Is a license required to operate the submarine?
A private owner does not need a license to operate the submarine for leisure purposes but our in-house training program must be satisfactorily completed by the operator. In addition, if the submarine will be carrying passengers for hire in U.S. waters, then the crew must meet U.S. Coast Guard manning requirements. This means that the Captain is required to have a U.S.C.G. Master’s license for a surface vessel of equivalent tonnage (500 tons in the case of the Seattle 1000) and will have to complete our training course which includes 40 hours of pilot in command time and 40 dives and surfaces and then take a U.S.C.G. examination based on our manuals. The successful applicant will then have a submarine endorsement added to their license.
