceans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geographic limit | Rivers, bays, sounds, Great Lakes (inside baseline) | Within 200 NM of baseline | No geographic limit |
| Approximate boundary | COLREGS Demarcation Lines | 200 NM offshore limit | Worldwide |
| Sea time required (OUPV) | 360 days total | 360 days + 90 near coastal | 720 days + 360 offshore |
| Celestial navigation exam | No | Yes | Yes (advanced) |
| EPIRB required | No (recommended) | Yes | Yes |
| Life raft required | No | Yes (beyond 3 NM) | Yes |
| GMDSS radio | VHF sufficient | GMDSS or SSB required | Full GMDSS required |
| Offshore weather exam | No | Yes | Yes |
| Parachute flares required | No | Yes | Yes |
Requirements reflect 46 CFR Part 10 and 46 CFR Subchapters T and K. Equipment requirements vary by vessel size and route. Confirm current requirements at your REC before applying.
Sea Time Requirements for Near Coastal
The sea time requirements for a near coastal license are the same total number of days as the equivalent inland license — the key difference is that at least 90 of those days must be on near coastal or offshore waters. This 90-day near coastal threshold applies regardless of whether you are seeking an OUPV or a Master license.
| License | Total Days | Near Coastal Days | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| OUPV Inland | 360 days | 0 days | All sea time can be on inland waters |
| OUPV Near Coastal | 360 days | 90 days minimum | At least 90 must be on near coastal or offshore waters |
| Master 100 GRT Inland | 720 days | 0 days | All sea time can be on inland waters |
| Master 100 GRT Near Coastal | 720 days | 90 days minimum | At least 90 must be on near coastal or offshore waters |
What counts as a "day"
One day of sea service equals 4 or more hours actually underway (not dockside maintenance). A calendar day with less than 4 hours underway does not count. Multiple 4-hour periods on the same calendar day still count as only one day.
What waters qualify as near coastal
Any waters outside the COLREGS Demarcation Lines qualify as near coastal sea time, even if the vessel stays within a few miles of shore. A charter boat running just outside the inlet counts every day as near coastal time. Offshore fishing trips, delivery passages along the coast, and any voyage beyond the demarcation line all qualify.
Documenting near coastal days
Your sea service documentation (CG-719S letters from employers or a verified personal logbook) must specify where the vessel operated. Letters that say only "coastal waters" without specifying inside or outside the demarcation line can be rejected. Be explicit: include port of departure, general operating area, and whether voyages were inside or outside the COLREGS lines.
Additional Exam Topics for Near Coastal
The near coastal exam builds on the base OUPV or Master inland exam by adding three additional subject areas. These are the sections most candidates underestimate — particularly celestial navigation, which requires working through multi-step sight reductions under exam time pressure.
🌟Celestial Navigation
- •Sun sight reduction using the Nautical Almanac
- •Line of Position (LOP) plotting on a plotting sheet
- •Noon sight for latitude by meridian passage
- •Running fix using successive celestial LOPs
- •Star and planet identification by SHA and GHA
- •Compass error by celestial observation
- •Assumed position, intercept method (Marcq St-Hilaire)
- •Time and the Greenwich Hour Angle
🌀Offshore and Synoptic Weather
- •Reading and interpreting synoptic weather charts
- •Frontal systems: cold front, warm front, occluded front
- •Tropical cyclone structure, track prediction, and avoidance rules
- •Beaufort scale and sea state relationship
- •GRIB file interpretation and offshore routing
- •ITCZ, trade winds, and gale-producing pressure gradients
- •Sea fog formation and offshore visibility hazards
- •SST charts and their use in weather routing
🗺️Advanced Chart Plotting
- •Ocean chart (1:3,000,000 and smaller) use and limitations
- •Great circle vs. rhumb line routes
- •Composite sailing and waypoint routing
- •Current triangles on ocean passages
- •Coastal fix using radar ranges and bearings
- •Passage planning across oceanic waters
- •Set and drift calculations on long passages
- •Chart datum differences between harbor and ocean charts
⚓Stability in Offshore Conditions
- •Free surface effect and effect on GM
- •Downflooding angle and angle of loll
- •Reserve buoyancy in heavy weather
- •Cargo shifting and dynamic stability loss
- •Icing and topside accumulation effects
- •Righting moment curves (GZ curves) interpretation
- •Safe loading limits for offshore passages
- •Stability letter and load line requirements
Geographic Boundaries of Near Coastal Waters
Near coastal waters are defined by their position relative to the COLREGS Demarcation Lines on the inshore side and the 200 nautical mile limit on the offshore side. The boundaries vary around the country based on the configuration of coastlines, island chains, and offshore territories.
Atlantic Coast
From the Canadian border south to Key West and the Florida Keys. The demarcation lines follow inlets from Maine to Florida. The Gulf Stream runs within near coastal range for most of the East Coast.
Gulf of Mexico
The entire Gulf of Mexico falls within near coastal authority for U.S. licensed captains. The 200 NM line extends well into the central Gulf, covering all major oil field operating areas.
Pacific Coast
From the Mexican border north through Washington state. The Channel Islands off Southern California are well within near coastal range. The Pacific Coast has fewer inlets, so the demarcation lines are closer to shore.
Alaska
Alaska near coastal waters include the Inside Passage (technically inland in many areas), Prince William Sound, Kodiak Island waters, the Aleutian chain (within 200 NM), and Southeast Alaska fishing grounds.
Hawaii
Inter-island passages among the main Hawaiian Islands are near coastal. The 200 NM zone extends in all directions from each island. Passages to Johnston Atoll (800 NM SW) require oceans authority.
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are treated as inland waters for licensing purposes despite their size. A separate route designation (Great Lakes) applies. Near coastal endorsement does not authorize Great Lakes operation.
Voyages that require oceans authority
Any voyage that takes the vessel more than 200 NM from the baseline requires an oceans endorsement. Common examples: Bermuda runs from the East Coast, passages to the Azores or Hawaii from the mainland, offshore racing beyond the 200 NM line, and any Pacific crossing.
Equipment Requirements for Near Coastal Voyages
Near coastal operation triggers significantly higher equipment requirements than inland operation. The USCG regulations under 46 CFR Subchapter T (vessels under 100 GRT carrying passengers) specify what equipment must be aboard for vessels operating on near coastal routes. Equipment requirements also depend on the distance offshore and vessel gross tonnage.
Distress and Signaling
EPIRB — 406 MHz Category I (auto-release) or Category II
Parachute flares — minimum 3 (SOLAS grade)
Handheld red flares — minimum 3
Orange smoke signals — minimum 2 daytime
SART (Search and Rescue Transponder) or AIS-SART
Mirror and whistle — personal signaling
Survival Equipment
Life raft — SOLAS-grade, capacity for all persons
Immersion suits — for each person (cold water regions)
Throwable ring buoy with 50-foot line and light
Personal flotation devices — Type I offshore or equivalent
Lifebuoy with self-igniting light and drogue
Radio Communications
DSC-equipped VHF radio on Channel 70
SSB (single sideband) MF/HF radio or Iridium satellite phone
GMDSS watch on distress frequencies maintained
Handheld backup VHF — waterproof, float-free type
Weatherfax or NavTex receiver for offshore weather
Navigation Equipment
Magnetic compass — certified and corrected
Charts for intended route at appropriate scale
Nautical Almanac (current year) for celestial work
Sextant and sight reduction tables (HO 229 or 249)
Depth sounder
GPS with backup (handheld or chartplotter)
AIS transponder (Class B recommended)
Radar (strongly recommended beyond 50 NM)
Fire Safety
Fixed fire extinguishing system in engine room
Portable fire extinguishers — Type B:II in machinery spaces
Fire pump with sea suction
Fire buckets and fire axe
REQ = required for near coastal operation. REC = recommended best practice. Equipment requirements vary by vessel size, number of passengers, and distance offshore. Consult 46 CFR Subchapter T and your OCMI for vessel-specific requirements.
Sailing Endorsement and Near Coastal
The sailing endorsement and near coastal route designation are independent credentials. Your OUPV or Master license can carry any combination of route designations (inland, near coastal, oceans) and endorsements (sailing, towing) independently.
Inland OUPV with Sailing Endorsement
Can carry passengers on sailing vessels on inland waters only. Cannot operate outside COLREGS lines.
Near Coastal OUPV without Sailing Endorsement
Can carry passengers on power vessels up to 200 NM offshore. Cannot carry passengers commercially on sailing vessels anywhere.
Near Coastal OUPV with Sailing Endorsement
Can carry passengers on power or sailing vessels up to 200 NM offshore. This is the credential offshore charter sailing captains need.
Oceans Master with Sailing Endorsement
Unlimited authority — power or sail, anywhere in the world. Maximum credential for offshore passage captains.
Sea time for both credentials simultaneously
Days on a sailing vessel outside the COLREGS Demarcation Lines count toward both your near coastal sea time requirement and your sailing endorsement sea time requirement. Efficient planning means building both at once: offshore sailing passages, offshore sailing charter crew, or delivery work on sailing vessels along the coast.
Common Near Coastal Exam Question Patterns
The near coastal exam tests several recurring patterns. Knowing these patterns lets you recognize question types quickly and apply the right framework rather than reasoning from scratch under time pressure.
Near coastal boundary questions
The USCG will ask how far offshore near coastal authority extends. The answer is 200 nautical miles from the baseline. Know this cold — it appears in multiple forms.
Celestial sight reduction steps
You will be given an assumed position, a celestial observation (Ho), and a computed altitude (Hc) and asked to plot an LOP or determine intercept direction (toward or away). Practice the full Marcq St-Hilaire method.
Equipment trigger distances
Many equipment questions are distance-based: life rafts beyond 3 NM, EPIRB for near coastal, parachute flares for any near coastal voyage. Know which equipment is required at which distance offshore.
Synoptic chart reading
Given a weather chart, you may be asked to identify frontal types, predict wind direction ahead of and behind a cold front, or determine the safest route relative to a low-pressure system.
Tropical storm avoidance
In the Northern Hemisphere, the navigable semicircle of a hurricane is to the left (west) of the storm track. The dangerous semicircle is to the right. Know which quadrant to avoid and why.
Great circle vs. rhumb line
Great circle routes are shorter but require constant course changes. Rhumb lines are constant heading but longer on long passages. The exam tests when each is appropriate and how to convert between them.
Upgrade Path: Inland to Near Coastal
Upgrading from an inland OUPV or Master to near coastal is a straightforward credential upgrade — you are not starting over. The USCG credits your existing sea time and base exam sections. You only need to add the near coastal sea time documentation and pass the additional exam sections.
Verify your current sea time documentation
Gather all existing sea service letters (CG-719S forms) and personal logbook. Identify how many days are on inland waters vs. near coastal or offshore. You need 90 days on near coastal or offshore waters to qualify.
Build near coastal sea time if needed
If you don't have 90 near coastal days, you need to get them. Options include offshore delivery work, working as crew on charter vessels running offshore, joining yacht delivery crews for coastal passages, or commercial fishing trips beyond the 3 NM line.
Study and pass the additional exam sections
Near coastal requires passing celestial navigation, offshore weather, and advanced chart plotting sections that are not on the inland exam. These are the hardest parts of the exam for most candidates. NailTheTest covers all three with practice questions and private tutoring.
Gather required documents
You will need: completed USCG application form (CG-719B), sea service documentation showing near coastal days, current MMC or license, proof of first aid and CPR certification still valid, current USCG physical (if expired), and applicable fees.
Submit to the NMC
Send your upgrade application to the National Maritime Center in Martinsburg, WV. Processing takes 4-12 weeks depending on volume. You may test at your Regional Examination Center while the application is pending.
How to Study for the Near Coastal Exam
Start with celestial navigation — it takes the most time
Most candidates who fail the near coastal exam do so on celestial navigation. The process of working a sun sight from observation to LOP involves 8-10 sequential steps with no margin for arithmetic errors. Start here, practice daily, and use worked examples.
Memorize the Nautical Almanac structure before your exam date
The almanac is provided at the exam, but you must know how to use it under time pressure. Practice extracting GHA and declination for the sun, using the interpolation tables, and applying dip and refraction corrections.
Learn weather chart symbols as a vocabulary set
Synoptic chart questions use standard symbols for fronts, isobars, and pressure centers. Make a one-page reference sheet of all symbols, then practice interpreting sample charts without the reference until you can do it from memory.
Practice equipment questions as a checklist drill
Equipment questions are memorization, not reasoning. Build a mental table organized by distance offshore: 3 NM, 20 NM, 100 NM, unlimited. Know what gets added at each threshold. NailTheTest drills this with flashcard-style repetition.
Understand the physical principles, not just the rules
Near coastal stability questions test your understanding of why ships capsize, not just what the regulations say. If you understand free surface effect and righting moment curves conceptually, you can answer questions you have never seen before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a near coastal license without passing celestial navigation?
No. Celestial navigation is a required exam section for any near coastal or oceans license endorsement. The USCG requires it because GPS can fail on offshore passages and celestial navigation is the primary backup method. There are no waivers for this requirement.
Does near coastal authority cover the Bahamas?
Most of the Bahamas falls within 200 NM of the Florida coastline, so near coastal authority covers the northern and central Bahamas including Nassau, Eleuthera, the Exumas, and the Abacos. The southern Bahamas (Crooked Island, Mayaguana, Great Inagua) may be beyond 200 NM from Florida. Verify distances before each voyage.
My current license says 'Inland' — can I operate in the ocean?
No. An inland route designation restricts you to waters inside the COLREGS Demarcation Lines. Operating on near coastal waters with an inland-only license is a violation and puts your license and passengers at risk. You need the near coastal endorsement before crossing the demarcation lines commercially.
Does a Master 100 GRT Near Coastal let me carry more passengers than OUPV?
Yes. OUPV (six-pack) limits you to 6 paying passengers. A Master 100 GRT Near Coastal allows you to carry more passengers (depending on Coast Guard Inspection and vessel certificate of inspection), operate inspected passenger vessels, and command larger vessels under 100 gross register tons.
How long does near coastal licensing take from scratch?
Building sea time is usually the longest step. If you already have offshore experience, the timeline is: gather documentation (1-4 weeks), study and pass the exam (4-12 weeks of part-time study), NMC application processing (4-12 weeks). Total from application submission to credential in hand: 6-24 weeks depending on NMC volume.
Start Preparing for the Near Coastal Exam
NailTheTest covers all near coastal exam sections — celestial navigation, offshore weather, advanced chart plotting, and vessel stability — with practice questions, worked examples, and private tutoring.
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USCG Sea Time RequirementsWhat counts, how to document it, and how to build it fast
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Celestial Navigation GuideSun sights, LOPs, and sight reduction explained
EPIRB GuideCategories, registration, and testing requirements