How to become a seafarer in Georgia after school

Official rules for school students and school leavers. Check every requirement with the maritime authority before you apply or pay.

Officer: maritime academy or college

A deck officer (officer of the navigational watch) needs maritime education, proper training and the competence standards of STCW section A-II/1.
Source: Law of Georgia on Education and Certification of Seafarers, Article 15
An engineer officer of the watch needs maritime education, proper training and the competence standards of STCW section A-III/1.
Source: Law of Georgia on Education and Certification of Seafarers, Article 22

Rating: rating course

A navigational watch rating must be at least 16 years old.
Source: Law of Georgia on Education and Certification of Seafarers, Article 18
A watch rating needs pre-sea training or special training on board that includes at least 2 months of approved sea service, or at least 6 months of approved sea service.
Source: Law of Georgia on Education and Certification of Seafarers, Article 18

Exams and certification

To get or renew a certificate you apply to the Maritime Transport Agency, which sets the exam content, duration, format and assessment criteria and publishes them on its website.
Source: Law of Georgia on Education and Certification of Seafarers, Article 7

Documents in order

Students going to sea practice need a written recommendation from a Georgian maritime educational institution to get the Seafarer's Identity Document and Sea Service Book.
Source: Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia — Seafarers ID and Seaservice Book
For students and cadets, the Sea Service Book and the Seafarer's Identity Document are free of charge (standard 7-working-day service only).
Source: Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia — Seafarers ID and Seaservice Book

Cadet training at sea

A deck officer candidate needs at least 12 months of approved sea service as part of a training programme with approved sea practice, recorded in the training record book.
Source: Law of Georgia on Education and Certification of Seafarers, Article 15
During that sea service the cadet keeps bridge watches under the supervision of the master or a qualified officer for at least 6 months.
Source: Law of Georgia on Education and Certification of Seafarers, Article 15

Approved training institutions

Only institutions from the official list of the maritime authority. The list changes: check that the institution is still approved before you pay.

Maritime educational institutions from the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia list. The Agency also publishes a separate list of recognised maritime training centres for short STCW courses.

Adjara

Batumi State Maritime Academy, Batumi
Courses: Higher and vocational maritime education
Batumi Navigation Teaching University, Batumi
Courses: Higher and vocational maritime education
Batumi High Marine Engineering School ANRI, Batumi
Courses: Vocational maritime education
Maritime Teaching Training Center Equator, Batumi
Courses: Vocational maritime education
Meridian Maritime Training Centre, Batumi
Courses: Vocational maritime education

Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti

Batumi State Maritime Academy, Poti Branch Maritime Training Center, Poti
Courses: Vocational maritime education

Official list

First job: starter vacancies

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Krew Guru numbers

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Seafarer profiles from Georgia on Krew Guru: 1,800+.

Changing your career as an adult? Read the career change guide

Checked: 26 Oct 2026. Rules change, so always check with the maritime authority: Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia