How to become a seafarer in Russia 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 in charge of a navigational watch) needs higher or secondary vocational education in navigation from a maritime education institution, under a programme meeting STCW section A-II/1.
- An engineer officer (officer in charge of an engineering watch) needs higher or secondary vocational education in the operation of the ship's main propulsion plant, under a programme meeting STCW section A-III/1.
- An electro-technical officer needs higher or secondary vocational education in ship electrical equipment and automation, under a programme meeting STCW section A-III/6.
Rating: rating course
- A deck watch rating (STCW II/4) needs vocational training under the watch rating programme at a maritime education institution, plus documented seagoing service with bridge watchkeeping as part of the programme.
- An engine watch rating (STCW III/4) needs vocational training under the engine watch rating programme at a maritime education institution, plus documented seagoing service with engine-room watchkeeping as part of the programme.
Exams and certification
- For the Navigation specialist programme at Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping, school leavers are admitted on Unified State Exam (EGE) results in Russian, profile mathematics, and computer science or physics.
- Graduates of Russian maritime education institutions do not take the qualification tests for their first certificate if they apply within a year of graduating.
Documents in order
- Applicants to seagoing specialities at Makarov University must submit the results of a seafarers' medical board, not older than 1 year.
- Makarov University set the fee for the seafarers' medical board for applicants at 8 200 roubles.
- To get a certificate, you or your representative submit documents to the harbour master of a seaport that has a qualification commission, starting with an application naming the specific certificate.
Cadet training at sea
- Deck officer candidates must document seagoing service completed as part of the training programme, including watchkeeping under the direct supervision of a master, a certificated officer or a qualified training supervisor.
- For graduates of engineering and electro-technical programmes, workshop or shipyard repair practice is counted in addition to seagoing service.
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 with initial maritime education programmes from the Ministry of Transport list of recognised educational institutions (June 2026 edition), only those whose agreement with the Ministry for these programmes is in force on the check date. The list gives each agreement's period and is updated by the Ministry — check the current edition before you apply.
Primorsky Krai
- Admiral G.I. Nevelskoy Maritime State University, VladivostokCourses: Higher education: navigation, marine engineering, ship electrical engineering, radio communications; Secondary vocational education: navigation, marine engineering, ship electrical engineering; Rating training: deck and engine watch ratings, ship's electrician
- Far Eastern Institute of Communications, VladivostokCourses: Higher education: navigation, marine engineering
- Vladivostok Maritime College, VladivostokCourses: Secondary vocational education: navigation, marine engineering; Rating training: deck and engine watch ratings
Krasnodar Krai
- Admiral F.F. Ushakov State Maritime University, NovorossiyskCourses: Higher education: navigation, marine engineering, ship electrical engineering, radio communications; Secondary vocational education: navigation, marine engineering, ship electrical engineering; Rating training: deck and engine watch ratings, ship's electrician, ship's cook
- Yeysk Marine Fishery Technical School (branch of Astrakhan State Technical University), YeyskCourses: Secondary vocational education: navigation, radio communications; Rating training: deck watch rating
Rostov Oblast
- G.Ya. Sedov Institute of Water Transport (branch of Admiral Ushakov State Maritime University), Rostov-on-DonCourses: Higher education: navigation, marine engineering; Secondary vocational education: navigation, marine engineering, ship electrical engineering; Rating training: deck and engine watch ratings, ship's cook
- Rostov-on-Don College of Water Transport, Rostov-on-DonCourses: Secondary vocational education: navigation, marine engineering; Rating training: deck and engine watch ratings
Kamchatka Krai
- Kamchatka State Technical University, Petropavlovsk-KamchatskyCourses: Higher education: navigation, marine engineering, ship electrical engineering, radio communications; Secondary vocational education: navigation, marine engineering, ship electrical engineering; Rating training: deck and engine watch ratings, ship's electrician, ship's cook
Arkhangelsk Oblast
- V.I. Voronin Arctic Maritime Institute (branch of Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping), ArkhangelskCourses: Secondary vocational education: navigation, marine engineering; Rating training: deck and engine watch ratings
- Higher School of Fisheries and Marine Technologies, Northern (Arctic) Federal University, ArkhangelskCourses: Secondary vocational education: navigation, marine engineering, ship electrical engineering
Saint Petersburg
- Admiral D.N. Senyavin Marine Technical College, Saint PetersburgCourses: Secondary vocational education: navigation, marine engineering, ship electrical engineering; Rating training: deck and engine watch ratings, ship's electrician, ship's cook
- Saint Petersburg Marine Fishery College (branch of Kaliningrad State Technical University), Saint PetersburgCourses: Secondary vocational education: navigation, marine engineering; Rating training: deck and engine watch ratings
Astrakhan Oblast
- Astrakhan State Technical University, AstrakhanCourses: Higher education: marine engineering, ship electrical engineering; Secondary vocational education: navigation, marine engineering, ship electrical engineering; Rating training: deck and engine watch ratings, ship's electrician, ship's cook
Sakhalin Oblast
- Sakhalin Maritime College (branch of Far Eastern State Technical Fisheries University), NevelskCourses: Secondary vocational education: navigation, marine engineering, ship electrical engineering; Rating training: deck and engine watch ratings, ship's electrician
First job: starter vacancies
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Krew Guru numbers
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Checked: 26 Oct 2026. Rules change, so always check with the maritime authority: Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation