Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR) for Inland / Western Rivers or Near Coastal / Oceans
The Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR) is a required set of assessments used to test a mariner's knowledge and skill in towing vessel operations. Sign up for one of our assessment slots and complete your TOAR from one of our USCG Designated Examiners.
Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR)
The Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR) is a required set of assessments used to test a mariner's knowledge and skill in towing vessel operations. At Sea School's Bayou La Batre campus, students perform assessments on our brand new, state-of-the-art mission bridge simulator. Enroll today to take the Inland / Western Rivers assessment or the Near Coastal / Oceans assessment.
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Train on your schedule with Sea School’s self-paced online courses. Designed for flexibility and convenience, our online programs allow you to complete key certifications and knowledge-based training from anywhere, at any time.
Call us today to get scheduled for our Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels bundle
Throughout this sixteen (16) day course, mariners will go through trainings for OUPV, Master 100 Ton upgrade, Master 200 Ton upgrade, Inland to Western Rivers and the Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels upgrade.
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Join our courses from anywhere with our convenient Zoom sessions. Choose the dates that work best for your schedule and start your journey toward earning your next license or endorsement - without ever leaving home.
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What Our Clients Say
Outstanding staff and comfortable classroom.
One of the best instructors I had with perfect English language. I learned a lot more than I expected.
Ricardo G.
It’s a great setting with awesome staff.
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Great instructor, strongly recommend!
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Best instructors I’ve had.
Instructor was a great teacher, and made the class fun and enjoyable.
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Excellent instructor.
Very adept at answering questions and ensures requirements are met. Great sea stories and experience.
James C.
Nice and very sweet office staff, I enjoyed meeting everyone.
Always an awesome time being at Sea School!
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Highly recommend it.
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Office staff is always great.
Superb instructor and course has good material.
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I loved the instructor, he is amazing.
The proctor was excellent too.
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Instructor was so helpful in instructing the rules and safety of boats.
Simple class, easy to understand and loved the pictures so helpful.
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Instructor was amazing and very insightful to boating knowledge.
Learned a lot of information in this course.
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I have no complaints and I am super satisfied with my class.
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James H.
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Very good instructor.
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Everything was top notch.
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The course is very enjoyable.
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Office staff were very nice.
Instructor did a good job teaching and I love this course.
Mainor C.
Very good course.
Top notch instructor and very experienced instructor.
James D.
Comfortable classroom, well set up to exhibit course very well.
Very knowledgeable, helpful and courteous instructor and staff.
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Instructor is friendly and very knowledgeable.
Excellent sea stories related to the subject.
Mark L.
Always helpful and accommodating staff.
Highly recommend it. Instructor is uniquely skilled at teaching. Kudos!
Patrick H.
John is very knowledgeable and informative!
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Nice office staff.
Clean Classroom. Awesome instructor. Great course. Great food.
Cameron G.
Classroom was a great environment!
Instructor was extremely knowledgeable.
Anthony G.
John is the best teacher I’ve personally had at Sea School.
Knowledgeable and didn’t beat around the bush.
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Great office staff and classroom.
Lots of respect for the instructor. Taught very well!
Nicholas H.
I enjoyed John’s teaching.
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Very helpful office staff.
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Staff are professional and extremely helpful.
Instructor is extremely knowledgeable and made the painful course easy for us.
Charles G.
The very best staff.
Will return for any future class needs. Instructor is a great man with a wealth of knowledge.
Gabriel C.
Thank you.
Great job from everyone involved.
Jacob C.
Everyone was nice and very good to help with every problem that I had.
Aaron H.
Classroom is clean.
They provided everything we needed to learn the course. Instructor’s a great guy, super knowledgeable with great stories.
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Friendly office staff.
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Knowledgeable good instructors.
Instructors were good, reassuring and informative.
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Best staff I have ever met.
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Classroom is comfortable.
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Excellent knowledge from the instructor.
She will make you learn.
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Instructor did not cut corners in teaching this class.
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Office staff is easy to deal with.
Friendly and helpful instructor.
Peter F.
Instructor was awesome.
I look forward to another class.
Dimecio D.
Office staff is a ten.
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Great sea stories.
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Instructor is very knowledgeable and passionate about teaching.
Thank you for all the help and for putting up with me.
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Instructor is very helpful and very good at teaching and knowing how to get you to understand.
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Helpful and friendly staff.
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Well done!
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Office staff went above & beyond.
Instructor has relevant and real life experiences or storeis told.
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Amazing!!!
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Office staff was great.
Pat did an excellent job and I loved his stories. As always, eggs were fantastic.
John C.
Food is delicious and prepared on time!
Pat is the best instructor to walk the earth and sail the 7 seas, he deserves a red porsche for a company vehicle.
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People are great!
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Learned a lot - thanks guys!!!
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Enjoyed having Capt. John as my instructor. Meals provided were good and enough!
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Excellent instruction from experience.
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John is amazing at what he does and I greatly appreciate him being my instructor!
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All excellent! Thank you!
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Great knowledge & brought real world knowledge to class.
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Thank you!
Instructor was great and didn’t mind me asking any of my questions. I was nervous, but he made me feel comfortable.
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I highly recommend!
Pat did a fine job.
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Great instructors take the time to actually teach and help you learn everything that's needed.
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Thank you!
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Everything was good and the instructor was excellent.
Jaequavius J.
Why Thousands of Mariners Choose Sea School?
Each year, over 7,500 students choose Sea School for their maritime training. We offer 30+ USCG-approved courses across in-person, online, and satellite formats, with training available at 6 locations nationwide. Team training is also available on-site or via satellite to meet company needs.
We’ve developed comprehensive, engaging, and practical curriculum to set you up for success on the water
While the curriculum represented on the Sea School website is a general layout of course information, it is not the exact order in which lessons are taught.
Team Trainings
Sea School provides comprehensive team training solutions designed to meet your organization's unique requirements. Our certified instructors are available for on-site training at your location, or your team can utilize our dedicated training facilities. Please contact us for further details regarding our corporate training opportunities.
Online Trainings
Looking to obtain your next license at your own pace? Sea School offers a selection of immersive online courses designed to provide you with convenient access to our high-quality course material. Explore our online options and contact us with any questions you may have.
A Simple 3-Step Process to Get Certified and Start Your Maritime Career
Choose Your Course
Pick the course that fits your experience level and sea time and select the available format that works for you (in-person, Zoom, or online).
Enroll & Prepare
Register online or at a Sea School location. Ensure you meet eligibility requirements and start reviewing the provided study materials.
Get Certified
After finishing the course, you will need to submit your application to the Coast Guard to receive your Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC).
Advance your Maritime Career
What Our Clients Say
Course Comparison
Towing Vessel Licenses and Requirements
General Requirements
- Minimum age - 21
- US Citizenship is required
- Medical Exam (Form CG-719K):
- A valid USCG physical is required
- Physicals available at most Sea School brick-and-mortar location
- Drug Test & Consortium Membership:
- Required for licensing
- Sea School provides access to APCA, a USCG-approved drug consortium
- Sign up at apcadrugtesting.com or call (727) 522-2727
Sea Service Recency
- Recency – 90 days service in the past 7 years on vessels. A minimum tonnage is not applicable for towing MMC. Recency not required for adding a route or adding to current MMC greater than 200 GRT.
- NOTE: Service will be credited as follows:
- Service on GL will be credited day for day towards GL, Oceans or NC.
- Service on inland waters, other than GL, may substitute for up to 50% of the total required service towards Ocean and NC.
- Only service on WR is applicable towards WR endorsement.
- The OC or NC TOAR must still be completed to obtain the OC or NC MMC.
Master of Towing Vessels Requirements
- 540 days must be on towing vessels as Mate (Pilot) and if adding new route, must also include: \
- Ocean/NC - 90 days on ocean vessels, if new requested route.
- Inland & GL- 90 days Inland or GLs, if new requested route.
- Western Rivers – 90 days on WR, if new requested route.
- No additional training and observation is required. Oceans/ NC may operate on Great Lakes and Inland. WR must have route endorsed. When adding superior route or Western Rivers, additional exam and TOAR may be required
Holds Master More Than 200 GRT Requirements
- May operate towing vessels within any tonnage or route restrictions on their endorsement if they have:
- Ocean/NC - 30 days of training & observation on ocean towing vessels,
- Inland & GL- 30 days training and observation on Inland or GLs vessels,
- Western Rivers – 90 days training and observation on WRs vessels AND must be endorsed on the MMC.
- Training and Observation must be documented.
- All must hold a complete TOAR OR have completed an approved course for the TOAR. No exam required as the route is already held except when adding WR.
- EXCEPTION to holding WR endorsement: If operating on LMR Pilotage waters (MM 236 and below), not required to hold WR endorsement but must hold either a FCP for that route, a MMC for Western Rivers or Master greater than 200 GRT for other routes/waters.
FAQs about the Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR)
The Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR) is a formal assessment record, based on the standards in National Maritime Circular 03-16 (NVIC 03-16), that documents a mariner's ability to safely operate a towing vessel.
It’s Time to Start Your Maritime Career!
Helping thousands of mariners every year, Sea School is a leader in the maritime education space. Whether you are new to the industry or looking to add onto your Merchant Mariner Credential, find the courses right for you at Sea School.
