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has obtained a Near Coastal credential is authorized to operate on Near Coastal routes and the Great Lakes- Inland Waters. A Master or Mate with a Great Lakes- Inland Waters credential is only authorized to operate on the Great Lakes-Inland routes. A Master or Mate with a Western Rivers credential is endorsed to operate on the Mississippi River, its tributaries, South Pass, and Southwest Pass to the navigational demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors, rivers, and other inland waters of the United States. A Master or Mate with a limited credential is limited to the local geo- graphic area as described on the credential. A mariner with a Harbor Assist credential allows for the operation of harbor towing vessels. There is an exception to the rule for Masters and Mates operating on the Lower Mississippi River. Under 46 CRF 15.812(b), an officer of a towing vessel with an endorsement for Oceans, Near Coastal, or Great Lakes- Inland Waters may operate a towing vessel in the Lower Mississippi River if he or she meets one of the following requirements: 1.)holds a First Class pilot?s credential for the route; 2.) has made four round-trips through this route while operating a light boat or tow of uninspected barges on at least four occasions with at least one of the trips at night and has made at least one round-trip within the last five years; or3.)has made twelve round-trips over this route while operating a tow of tank barges with at least three of the trips at night with at least one round-trip within the last five years.An officer who meets one of these requirements does not need to obtain an endorsement for Western Rivers on his or her credential. However, they must maintain evidence of having completed the required route expe- rience. If the vessel is equipped with radar, each Master or Mate must also hold an endorsement as a Radar Observer. The certificate of training must be readily available to demonstrate that the endorsement is cur- rently valid. MINIMUMMANNINGLEVELS After you have confirmed that you have the right employees operating the vessel, it is important to deter- mine how many of these employees are needed based upon the operating parameters of the vessel. All crew members on UTVs that operate on navigable waters, or weigh over 100 gross tons, must possess a Merchant Mariner document. In an effort to ensure that the crew is experienced, 46 USC 8702 mandates that at least 65 percent of the deck crew, excluding indi- viduals serving as officers, must be qualified crew such LEGALMN#5 (18-31):MN 2011 Layouts 5/7/2012 9:56 AM Page 26