§ 10.503 - Horsepower limitations.

(a) Engineer licenses of all grades and types may be subject to horsepower limitations. Other than as provided in § 10.524 for the designated duty engineer license, the horsepower limitation placed on a license is based on the applicant's qualifying experience considering the total shaft horsepower of each vessel on which the applicant has served.

(b) When an applicant for an original or raise of grade of an engineer license, other than a designated duty engineer license, has not obtained at least 50 percent of the required qualifying experience on vessels of 4,000 or more horsepower, a horsepower limitation is placed on the license based on the applicant's qualifying experience. The license is limited to the maximum horsepower on which at least 25 percent of the required experience was obtained, or 150 percent of the maximum horsepower on which at least 50 percent of the service was obtained, whichever is higher. Limitations are in multiples of 1000 horsepower, using the next higher figure when an intermediate horsepower is calculated. When the limitation as calculated equals or exceeds 10,000 horsepower, an unlimited horsepower license is issued.

(c) The following service on vessels of 4,000 horsepower or over will be considered qualifying for the raising or removing of horsepower limitations placed on engineer licenses:

(1) Six months of service in the highest grade licensed: removal of all horsepower limitations.

(2) Six months of service in any licensed capacity other than the highest grade for which licensed: Removal of all horsepower limitations for the grade in which service is performed and raise the next higher grade license to the horsepower of the vessel on which service was performed. The total cumulative service before and after issuance of the limited license may be considered in removing all horsepower limitations.

(3) Twelve months of service as oiler or junior engineer while holding a license as third assistant engineer or assistant engineer (limited-oceans): removal of all horsepower limitations on third assistant engineer or assistant engineer's (limited-oceans) license.

(4) Six months of service as oiler or junior engineer while holding a license as second assistant engineer: removal of all horsepower limitations on third assistant engineer's license.

(d) Raising or removing horsepower limitations based on service required by paragraph (c) of this section may be granted without further written examination providing the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection who issued the applicant's license, considers further examination unnecessary.