Becoming a seafarer in Sri Lanka as a career change
Official rules for adults who already have a profession on shore.
Age limits
- The regulations set minimum ages: sixteen for a seafarer medical certificate.
- Watch ratings and officers of the watch must be at least eighteen at the exam.
Entry through your shore profession
| Your profession on shore | Role at sea | Course | Where and on what terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka Navy sailor (retiring) | Merchant ship rating | STCW basic safety and maritime English support level course at the Naval and Maritime Academy | The Naval and Maritime Academy runs STCW basic safety and maritime English courses for naval personnel seeking a second career after retiring from the Navy. The course prepares participants to obtain the CDC from the Merchant Shipping Secretariat. It is conducted in accordance with the directives of the Merchant Shipping Secretariat. |
Minimum set of documents
- Minimum set for a watch rating: personal survival, fire fighting, elementary first aid, personal safety and security duties training.
- Plus a valid medical certificate and the CDC from the MSS.
Costs and timing: official fees only
- The Ocean University pre-sea deck rating course is full-time and lasts 6 months.
- The Mahapola academy's pre-sea deck rating course lasts 63 days.
How to avoid scams
- Holding a forged certificate or one obtained by fraud is an offence punishable by a fine or imprisonment.
- To get a CDC, use only courses approved by the Merchant Shipping Secretariat.
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 Sri Lanka.
Seafarer profiles from Sri Lanka on Krew Guru: 1,300+.
Checked: 26 Oct 2026. Rules change, so always check with the maritime authority: Merchant Shipping Secretariat (Director-General of Merchant Shipping), Ministry of Ports and Shipping