Becoming a seafarer in Myanmar as a career change
Official rules for adults who already have a profession on shore.
Age limits
- Basic safety training is open from age 18.
- MMU first-year entry for 2026 was for those who passed the matriculation exam in 2026.
Entry through your shore profession
| Your profession on shore | Role at sea | Course | Where and on what terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating with a high school certificate | Deck officer (officer of the watch) | Deck Officer Class III course | Without a cadetship, the Deck Officer Class III course is open after 36 months of approved sea service, including 6 months of bridge watchkeeping under supervision. This route requires a Basic Education High School (BEHS) certificate. |
| Navy officer (serving or former) | Deck officer (officer of the watch) | Deck Officer Class III course | Naval and ex-naval officers need 36 months of approved sea service, including at least 3 months on a merchant ship. |
| Electrician | Electro-technical rating | Workshop skills training, then sea service | New electro-technical ratings need 6 months of workshop skills training and 1 year of sea service. |
| Cook | Ship's cook | Ship's Cook Training Course | The ship's cook course requires at least 3 months of sea service in any capacity and basic safety training. No seafarer under 18 may work as a ship's cook. |
Minimum set of documents
- Basic safety training (STCW VI/1).
- A medical certificate from a DMA-approved doctor.
- A CDC (seaman's book).
Costs and timing: official fees only
- The Deck Officer Class III course listed for MMMC and naval candidates lasts 36 weeks.
- For candidates on the sea service route with a high school certificate, the course lasts 40 weeks.
- The ship's cook course lasts 6 weeks.
How to avoid scams
- DMA certificates can be checked in the DMA's free online verification.
- The DMA publishes a list of medical centres whose approval was withdrawn or suspended.
- Check that a training school is on the DMA's list of approved schools.
- Under the MLC 2006, recruitment and placement fees must not be charged to the seafarer.
First job: starter vacancies
Live vacancies on Krew Guru for starter positions. Vacancies without any sea experience are rare, so we do not promise a job without it.
No open starter vacancies right now. Upload your CV and we will send you matching vacancies.
Krew Guru numbers
89% of open vacancies on Krew Guru accept citizens of Myanmar.
Seafarer profiles from Myanmar on Krew Guru: 900+.
Checked: 26 Oct 2026. Rules change, so always check with the maritime authority: Department of Marine Administration (DMA)