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50 Ton Captain License Requirements in Alabama

Alabama does not issue this credential. The license is federal, evaluated by the USCG National Maritime Center, and examined through a Regional Examination Center or approved course.

Quick read

Use this page to check 50 ton captain license requirements in Alabama: Master-level sea time, tonnage evidence, exam modules, TWIC, medical, and REC New Orleans, LA planning. In Alabama, candidates commonly operate around Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Mobile Bay. The nearest REC is New Orleans, LA.

Credential requirements last verified .

Primary sources for Master 50 GT requirements

Credential

Master 50 GT

Nearest REC

New Orleans, LA

Route

Inspected vessels

Compare every Alabama captain's license path

Use the Alabama overview to choose between OUPV, Master 25, Master 50, and Master 100 before narrowing this credential checklist.

See all Alabama captain's license requirements

What to prepare for

  1. Document Master-level sea service, commonly 720 days with tonnage and route details supporting the requested authority.
  2. Complete the CG-719K physical, drug test, TWIC, CPR, and First Aid requirements.
  3. Study Rules of the Road, Deck General, Deck Safety, and Navigation General. Master candidates also need Plotting and the broader General module.
  4. Schedule the exam at REC New Orleans, LA, or use an approved school that administers the USCG exam.

50 ton captain license requirements in Alabama

Alabama Master 50 GT candidates usually pursue inspected-vessel authority without needing the full 100 GT ceiling. The practical check is whether your sea-service letters show both the required Master-level days and vessel tonnage that supports a 50 GT limitation for work around Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Mobile Bay.

Sea time
Commonly 720 days
Exam focus
Rules, deck, safety, navigation, plotting
Local signal
Orange Beach + Gulf Shores

How the 50 ton limit is assigned in Alabama

A Alabama Master 50 GT application uses the same Master less-than-100 framework as Master 100, but the vessel-size history lands in the 50 GRT band. The route drives the sea-time baseline; the tonnage evidence decides the limit printed on the credential.

Great Lakes/Inland
360 service days
Near Coastal
720 service days
Tonnage limit
17+ or 26+ GRT history

Route baseline

Great Lakes/Inland uses a 360-day baseline, while Near-Coastal uses 720 deck-department days on ocean, near-coastal, or Great Lakes waters, with up to 360 inland-water days allowed as substitute service.

50 GRT tonnage evidence

The current NMC checklists show 50 GRT supported by service on 17+ or 26+ GRT vessels, with the day threshold depending on route. If the documented vessels are smaller, the NMC can issue 25 GT instead.

50 ton Master evidence checklist for Alabama

  • Pick the route before counting days: For Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, most inspected charter applicants should test whether their work needs the Near-Coastal route first. Near-Coastal Master less than 100 GRT uses 720 deck-department days, while Great Lakes/Inland uses a 360-day baseline.
  • Prove the 50 GRT limit: The NMC checklists tie 50 GRT to documented vessel size. Near-Coastal can use 180 days on vessels of 26 GRT or above, or 360 days on vessels of 17 GRT or above. Great Lakes/Inland can use 90 days on 26+ GRT vessels, or 180 days on 17+ GRT vessels.
  • Avoid a 25 GT downgrade: If the service days support a Master endorsement but the vessel letters do not clear the 17/26 GRT thresholds, the evaluator can still issue a 25 GT limit. Check the tonnage on each sea-service letter before choosing a course, exam route, or upgrade plan.

Local operating context

Most Alabama candidates run inshore charters out of Orange Beach or Mobile Bay and pursue OUPV Inland. Offshore Gulf operators routinely upgrade to Near-Coastal or Master 50/100. For exam prep, the federal question set does not change by state, but your likely route matters: inland candidates lean harder on Inland Rules and aids to navigation, while near-coastal candidates need COLREGs, navigation, weather, and chart-work discipline.

Questions candidates ask before applying

What are the 50 ton captain license requirements in Alabama?

The credential is federal. A Master 50 GT applicant documents the Master less-than-100 route service, passes the required Master exam modules, clears medical/drug/TWIC screening, and shows vessel-tonnage evidence that supports the 50 GRT limit rather than a 25 GT limit.

How much sea time does Master 50 require?

Near-Coastal Master less than 100 GRT uses 720 deck-department days, with limited inland-water substitution. Great Lakes/Inland uses a 360-day baseline. The route and the vessel tonnage evidence are evaluated separately.

What vessel size history supports Master 50?

The NMC checklists show a 50 GRT limit from qualifying service on 26+ GRT or 17+ GRT vessels, with the exact day threshold depending on whether the requested route is Near-Coastal or Great Lakes/Inland.

Same credential nearby

Study the federal exam, not state trivia

CaptainsGround links lessons and drills to 33/46 CFR, COLREGs, and Bowditch citations so your prep matches the material the USCG tests.

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50 Ton Captain License Requirements in Alabama | USCG Master Guide · CaptainsGround