How to become a seafarer in Latvia after school

Officer: maritime academy or college

• Officers, radio operators, able seafarers (deck and engine), ship electricians and ship's cooks must be at least 18.
  Source: Ministru kabineta 2005. gada 22. novembra noteikumi Nr. 895 "Jūrnieku sertificēšanas noteikumi" (consolidated)
• A master must be at least 20.
  Source: Ministru kabineta 2005. gada 22. novembra noteikumi Nr. 895 "Jūrnieku sertificēšanas noteikumi" (consolidated)
• An officer of the watch needs an accredited education programme meeting STCW A-II/1, certified by the Ministry of Transport.
  Source: Ministru kabineta 2005. gada 22. novembra noteikumi Nr. 895 "Jūrnieku sertificēšanas noteikumi" (consolidated)
• An officer of the watch also needs a GMDSS operator qualification.
  Source: Ministru kabineta 2005. gada 22. novembra noteikumi Nr. 895 "Jūrnieku sertificēšanas noteikumi" (consolidated)
• The RTU Latvian Maritime Academy offers a professional bachelor's degree in navigation lasting 4 years and 3 months.
  Source: Latvian Maritime Administration: Roadmap of the qualifications of masters and navigation officers
• The professional bachelor's programmes in navigation and marine engineering require secondary education and last 4.3 years.
  Source: Latvijas Jūrnieku reģistrs: Jūrnieku profesionālās izglītības programmu saraksts (18.05.2026)

Rating: rating course

• A watch rating (deck) needs an accredited seaman programme meeting STCW A-II/4.
  Source: Ministru kabineta 2026. gada 24. februāra noteikumi Nr. 78: Grozījumi noteikumos Nr. 895 "Jūrnieku sertificēšanas noteikumi"
• A watch rating needs sea service on ships of 500 GT or more with supervised navigational watch duties, recorded in the training record book.
  Source: Ministru kabineta 2005. gada 22. novembra noteikumi Nr. 895 "Jūrnieku sertificēšanas noteikumi" (consolidated)
• An able seafarer deck needs at least 12 months as a watch rating on ships of 500 GT or more.
  Source: Ministru kabineta 2026. gada 24. februāra noteikumi Nr. 78: Grozījumi noteikumos Nr. 895 "Jūrnieku sertificēšanas noteikumi"
• Vocational secondary maritime programmes accept students after primary education and last 4 years.
  Source: Latvijas Jūrnieku reģistrs: Jūrnieku profesionālās izglītības programmu saraksts (18.05.2026)

Exams and certification

• For officer of the watch and higher qualifications the candidate takes a computer test and an interview before the assessment commission.
  Source: Latvijas Jūras administrācija: Kompetences novērtēšanas kārtība
• The computer test is passed with at least 70% correct answers.
  Source: Latvijas Jūras administrācija: Kompetences novērtēšanas kārtība
• Graduates are asked questions about their onboard practice using the completed training record book.
  Source: Latvijas Jūras administrācija: Kompetences novērtēšanas kārtība

Documents in order

1. Before enrolling, pass the seafarer medical check.
   Source: Latvijas Jūras administrācija: Jūrnieku veselības pārbaude
2. A trainee's seaman's book needs a certificate from the school and the basic safety course certificate.
   Source: Latvijas Jūras administrācija: Jūrnieka grāmatiņa — iesniedzamie dokumenti
3. For maritime students the seaman's book is valid for 5 years from the start of studies.
   Source: Latvijas Jūras administrācija: Jūrnieka grāmatiņa — izgatavošanas un derīguma termiņi
4. After training and sea service, the competence assessment leads to the certificate of competency.
   Source: Latvijas Jūras administrācija: Kompetences novērtēšanas kārtība

Cadet training at sea

• A deck cadet needs 12 months of sea service with a training record book, including 6 months of watchkeeping on ships of 500 GT or more.
  Source: Latvian Maritime Administration: Roadmap of the qualifications of masters and navigation officers
• An engine cadet needs at least 12 months of approved combined workshop training and sea practice.
  Source: Ministru kabineta 2026. gada 24. februāra noteikumi Nr. 78: Grozījumi noteikumos Nr. 895 "Jūrnieku sertificēšanas noteikumi"
• This includes at least 6 months as a cadet with watchkeeping duties on ships of 750 kW or more, recorded in the training record book.
  Source: Latvian Maritime Administration: Roadmap of the qualifications of marine engineers

Approved training institutions

First job: starter vacancies

Krew Guru numbers