USCG Assistance Towing Endorsement
Everything you need to know about adding the towing endorsement to your OUPV or Master captain's license — requirements, TOAR, exam content, and how to study.
Towing Endorsement at a Glance
TOAR
Sea service requirement
1 Section
Added to your license exam
$197
NailTheTest prep (standalone)
What Is the Towing Endorsement?
The Assistance Towing Endorsement is a credential added to your OUPV or Master license that authorizes you to operate as master of a vessel engaged in assistance towing of recreational vessels. It's the credential held by commercial tow boat operators like Sea Tow and TowBoatUS captains.
Important Distinction
The Assistance Towing Endorsement (added to OUPV/Master) covers towing disabled recreational vessels. It is not the same as the Towing Endorsement required to operate commercial towing vessels moving barges or freight (which is governed by 46 CFR Part 15 and requires a separate Towing Officer credential).
Many captains add this endorsement to expand their commercial opportunities — particularly for part-time work with towing companies, independent assistance towing, or to be prepared for emergency situations while operating charters.
Requirements
1. Base License
You must already hold an OUPV (Six-Pack) or Master license, or be applying for both the base license and towing endorsement simultaneously.
2. TOAR (Towing Officer Assessment Record)
The TOAR is a logbook of assessed towing tasks. You must complete each task under the supervision of a qualified towing officer (someone who already holds the towing endorsement). The TOAR covers:
- • Deck equipment inspection and maintenance
- • Towline handling and rigging demonstrations
- • Tow-up procedures (approach, hookup, underway)
- • Tow-off procedures (arrival, securing, release)
- • Emergency procedures during towing
3. Pass the Towing Exam Section
The towing endorsement exam section tests your knowledge of towing procedures, safety, law, and Coast Guard regulations. It is taken at a Regional Examination Center (REC) along with your base license exam.
What's on the Exam
The towing endorsement section covers three main areas. NailTheTest has 150+ practice questions covering all of them with detailed explanations.
⚙️Towing Procedures
- •Approach and hookup to disabled vessel
- •Towline rigging, attachment points, and bridles
- •Tow speed, length, and sea state adjustments
- •Alongside towing vs. astern towing
- •Night towing and restricted visibility
- •Multi-vessel tow configurations
🔒Safety
- •Snap-back zone awareness and crew positioning
- •PFD requirements during tow operations
- •Fire approach and carbon monoxide hazards
- •Towline parting — procedures and prevention
- •Grounded vessel assessment before pulling
- •Medical emergency on disabled vessel
⚖️Law & Documentation
- •Assistance tow vs. salvage — critical distinction
- •Good Samaritan protection and limitations
- •46 USC § 2303 duty to render assistance
- •TOAR completion and documentation
- •Coast Guard notification requirements
- •Service agreements and liability
TOAR Tips — Getting Your Sea Service
Work with a towing company
The fastest path is to spend time working with a Sea Tow, TowBoatUS, or independent towing operator. Many companies will sign your TOAR in exchange for crew time during the season.
Check with your REC first
TOAR requirements can vary by region. Contact your Regional Examination Center before completing the TOAR to confirm their specific requirements and which forms to use.
Document everything contemporaneously
Fill in each TOAR task entry at the time it is performed, not retroactively. Assessors must sign each entry. A completed TOAR submitted months after the fact will be scrutinized more closely.
Study before you tow
You'll learn faster and make fewer mistakes on your TOAR if you've studied the procedures first. Use NailTheTest to build a solid foundation in towing law and procedures before your first actual tow.
Practice for the Towing Endorsement Exam
NailTheTest has 150+ towing endorsement practice questions — procedures, safety, and law — with detailed explanations for every answer. Available as a $197 standalone or included in Captain's Complete ($797).