# Are engineers limited to ship size/tonnages?
**URL:** https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407
**Category:** Marine Engineering
**Created:** [May 9, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407 "2024-05-09T18:52:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ambitionedge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ambitionedge)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/1 "2024-05-09T18:52:56Z")
I called the SIU academy to ask if the qmed comes with an unlimited endorsement but nobody seems to know anything about the industry (despite teaching future mariners, go figure). They said that limited and unlimited only applies to deck side. Is this true? If not, what is the credentialing for engineers who want to be able to sale on anything?
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### Author:  [@Louisd75](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Louisd75)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2024, 7:34pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/2 "2024-05-09T19:34:58Z")
With engine officer licenses it is usually divided by plant type and then horsepower. For example, my license states that I’m qualified to sail as CE motors, unlimited horsepower, 2nd assistant for gas turbines, unlimited horsepower and 3rd assistant for steam, unlimited horsepower.
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### Author:  [@Capt\_Phoenix](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Capt_Phoenix)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2024, 8:39pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/3 "2024-05-09T20:39:32Z")
> [@ambitionedge](#):
>
> if the qmed comes with an unlimited endorsement
Ratings don’t have tonnage limits.
> [@ambitionedge](#):
>
> They said that limited and unlimited only applies to deck side. Is this true?
Only AB ratings have “limited” and “unlimited” but those aren’t tonnage restrictions.
> [@ambitionedge](#):
>
> what is the credentialing for engineers who want to be able to sale on anything?
Chief Engineer of Motor, Steam, and Gas Turbine can sail in any capacity, any plant, any tonnage.
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### Author:  [@ambitionedge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ambitionedge)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2024, 9:23pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/4 "2024-05-09T21:23:13Z")
It seems you know what you’re talking about. AB Limited and Unlimited are ranks. I thought they were limitations, like a CDL A and CDL B. Both are CDLs, but only one person can drive a combination vehicle. You feel me? From my research (asking elsewhere), Limited and Unlimited are close to “editions”. Like normal and rare, or standard retail and collector’s edition. Am I right so far?
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### Author:  [@New3M](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/New3M)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/5 "2024-05-09T21:25:43Z")
> [@ambitionedge](#):
>
> Like normal and rare, or standard retail and collector’s edition. Am I right so far?
No. One is inexperienced, one is experienced.
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### Author:  [@ambitionedge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ambitionedge)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/6 "2024-05-09T21:36:30Z")
Limited = little to no experience
Special = some experience
Unlimited = a step away from levelling up to Bosun
Correct?
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### Author:  [@New3M](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/New3M)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/7 "2024-05-09T21:37:27Z")
No.
Bosun is just a job title. Still an AB.
## Levels of AB License and Sea Service Requirements
- **AB Limited:** This level requires 18 months of service aboard a ship weighing over 100 gross tons on the ocean or in U.S. waters.
- **AB Unlimited:** The sufficient amount of sea time for an AB Unlimited endorsement is 1080 days.
- **AB Special:** To qualify for AB Special, you need 360 days of experience aboard a ship on the ocean or U.S. waters.
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### Author:  [@Capt\_Phoenix](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Capt_Phoenix)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/8 "2024-05-09T21:40:50Z")
> [@New3M](#):
>
> Bosun is just a job title. Still an AB.
Yes, but SIU requires one to be an AB Unlimited in order to be bosun.
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### Author:  [@jdcavo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/jdcavo)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2024, 2:44am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/9 "2024-05-10T02:44:26Z")
> [@New3M](#):
>
> Bosun is just a job title. Still an AB.
Doesn’t have to be an AB. I have sailed with OS bosuns, although they had tons of experience as AB but could no longer meet vision requirements, so they only held OS (SUP)
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### Author:  [@Bayrunner](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Bayrunner)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2024, 3:21am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/10 "2024-05-10T03:21:15Z")
> [@New3M](#):
>
> Bosun is just a job title. Still an AB.
An AB, but _with keys_ 🤩
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### Author:  [@SeaEagle](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/SeaEagle)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2024, 8:01am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/11 "2024-05-10T08:01:32Z")
With keys is a good description. They knew their shit.
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### Author:  [@Steaksauce](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Steaksauce)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2024, 10:29am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/12 "2024-05-10T10:29:13Z")
QMED you just have series of endorsements all are unlimited horsepower and tonnage. Once you get to Engineering officers it’s different. DDE is limited to 500 tons, Assistant Engineer -limited / Chief Engineer-limited is limited to under 1600 tons. 3rd through 1st Engineer is unlimited. Then horsepower limitations are seperate on top of that. There is a Chief Engineer - limited crossover to 1st Engineer with enough sea time.
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### Author:  [@Ctony](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Ctony)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2024, 5:38pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/13 "2024-05-10T17:38:47Z")
There are a few different qmed ratings. If you hold all the ratings, which i can see being misconstrued as unlimited, its called in your mmc qmed-all ratings.
All engineer licenses _can/may_ have a tonnage limitation and horsepower limitation.
A lot of people at the schools or in HR at the boat companies don’t understand the engine license scheme. Perfect example…i used to be a dde unlimited and all dde licenses are 500 grt licenses. A port engineer who was a younger fella, academy grad at a big tugboat company told me i didnt qualify for a job opening because i had a 500 grt limitation and he needed a dde unlimited. After attempting to explain to this dumb ass that the license he was requesting didn’t exist i finally gave up when he told me that when i upgraded to chief limited that license wouldnt be good enough either. Keep in mind i was applying for a harbor tug chief job. Last words were ‘so you are telling me you require an unlimited chief for a harbor tug job?’ He said ‘no, just dde unlimited but without a tonnage limitation.’ I then said good luck with that, have a nice day.
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### Author:  [@Hogsnort](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hogsnort)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2024, 7:16pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/14 "2024-05-10T19:16:19Z")
The German merchant marine does have a qualification for Bosun. The ones I have meet on heavy lift vessels certainly knew their stuff.
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### Author:  [@ambitionedge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ambitionedge)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/15 "2024-05-29T14:16:43Z")
I’m still not understanding the ranks 100%. Is it this confusing because the USCG just wants to justify their existence with senseless and confusing bureaucracy?
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### Author:  [@Steaksauce](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Steaksauce)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2024, 10:28am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/16 "2024-05-31T10:28:54Z")
Please correct me if im wrong and point me to the cfr. The horsepower limitation is plain and simple laid out on the checklists with where to find the details in the cfr. I cant find anywhere in the cfrs that mention tonnage limitations with regard to engineering licenses or endorsements, yet there is dde under 500 tons, and 1600 tonnage limited engine licenses. So i can only guess these engineering tonnage limitations come from coast guard precedent ?
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### Author:  [@jdcavo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/jdcavo)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2024, 10:42am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/17 "2024-05-31T10:42:57Z")
See 46 CFR 15.915.
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### Author:  [@Steaksauce](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Steaksauce)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2024, 6:21pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/18 "2024-05-31T18:21:22Z")
Very clear for all to read. Thank you.
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### Author:  [@jdcavo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/jdcavo)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2024, 7:47pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/21 "2024-05-31T19:47:46Z")
> [@Steaksauce](#):
>
> 46 CFR § 11.402 covers mates and masters tonnage calculations but has no mention of engineers?
There is no calculation of tonnage limits for engineers, they are what they are in the reg I cited. Any restrictions on the authority of the license are not based on the tonnage of the vessel(s) you got your sea time on.
> [@Steaksauce](#):
>
> then does the coast guard approve you for an Assistant Engineer-limited license or 3rd engineer license?
They are evaluated separately based on what you apply for and what is required for each The only difference in sea time is 3rd AE requires more time as QMED, the total time for both is the same, and the tonnage doesn’t matter.
Generally, tonnage doesn’t matter for qualifying for an engine license. It is for what you can do with the license when you get it.
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### Author:  [@Cheng](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Cheng)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2024, 1:52am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/are-engineers-limited-to-ship-size-tonnages/69407/22 "2024-10-24T01:52:13Z")
> [@Capt\_Phoenix](#):
>
> Chief Engineer of Motor, Steam, and Gas Turbine can sail in any capacity, any plant, any tonnage
I was told I could not sail on an OSV with my CE Unlimited Motors. I told them the exact same thing that Unlimited means I can sail anything, anywhere (if endorsed for that propulsion mode).
I was incorrect. I cannot sail on an OSV with my CE Unlimited.
JD will chime in for the haters….
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