Becoming a seafarer in Nigeria as a career change

Official rules for adults who already have a profession on shore.

Age limits

Under STCW II/1, a candidate for officer in charge of a navigational watch must be at least 18 years old.
Source: IMO, STCW Convention as amended in 2010 (STCW/CONF.2/33), Regulation II/1

Your profession on shore	Role at sea	Course	Where and on what terms
Holder of an earlier ND or HND in Nautical Science or Marine Engineering	Deck or engine officer trainee	Mandatory bridging course at a NIMASA-approved institution	Holders of an ND or HND in Nautical Science or Marine Engineering issued on or before 3 July 2026 must take a mandatory bridging course. Source: NIMASA: new standards for seafarers' education, training, assessment, examination and certification (9 August 2026) The bridging courses help move to the new standards before the transition period ends in December 2028. Source: NIMASA: new standards for seafarers' education, training, assessment, examination and certification (9 August 2026)
Cook	Ship's cook	Ship's cook training at a NIMASA-approved institution	NIMASA's list of approved institutions includes ship's cook training (provisional approval). Source: NIMASA approved maritime training institutions and courses (last updated 23-06-2025)
Any profession, no maritime education	Deck or engine rating	NIMASA Ratings Education and Training Programme	Without a maritime diploma, the entry route is the mandatory 15-week Ratings Education and Training Programme for the Certificate of Proficiency. Source: NIMASA: new standards for seafarers' education, training, assessment, examination and certification (9 August 2026)

Minimum for a first job as a rating: the 15-week ratings programme and Certificate of Proficiency, STCW VI/1 basic training and a valid seafarer medical certificate.
Source: NIMASA: new standards for seafarers' education, training, assessment, examination and certification (9 August 2026)
Seafarers may not work on a ship unless certified as medically fit.
Source: ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended — Regulation 1.2

NIMASA does not announce vacancies through third-party websites, e-mails or social media, and has not authorised anyone to recruit on its behalf.
Source: Disclaimer by NIMASA Management (2 May 2023)
Fraudsters contact people by e-mail and social media asking for payment or advance fees in exchange for a job — report such cases to info@nimasa.gov.ng or the police.
Source: Disclaimer by NIMASA Management (2 May 2023)
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.
Source: ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended — Standard A1.4