How to become a seafarer in Nigeria 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

From October 2025, future deck and engine officers must complete an approved academic programme at a NIMASA-approved maritime education and training institution and have qualifying sea service before they can sit the Certificate of Competency examinations.
Source: NIMASA: new standards for seafarers' education, training, assessment, examination and certification (9 August 2026)
The approved academic programmes are the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Nautical Science and in Marine Engineering Technology, approved by NIMASA with the National Board for Technical Education.
Source: NIMASA: new standards for seafarers' education, training, assessment, examination and certification (9 August 2026)

Rating: rating course

Everyone who wants to become a deck or engine rating must complete NIMASA's mandatory 15-week Ratings Education and Training Programme before the Certificate of Proficiency examination.
Source: NIMASA: new standards for seafarers' education, training, assessment, examination and certification (9 August 2026)
Under STCW II/4, a candidate for a rating forming part of a navigational watch must be at least 16 years old.
Source: IMO, STCW Convention as amended in 2010 (STCW/CONF.2/33), Regulation II/4

Exams and certification

You sit the Certificate of Competency examinations only after the approved academic programme and qualifying sea service on a seagoing ship.
Source: NIMASA: new standards for seafarers' education, training, assessment, examination and certification (9 August 2026)

Documents in order

Cadets and ratings in approved training programmes must use an approved Training Record Book, issued only by NIMASA-approved institutions.
Source: NIMASA: new standards for seafarers' education, training, assessment, examination and certification (9 August 2026)

Cadet training at sea

Under STCW II/1, a deck officer candidate needs at least 18 years of age and at least 12 months of approved seagoing service as part of an approved training programme documented in a training record book.
Source: IMO, STCW Convention as amended in 2010 (STCW/CONF.2/33), Regulation II/1

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.

Institutions offering diploma, rating or ship's cook programmes from the NIMASA list of approved maritime training institutions (last updated 23 June 2025). In August 2026 NIMASA required all approved institutions to resubmit their programmes for re-approval — check the current list with NIMASA before you enrol.

Akwa Ibom State

Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron
Courses: ND and HND in Nautical Science; ND and HND in Marine Engineering; Associate (bridging) courses in Nautical Science and Marine Engineering; Rating forming part of a navigational or engine watch, Able Seafarer Deck and Engine (preparatory classes); STCW basic and advanced safety courses

Lagos State

Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos
Courses: ND in Nautical Science and in Marine Engineering; HND in Nautical Science and in Marine Engineering (provisional approval)
Coastal Maritime Academy, Lagos
Courses: Rating forming part of a navigational or engineering watch, Able Seafarer Deck and Engine (preparatory classes); STCW basic safety courses
Matral Maritime Training Center, Lagos
Courses: Rating forming part of a navigational or engineering watch, Able Seafarer Deck and Engine (preparatory classes); STCW basic safety courses

Delta State

Joe Marine Institute of Nautical Studies and Research, Effurun, Warri
Courses: Associate courses in Nautical Science and Marine Engineering; Rating forming part of a navigational or engineering watch, Able Seafarer Deck (preparatory classes); STCW basic safety courses
Maritech Industrial and Management Training Academy, Effurun, Warri
Courses: Ratings forming part of a navigational or engineering watch (preparatory classes); STCW basic safety courses

Rivers State

Joe Global Nautical Catering, Port Harcourt
Courses: Ship's cook training (provisional approval)

Official list

First job: starter vacancies

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Checked: 26 Oct 2026. Rules change, so always check with the maritime authority: Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)