Earn a master captain’s license and take unlimited paying passengers, up to 200 miles offshore, on a vessel up to 100 GRT. The Certificate of Inspection (COI) of the vessel you operate determines the number of paying passengers you may take. Your sea service determines whether you earn a 25, 50 or 100 ton Master Captain’s License. The Scope or “Route Endorsement” of your license is based on the geographic location in which you gained your sea service and may be either Inland, Great Lakes & Inland or Near Coastal. A Near Coastal route endorsement allows the holder to operate up to 200 miles offshore and also covers “Subordinate Routes” such as the Great Lakes & Inland.