Every person employed or engaged on a vessel subject to 46 U.S.C. 8701, must produce an MMC or MMD with the appropriate endorsement to the master or person in charge (PIC), if appropriate, before signing shipping articles.

(a) Rating endorsements will be issued without professional examination to applicants in capacities other than able seaman, lifeboatman, lifeboatman-limited, tankerman, or QMED, including—

(1) Ordinary seaman;

(2) Wiper;

(3) Steward's department; and

(4) Steward's department (F.H.).

(b) Holders of MMCs or MMDs endorsed as ordinary seaman may serve in any unqualified rating in the deck or steward's department, except as a food handler.

(c) Holders of MMCs or MMDs endorsed as wiper may serve in any unqualified rating in the engine or steward's department, except as a food handler.

(d) Only MMCs or MMDs endorsed as steward's department (F.H.) will authorize the holder's service in any capacity in the steward's department, including food handler.

MMCs issued to individuals obtaining sea service as part of an approved training curriculum while enrolled at either the United States Merchant Marine Academy or a deck or engineering class of a Maritime Academy approved by and conducted under the rules prescribed by the Maritime Administrator and listed in 46 CFR Part 310 will include an endorsement of cadet (deck) or cadet (engine), as appropriate, and lifeboatman. Individuals obtaining sea service as part of such an approved training curriculum must do so in the capacity of cadet (deck) or cadet (engine), as appropriate, notwithstanding any other rating endorsements the individual may hold or any other capacity in which the individual may have previously served.

Students in technical schools who are enrolled in courses in marine management, naval architecture, and ship operations, and who present a letter or other documentary evidence that they are enrolled, will be issued an MMC endorsed as “student observer—any department” and may be signed on ships as such. Students holding these endorsements will not take the place of any of the crew, or replace any of the regular required crew.

(a) Persons enrolled in an engineer training program approved by the Coast Guard, and who present a letter or other documentary evidence that they are enrolled, may be issued an MMC endorsed as apprentice engineer and may be signed on ships as such. The endorsement as apprentice engineer may be in addition to other endorsements; however, this endorsement does not authorize the holder to replace any of the regular required crew.

(b) Persons holding the endorsement as apprentice engineer are deemed to be seamen.

(a) A person enrolled in a mate training program approved by the Coast Guard, and who presents a letter or other documentary evidence that he or she is enrolled, may be issued an MMC rating endorsement as apprentice mate and may be signed on a vessel in this capacity. The rating endorsement as apprentice mate may be in addition to other endorsements; however, this endorsement does not authorize the holder to replace any of the regular required crew.

(b) Persons holding the endorsement as apprentice mate are deemed to be seamen.