Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
Delaware requires no state-level captain's license. The credential you need is the federal USCG OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels) license, also called the six-pack. You'll need 360 days of sea service, a TWIC card, a physical, first aid certification, and a passing exam score. Total federal fees run roughly $100-$140. Most applicants finish the paperwork path in two to four months.
Do you need a license for six-pack captain in Delaware?
Yes, you need a license. But that license is federal, not from Delaware.
Delaware has no state-issued captain's license that lets you carry paying passengers on the water. The requirement comes from the U.S. Coast Guard under 46 U.S.C. § 8903, which says any person who operates an uninspected vessel carrying six or fewer passengers for hire must hold a valid USCG Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) endorsed for OUPV. [1] "Uninspected passenger vessel" is the statutory category for the charter fishing boats, bay cruises, and headboat trips that define the six-pack business model in Delaware.
So when people ask about a "six-pack captain license Delaware," they're really asking how to get federal authorization to operate locally. The answer is the USCG OUPV credential, sometimes stamped "six-pack" in trade language.
Delaware's coastal geography makes the inland/near-coastal waters distinction matter. Most charter operations on the Indian River, Delaware Bay, and coastal Delaware fall within the Near Coastal or Inland route designation. The exact route on your credential affects the sea service requirements and where you're legally authorized to operate, so decide that before you build your application.
What are the USCG OUPV requirements for Delaware applicants?
The Coast Guard processes all OUPV applications through National Maritime Center (NMC). The core requirements are the same regardless of which state you live in. Here's what the application actually demands. [2]
Sea service. You need 360 days of documented time on the water. At least 90 of those days must be in the last three years before you apply. "Days" here means calendar days, not hours. You document each day on a CG-719K sea service form, signed by someone who can attest to your service. [3]
Route. Near Coastal covers ocean waters within 200 miles of shore. Inland covers rivers, lakes, and bays. Most Delaware fishing and bay charter work fits Inland or Near Coastal. Your sea service should be on waters matching the route you're requesting.
Physical. A physician must complete CG-719K (Medical Evaluation). The USCG follows physical standards based on vision, hearing, cardiovascular health, and drug screening. Your doctor doesn't have to be Coast Guard-approved, but the form is specific and your doctor needs to know what they're certifying. [4]
Drug test. A DOT-compliant chemical test (urine) is required with initial applications. Use a certified lab; NMC won't accept an unsigned chain-of-custody form.
First aid and CPR. You need proof of current Basic First Aid and CPR/AED training. Most providers (Red Cross, AHA) issue wallet cards that work fine.
TWIC card. A Transportation Worker Identification Credential from TSA is mandatory for anyone applying for an MMC. You apply separately through TSA, pay a separate fee, and the background check takes several weeks on its own. [5]
Exam. You must pass the USCG OUPV written exam at a Regional Exam Center (REC). The nearest REC for Delaware applicants is typically the Baltimore REC in Maryland. The exam covers rules of the road, chart navigation, first aid, and firefighting. Passing score is 70% on each module. [2]
How much does six-pack captain cost in Delaware?
The costs split into federal fees and prep costs. Here's an honest breakdown.
Federal fees (USCG/NMC). As of 2024, the USCG fee for an initial OUPV MMC is $45. [6] That is the NMC credential issuance fee. If you also need a TWIC card, TSA charges $125.25 for the standard background check, or $96.50 if you already have a qualifying disqualifying-event-free background check and can show it. Confirm current TWIC fees directly with TSA because they adjust periodically. [5]
Medical exam. Expect to pay your physician's standard office visit rate, typically $100-$200 out of pocket if insurance doesn't cover a USCG physical. Some maritime clinics offer package physicals for $150-$250.
Drug test. DOT-compliant urine testing at a Quest or LabCorp site runs $40-$80 typically.
First aid and CPR course. A Red Cross in-person course runs $65-$90 in most Delaware metro areas. Online/blended options exist but confirm NMC will accept the specific format before you pay.
Exam prep. This is where people wildly overpay or underpay. Dedicated prep kits and practice question banks run $49-$200. The USCG publishes the exact question bank its tests draw from, so self-studiers can do this cheaply. [OUPVPath's USCG OUPV + Bareboat Kit covers all the federal prep material for $149 at /start if you want everything in one place.]
Total realistic range. Budget $400-$700 all-in for first-time applicants, with the biggest variables being your medical situation and whether you take a formal prep course.
| Cost item | Low estimate | High estimate |
|---|---|---|
| NMC MMC fee | $45 | $45 |
| TWIC card | $96 | $126 |
| Medical exam | $100 | $250 |
| DOT drug test | $40 | $80 |
| First aid/CPR | $65 | $90 |
| Exam prep | $0 | $200 |
| Total | $346 | $791 |
How long does six-pack captain take in Delaware?
Two months is possible. Four months is more realistic. Six months happens if you hit delays.
The TWIC card is usually the longest single item. TSA says to allow 6-8 weeks for standard processing, though the agency's website notes expedited services are available. [5] You can apply for your TWIC and start gathering your sea service documentation simultaneously, so don't treat TWIC as a blocker you wait on before doing anything else.
NMC processing of a complete application has run anywhere from 4 weeks to 16 weeks historically, depending on application volume. NMC publishes processing time estimates on its website, so check there for current averages. [2] Applications returned for missing documents restart the clock, which is why building a complete package before submission matters.
The exam scheduling delay varies by REC. Baltimore REC typically has available exam slots within two to three weeks, though that can stretch. Call the REC directly to get current wait times.
Your physician's calendar and lab turnaround for your drug test add another one to three weeks in most cases.
Putting it together: a Delaware applicant who starts TWIC and sea service documentation on the same day, completes the physical and drug test within a month, studies and sits the exam by week six, and submits a clean application can realistically hold an MMC in hand at the three-to-four month mark. Nobody should promise faster.
Where do Delaware applicants submit the OUPV application?
Delaware does not have its own Regional Exam Center. The closest REC that serves Delaware mariners is the USCG National Maritime Center's Baltimore REC, located in Baltimore, Maryland. [2]
You can also mail a completed application package directly to NMC in Martinsburg, West Virginia, for evaluation, and then schedule your exam at the REC separately. The two-step process (mail the credential application, schedule the exam at a REC) is how most applicants handle it.
Call the Baltimore REC before your first visit to confirm what they want you to bring in person versus what should go directly to NMC. The REC is at 2401 Hawkins Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21226. Their phone number and current hours are on the NMC contact page. [2]
For the TWIC, Delaware has TSA enrollment centers. Check the TSA enrollment locator for current sites; locations in Wilmington and Dover have operated enrollment centers in recent years but confirm before making the trip. [5]
What sea service counts for a Delaware OUPV application?
The USCG defines sea service broadly enough that most Delaware boaters have accumulated eligible days without knowing it.
Eligible sea service includes: time aboard any documented or numbered vessel, recreational or commercial, as long as you were operating or assisting in the operation. Time as a mate on a charter boat, a deckhand on a commercial crabbing vessel, or a recreational boater on the Delaware Bay all count. [3] Days on rivers, the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, or tidal waters count toward Inland route hours. Time offshore in the Atlantic qualifies toward Near Coastal.
What doesn't count: time as a passenger where you weren't involved in vessel operation. Pure observer time is worthless for the application.
Each entry on your CG-719K should include the vessel name and documentation number (or state registration number for uninspected vessels), dates, waters, and the signature of someone who can verify your presence. A vessel owner, a captain you served under, or a marina manager who can vouch for documented records all work. Self-certification is not accepted for the full 360 days.
If you're short on documented days, the most practical fix is to volunteer or work part-time on a local charter or commercial boat. A summer season on an Indian River Inlet charter boat can add 90-120 documented days.
Does Delaware have any state boating requirements that affect charter operations?
Delaware does require a boating safety education certificate for recreational operators born after January 1, 1977, under Delaware Code Title 23, Chapter 21. [7] But holding a USCG OUPV credential exempts you from that state requirement because federal licensing supersedes it.
For commercial charter operations, Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) may have licensing or permit requirements specific to operating in certain waters or with certain species. A head-boat taking anglers out for Atlantic striped bass will interact with both state and federal fishing regulations, which is separate from your captain's credential.
Liability insurance is not mandated by the federal credential, but operating commercially without it would be commercially reckless. Most marina slip agreements and any reasonable business plan require it. Marine commercial liability policies for small six-pack operations run roughly $500-$1,500 per year depending on vessel value and route, but get actual quotes because that range is wide.
If you plan to operate on the Delaware River or its tributaries, be aware that some areas fall under multi-state compacts and additional federal jurisdiction. That doesn't add a new license, but it may affect where specific regulations apply.
What is the TWIC card and why does it matter for Delaware captains?
The Transportation Worker Identification Credential is a biometric smart card issued by TSA under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. [5] The USCG requires it for anyone applying for a Merchant Mariner Credential, including an OUPV. Without a valid TWIC, NMC will not process your application.
Apply for TWIC first, or at least in parallel with everything else. The background check looks at criminal history, immigration status, and terrorism databases. Most applicants pass without issue, but the disqualifying offenses are real and spelled out in 49 C.F.R. Part 1572. If you have a felony conviction in the past seven years or certain other offenses, verify your eligibility before spending money on sea service documentation and exam prep. [8]
TWIC cards are valid for five years. You renew through TSA, and NMC wants to see a current TWIC at each credential renewal as well.
How to start six-pack captain in Delaware: the actual step-by-step order
Here's the order that minimizes total calendar time.
Step 1: Apply for TWIC. Do this immediately. The background check and card production takes 6-8 weeks. Start this before anything else and let it run in parallel. [5]
Step 2: Audit your sea service. Pull out every logbook, charter receipt, or fishing trip record you have. Count your days by calendar date, not hours. Identify any gaps between now and 360 documented days, and make a plan to fill them.
Step 3: Get your physical and drug test. Complete CG-719K with a physician. Schedule a DOT urine screen at a certified collection site. Both are time-stamped documents, so don't do them too early (they need to be current at the time of application submission).
Step 4: Complete first aid and CPR training. Red Cross or AHA, in-person is safest to avoid any NMC format questions.
Step 5: Study for the exam. The USCG exam question bank is published. Work through Rules of the Road, chart navigation (including compass deviation and plotting), first aid, and firefighting. Most people need four to eight weeks of part-time study to pass all modules at 70%+.
Step 6: Schedule and sit the exam at Baltimore REC. Call the REC for current scheduling availability. Bring government ID and your TWIC if you have it by then.
Step 7: Assemble and submit the full application to NMC. Your application package includes the MMC application form (CG-719B), all CG-719K forms, exam results, medical certificate, drug test results, first aid and CPR cards, and copy of your TWIC. [2]
Step 8: Wait for NMC processing. Check NMC's processing time estimates regularly. Respond quickly to any deficiency letters.
If you want a single kit that walks through federal exam prep and paperwork in one place, OUPVPath's OUPV + Bareboat Kit at /start is $149 and covers the material you'll need for steps 5 through 7.
What can you actually do with a six-pack license in Delaware?
With a valid USCG OUPV MMC, you can operate an uninspected vessel carrying up to six paying passengers for hire, on the route(s) specified in your credential. [1] In Delaware, that covers most of the commercial work on the water.
Charter fishing on the Delaware Bay or out of Indian River Inlet is the most common use case. Six-pack captains also run bay tours, whale-watching excursions, sunset sails (if the vessel is sail-powered, the OUPV credential covers sail too), and guided crabbing trips. Some captains contract their services to boat owners who want a licensed operator without owning a vessel themselves.
You cannot use an OUPV to operate an inspected vessel carrying more than six passengers. If your business model grows past six paying guests, you'd need a different credential category and the vessel would need to pass a Coast Guard inspection as a Passenger Vessel. That's a different, longer process.
The OUPV also doesn't authorize you to carry cargo for hire or to tow vessels commercially. Those require endorsements beyond the scope of a six-pack credential.
For comparing how Delaware's setup compares to neighboring states, see our guides on how to start six-pack captain in Alabama and how to start six-pack captain in Alaska for a sense of how federal requirements stay consistent while local context shifts.
What happens at renewal and how do you keep the credential active?
The USCG OUPV MMC is valid for five years. [2] Renewal requires demonstrating continued sea service (one year of sea service in the past five years, or passing the full exam again if you can't show that), a current physical, a current drug test, and a valid TWIC.
The USCG mails renewal reminder notices, but don't count on them. Mark your renewal date in your calendar and start the process about six months before expiration. NMC can take months to process renewals, and operating with an expired MMC is a federal violation.
If your credential lapses, you're in the same position as a first-timer for most requirements. Avoid that scenario.
First aid and CPR must also stay current. Those certifications typically expire every two years (Red Cross and AHA are both two-year cycles), so you'll renew those two to three times over the life of one MMC.
For state-level comparisons on how license maintenance and first-year operations look elsewhere, the six-pack captain license in Alaska and six-pack captain license in California articles are useful anchors.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for six-pack captain in Delaware?
Yes. The license is federal, not a state credential. Delaware has no state-issued captain's license for commercial passenger operations. You need a USCG Merchant Mariner Credential with an OUPV endorsement, issued by the National Maritime Center. This applies anywhere in the U.S., including Delaware. Operating without it while carrying passengers for hire violates 46 U.S.C. § 8903.
How much does six-pack captain cost in Delaware?
Federal fees alone run about $170 (NMC application fee $45, TWIC card roughly $125). Add $100-$250 for a physician's medical evaluation, $40-$80 for a DOT drug test, $65-$90 for first aid and CPR training, and $0-$200 for exam prep materials. Total realistic budget is $400-$700. Confirm current NMC and TSA fees directly, as they adjust periodically.
How long does six-pack captain take in Delaware?
Three to four months for an applicant who starts everything in parallel and submits a clean application. The TWIC card alone takes 6-8 weeks. NMC application processing has historically run 4-16 weeks. Delays from incomplete applications, physician scheduling, or exam availability can push the total past six months. Nobody should guarantee a specific finish date.
Where do Delaware applicants take the USCG OUPV exam?
The nearest Regional Exam Center for Delaware applicants is the Baltimore REC in Maryland, located at 2401 Hawkins Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21226. Call the REC for current exam scheduling availability before making plans. You can also submit your credential application to NMC by mail and schedule your exam separately.
What sea service documents do I need for the six-pack application?
You fill out USCG form CG-719K (Sea Service Form) for each vessel or employment period. Each entry needs the vessel name, documentation or registration number, dates, waters operated, and the signature of a verifying witness such as the vessel owner or a captain you worked under. You need 360 total documented days, with 90 days in the last three years before application.
Can I count recreational boating days toward the 360-day sea service requirement?
Yes, recreational days count as long as you were operating or assisting in vessel operation, more than riding as a passenger. Days on Delaware Bay, the Delaware River, and coastal Atlantic waters all qualify. Document each day on CG-719K with a verifying signature. Pure passenger time does not count and should not be included in your application.
Does Delaware have its own boating license or captain's permit separate from the USCG credential?
No. Delaware requires a boating safety certificate for recreational operators born after January 1, 1977, under Delaware Code Title 23, Chapter 21, but a federal USCG OUPV credential exempts you from that. There is no separate state captain's permit for commercial six-pack operations. The USCG OUPV is the only required credential.
What is a TWIC card and how do I get one in Delaware?
A TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) is a biometric ID issued by TSA, required for any Merchant Mariner Credential applicant. Apply through TSA's Universal Enrollment Services program. Delaware has had enrollment centers in Wilmington and Dover; confirm current locations at the TSA enrollment locator. The background check and card production takes about 6-8 weeks. Cost is approximately $125.
Can I operate a charter fishing boat in Delaware Bay with just the OUPV six-pack?
Yes, if you carry six or fewer paying passengers. Delaware Bay is an Inland or Near Coastal route, and a USCG OUPV credential with the appropriate route endorsement covers commercial operation there. You'll also need to comply with state and federal fishing regulations separately, and Delaware DNREC may have permit requirements for certain commercial fishing activities.
How many passengers can a six-pack captain carry in Delaware?
Six paying passengers is the statutory maximum for uninspected passenger vessels under 46 U.S.C. § 8903. That six-passenger cap is where the informal term "six-pack" comes from. If you want to carry more than six paying passengers, the vessel must be inspected and you need a higher-grade credential. The six-passenger limit applies in every state, including Delaware.
Do I need liability insurance to run a charter boat in Delaware?
Federal law and the USCG OUPV credential don't mandate liability insurance. However, most marina slip agreements require it, and running a commercial passenger operation without it is financially reckless. Marine commercial liability policies for small six-pack operations commonly run $500-$1,500 per year, but get real quotes from marine insurance brokers because that range varies significantly by vessel and route.
What happens if my OUPV credential expires?
An expired MMC means you cannot legally carry paying passengers. Operating commercially with an expired credential violates federal law. Renewal requires current sea service documentation (at least one year in the past five), a physical, drug test, and valid TWIC. If your credential has lapsed entirely, expect a process close to a first-time application. Start renewal at least six months before expiration.
Is there a minimum age to get a six-pack captain license in Delaware?
Yes. The USCG requires applicants for an OUPV to be at least 18 years old. There is no upper age limit, but you must pass the physical examination at each application or renewal. The age minimum is federal and applies uniformly in all states.
What score do I need to pass the USCG OUPV exam?
You need a 70% passing score on each module of the exam. The exam draws from the USCG's published question bank covering rules of the road, chart navigation, first aid, and firefighting. You must pass every module; a high score in one does not compensate for a failing score in another. The exam is administered at a USCG Regional Exam Center, not online.
Sources
- U.S. Code, 46 U.S.C. § 8903, Uninspected passenger vessels: Any person who operates an uninspected vessel carrying up to six passengers for hire must hold a valid USCG OUPV credential
- USCG National Maritime Center, Apply for a Credential: NMC processes OUPV applications, administers exams through RECs, and publishes processing time estimates
- USCG National Maritime Center, CG-719K Sea Service Form instructions: Sea service must be documented on form CG-719K with vessel details, dates, waters, and a verifying signature
- USCG National Maritime Center, CG-719K Medical Evaluation form: Applicants must have a physician complete the CG-719K Medical Evaluation covering vision, hearing, cardiovascular health, and drug screening
- TSA, TWIC Program overview and enrollment: TWIC is required for MMC applicants; standard background check fee is approximately $125.25 and processing takes about 6-8 weeks
- USCG National Maritime Center, Credential and Service Fees: The USCG fee for an initial OUPV Merchant Mariner Credential issuance is $45
- Delaware Code Title 23, Chapter 21, Boat Safety: Delaware requires a boating safety certificate for operators born after January 1, 1977, but federal USCG credentialing supersedes this for commercial operators
- Code of Federal Regulations, 49 C.F.R. Part 1572, Credentialing Standards for TWIC: Disqualifying criminal offenses for TWIC eligibility, including felony convictions within seven years, are enumerated in 49 C.F.R. Part 1572
- USCG National Maritime Center, OUPV Exam Question Bank: The USCG publishes the question bank from which OUPV exam questions are drawn, covering rules of the road, navigation, first aid, and firefighting
- USCG National Maritime Center, MMC Renewal Requirements: The USCG OUPV MMC is valid for five years and renewal requires one year of sea service in the past five years or a full exam retest