Becoming a seafarer in Russia as a career change
Official rules for adults who already have a profession on shore.
Age limits
- Certificates under the Russian certification regulation are issued to persons aged 18 or over who are medically fit for work on seagoing ships.
Entry through your shore profession
| Your profession on shore | Role at sea | Course | Where and on what terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook | Ship's cook | Training on the specifics of working as a ship's cook at a maritime education institution | People who already hold a cook qualification can get the ship's cook certificate through training on the specifics of working as a ship's cook. The ship's cook certificate also requires documented seagoing service as part of the programme, preparing food under the direct supervision of a ship's cook or a qualified training supervisor. |
| Electrician | Ship's electrician (electro-technical rating) | Ship's electrician vocational training programme (STCW A-III/7) | The ship's electrician certificate requires vocational training under the ship's electrician programme at a maritime education institution, meeting STCW section A-III/7, plus documented onboard service maintaining electrical equipment. |
| Any profession, no maritime education | Deck or engine watch rating | Watch rating vocational training programme (STCW A-II/4 or A-III/4) | For watch rating and ship's electrician certificates, seagoing service gained during vocational training programmes counts regardless of ship size, engine power or navigation area. |
Minimum set of documents
- Minimum for any first job on board: a medical certificate of fitness, basic safety training under STCW VI/1, and the certificate for your position issued by a harbour master.
- People who have not passed the medical examination are not allowed to work on a ship.
How to avoid scams
- Recruitment and placement agencies must not charge seafarers for finding them a job; the seafarer pays only for the medical certificate, the seafarer's book and a passport.
- Certificates are issued only to people trained at licensed education institutions whose quality standards system is verified by a classification society — check that your school is on the Ministry of Transport list of recognised institutions.
- The law provides for central electronic records of certificates and for answering requests from interested persons about a certificate's status.
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 Russia.
Seafarer profiles from Russia on Krew Guru: 18,500+.
Checked: 26 Oct 2026. Rules change, so always check with the maritime authority: Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation