How to become a seafarer in Croatia after school

Officer: maritime academy or college

• An officer of the watch on ships of 500 GT or more (STCW II/1) must be at least 18.
  Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
• The education route is a nautical secondary school of at least 4 years.
  Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
• Alternatively, passing all exams of the first years of a university nautical programme qualifies.
  Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
• A completed undergraduate (bachelor's) nautical degree also meets the education requirement.
  Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
• An engineer officer of the watch (STCW III/1) must be at least 18 and have a 4-year marine engineering secondary school or equivalent study.
  Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)

Rating: rating course

• A deck watch rating (STCW II/4) must be at least 16 and have completed basic education and special training.
  Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
• A deck watch rating needs at least 6 months at sea in the deck department.
  Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
• An engine-room watch rating (STCW III/4) must also be at least 16 and have basic education and special training.
  Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
• An able seafarer deck (STCW II/5) must be at least 18.
  Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
• An able seafarer deck needs 12 months of sea service as a watch rating and completed special training.
  Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)

Exams and certification

• Certificate exams are taken before a commission of the Ministry or a harbour master's office appointed by the minister.
  Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
• Officer of the watch candidates pass an exam under the programme in Annex C6 of the regulation.
  Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
• Administrative work on certificates of competency is done by the Ministry or a harbour master's office.
  Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)

Documents in order

1. First, a medical fitness certificate from an authorised health institution.
   Source: Pravilnik o pomorskim i brodarskim knjižicama te postupcima i načinu prijave i odjave na obvezno mirovinsko i obvezno zdravstveno osiguranje (NN 21/2024)
2. Then the seaman's book (pomorska knjižica), which records sea service.
   Source: Pravilnik o pomorskim i brodarskim knjižicama te postupcima i načinu prijave i odjave na obvezno mirovinsko i obvezno zdravstveno osiguranje (NN 21/2024)
3. Cadets keep a training record book (vježbenički dnevnik) approved by the Ministry.
   Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
4. After the sea service and the exam, the certificate of competency is issued.
   Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)

Cadet training at sea

• A deck cadet needs at least 12 months of sea service, of which at least 6 months on ships of 500 GT or more in international trade.
  Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
• An engine cadet needs at least 12 months as a cadet in the engine room of a ship of 750 kW or more.
  Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
• Cadets follow an onboard training programme supervised by a qualified officer.
  Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
• The ship's master appoints an officer responsible for supervising the cadet's work.
  Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)

Approved training institutions

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