How to become a seafarer in Ukraine 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
- Officer of the watch candidates must be at least 18.
- An officer rank requires a maritime professional pre-higher or higher education diploma in the relevant specialisation.
- Officer candidates need a valid seafarer medical certificate.
- Deck officer candidates also need a restricted or general radio operator diploma.
- Graduates of maritime universities can apply for their qualification documents.
Rating: rating course
- Approved training centres run rating courses such as second-class able seafarer deck (STCW II/4) and engine (STCW III/4).
- Under STCW II/4, a watch rating must be at least 16.
- A watch rating can qualify through special pre-sea or on-board training that includes at least 2 months of approved seagoing service.
- Approved centres also train ship's cooks.
Exams and certification
- Officer competence is checked by a computer exam or, for maritime graduates, the unified state qualification exam.
- Applications for qualification documents can be filed online in Diia and are processed in 7 working days.
Documents in order
- Pass the seafarer medical examination first.
- Complete approved training at a centre from the official list and get specialist certificates.
- Apply for the seafarer's service book (posluzhna knyzhka moriaka) with a diploma, specialist certificate or proof of maritime education.
- Apply in person for the seafarer's identity document.
Cadet training at sea
- A deck officer of the watch needs at least 12 months of onboard training within a maritime education programme.
- During sea service the candidate must keep bridge watches under the supervision of the master or chief mate.
- An engineer officer of the watch needs at least 12 months of combined workshop practice and sea service within a maritime education programme.
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.
Training centres from the Shipping Administration's official list of seafarers' training institutions (as of 07.10.2026) that run entry-level programmes: basic safety training, rating courses, ship's electrician or ship's cook. Maritime universities and colleges for officers (higher and professional pre-higher education) are not part of this list.
Odesa Oblast
- National University “Odessa Maritime Academy” Survival under Extreme Sea Conditions Training Center, OdesaCourses: Basic safety training (STCW VI/1)
- Training center of seafarers “Avant” LLC, ChornomorskCourses: Basic safety training (STCW VI/1)
- Education – training complex “Admiral” Limited Liability Company, OdesaCourses: Basic safety training (STCW VI/1); Basic safety training on fishing vessels; Deck rating: second-class able seafarer deck (STCW II/4); Able seafarer deck (STCW II/5); Engine rating: second-class able seafarer engine (STCW III/4); Able seafarer engine (STCW III/5); Ship's electrician (STCW III/7); Ship's cook
- “Seaferers training centre” LTD, OdesaCourses: Basic safety training (STCW VI/1); Deck rating: second-class able seafarer deck (STCW II/4); Able seafarer deck (STCW II/5); Engine rating: second-class able seafarer engine (STCW III/4); Able seafarer engine (STCW III/5); Ship's cook
- Training center “Alfa-Training “Limited Liability, IzmailCourses: Basic safety training (STCW VI/1)
- Separated division “Training center of private joint stock company “Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company”, IzmailCourses: Basic safety training (STCW VI/1); Deck rating: second-class able seafarer deck (STCW II/4); Able seafarer deck (STCW II/5)
- International Maritime Training Centre LLC, OdesaCourses: Basic safety training (STCW VI/1)
- “Trainmar” LTD, OdesaCourses: Deck rating: second-class able seafarer deck (STCW II/4); Able seafarer deck (STCW II/5); Engine rating: second-class able seafarer engine (STCW III/4); Able seafarer engine (STCW III/5); Ship's electrician (STCW III/7)
- “Education-training centre “Flagman” LLC, OdesaCourses: Basic safety training (STCW VI/1)
- Private enterprise “Izmail maritime training center “Marine pro service”, IzmailCourses: Basic safety training (STCW VI/1); Deck rating: second-class able seafarer deck (STCW II/4); Able seafarer deck (STCW II/5); Engine rating: second-class able seafarer engine (STCW III/4); Able seafarer engine (STCW III/5)
Kyiv
- “Kyiv center for maritime transport specialists training, retraining and refreshing competence” Company Limited, KyivCourses: Basic safety training (STCW VI/1); Deck rating: second-class able seafarer deck (STCW II/4); Able seafarer deck (STCW II/5)
Mykolaiv Oblast
- Mykolaiv training center of seafarers, MykolaivCourses: Basic safety training (STCW VI/1); Deck rating: second-class able seafarer deck (STCW II/4); Able seafarer deck (STCW II/5); Engine rating: second-class able seafarer engine (STCW III/4); Able seafarer engine (STCW III/5); Ship's electrician (STCW III/7)
Zaporizhzhia Oblast
- SEI “Zaporizhzhia centre of professional and technical education of water transport”, ZaporizhzhiaCourses: Deck rating: second-class able seafarer deck (STCW II/4); Able seafarer deck (STCW II/5); Engine rating: second-class able seafarer engine (STCW III/4)
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 Ukraine.
Seafarer profiles from Ukraine on Krew Guru: 21,500+.
Checked: 26 Oct 2026. Rules change, so always check with the maritime authority: State Service of Maritime and Inland Water Transport and Shipping of Ukraine (Shipping Administration)