Oregon Captain's License Requirements (2026)

What a “Oregon captain's license” actually means#

It isn't a state license — it's the same federal USCG Merchant Mariner Credential with an OUPV or Master endorsement, used nationwide.

Credential issuer

USCG National Maritime Center.

Nearest exam route

REC Portland, OR.

Local route clue

Offshore or coastal charters around Astoria (Columbia River bar) usually start with OUPV Near-Coastal, then compare Master 50/100 for inspected boats.

Which Rules of the Road apply on Oregon water#

Oregon's coast is thirteen sections and every one of them is a river or bay mouth — Chetco, Rogue, Coquille, Coos, Umpqua, Siuslaw, Alsea, Yaquina, Depoe, Netarts, Tillamook, Nehalem, and the Columbia entrance at 33 CFR 80.1365, which is shared with Washington. Inland water in Oregon is therefore what is behind a bar, and nothing else: clear the Yaquina jetties at Newport or the Tillamook bar at Garibaldi and the International Rules apply. That maps exactly onto the hard part of the job here, because the bar crossing is both the skill threshold and the rulebook boundary in the same hundred yards. A Columbia River bar operator out of Astoria should note that 80.1365 is one line for two states, and that service on either side is measured against it.

COLREGS Demarcation Lines covering Oregon — 33 CFR Part 80

• 33 CFR 80.1305Chetco River, ORline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1310Rogue River, ORline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1315Coquille River, ORline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1320Coos Bay, ORline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1325Umpqua River, ORline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1330Siuslaw River, ORline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1335Alsea Bay, ORline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1340Yaquina Bay, ORline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1345Depoe Bay, ORline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1350Netarts Bay, ORline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1355Tillamook Bay, ORline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1360Nehalem River, ORline drawn — Inland water inside
• 33 CFR 80.1365Columbia River Entrance, OR/WAline drawn — Inland water inside

This decides which rulebook you steer by, not where your credential may operate: the route limit is the 46 CFR Part 7 Boundary Line, and the two lines are not drawn in the same place. How the two lines differ · International Rules · Inland Rules

33 CFR Part 80 and the Part 83 definitions above read from eCFR on 12 Aug 2026. Any specific water is a determination for the cognizant Coast Guard Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.

Which credential do Oregon charter captains need?#

Not sure the trip needs a credential at all? The captain's-license trigger guide.

Credentials charter captains pursue in Oregon

• OUPV Inland (Six-Pack) — operates uninspected <=6-passenger charter boats on inland waters other than the Great Lakes — bays, sounds, inland lakes, and rivers.
• OUPV Near-Coastal (Six-Pack) — extends OUPV to 100 nautical miles offshore — the credential for offshore canyon and bluewater six-pack operators.
• Master 50 GT — mid-tier inspected-vessel master — typical for charter sport-fish operations under 50 gross tons.
• Master 100 GT — full inspected-vessel master up to 100 GT — required for larger charter and tour vessels.