How to Become a Seafarer in Nigeria: A Practical Guide

Eve Church
16 Oct, 2025
10 Mins read

A chemical tanker sailing past the coast of Africa and flying the flag of Nigeria

Are you Nigerian and thinking about a embarking on a seafaring career? If so, your country’s location in the Gulf of Guinea means that you’re part of a growing group of maritime professionals that works on tankers, bulk containers, container ships, offshore support vessels, and cargo ships around the world.

In Martide’s handy guide, we lay out the Nigeria-specific pathways, courses, licenses, documents and endorsements you’ll typically need as a Nigerian to work on commercial vessels. We hope this will help you navigate your route from school to your first job on a ship and beyond.

Which maritime careers can Nigerians pursue?

Jobs at sea are varied – from Cooks to Captains – and most Nigerian seafarers choose one of three distinct areas in which to study:

Deck (Navigation/Operations): Encompasses bridge watchkeeping, passage planning, ECDIS/radar/ARPA, COLREGs, cargo operations, mooring, safety and environmental compliance.

Engine (Marine Engineering): Includes learning about propulsion and power generation, fuel and lube systems, maintenance, diagnostics, HVAC/refrigeration, pollution prevention, and planned maintenance.

Electro-Technical (ETO): You’ll need to know how to work with and maintain electrical distribution, high-voltage safety, automation/PLC, controls and sensors, and navigation/communications electronics.

Many Nigerian seafarers, indeed those working in seafarer jobs across the globe, either start working as a rating (a crew member such as a Wiper or an Oiler) and later progress to more senior ranks, or they head directly for an officer cadet program.

a young man working in a Wiper seafarer job and cleaning parts in a ship's engine room

What should you study at school in Nigeria to become a seafarer?

For WAEC/NECO (SSCE) and post-secondary preparation, you should try and build a foundation that helps with admissions and then later on with your license exams. Focus on subjects such as:

Mathematics & Physics: Essential for stability, navigation, thermodynamics, and machinery.

English/Communication: Clear Maritime English and precise logbook/report writing.

ICT/Digital literacy: Ships are highly digital (ECDIS, maintenance systems, e-logs).

Useful extras: Technical drawing/CAD, basic electronics, geography/meteorology, and workshop/practical subjects.

Good grades in math and science are especially valuable if you want to follow the officer entry route as well as professional examinations further down the line in your maritime careers.

Who regulates Nigerian seafarer training and certification?

In Nigeria, NIMASA (Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency) is the STCW Administration. It approves training providers, conducts and oversees assessments, issues Certificates of Competency (CoC) and Certificates of Proficiency (CoP), and handles seafarer documentation and compliance.

Top tip: Always choose NIMASA-approved schools or maritime training centers so that your hard-earned training counts!

students in a maritime college studying

Taking the officer route to a seafarer job in Nigerian

Officers can work on deck, in the engine room or as an ETO (Electro-Technical Officer.) A typical path to becoming one of these maritime officers in Nigeria looks like this:

Enroll in an approved maritime program

Deck: Nautical science / navigation.
Engine: Marine engineering / operation of ship power plants.
ETO: Electrical/electronics with maritime modules.

Some of the best seafarer training options in Nigeria include the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron, however there are other NIMASA-approved maritime training institutions, both public and private.

Some Nigerian seafarers also train abroad via sponsorships through initiatives such as the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP).**** The key is to make sure that any courses taken and sea time worked meet STCW and are recognized by NIMASA.

Complete STCW Basic Training (BT) early

STCW Basic Training included Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention & Firefighting, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities, plus Security Awareness as well as Designated Security Duties if these are required for your chosen maritime job.

Undertake a cadet sea phase

Sail as a deck, engine or ETO cadet with a Training Record Book (TRB). Log any watchkeeping and drills undertaken, and tasks you have completed under supervision.

The total cadet sea time typically adds up to around 12 months, which is often split across one or more trips, depending on the program and company you’re working for.

a young female seafarer working in a maritime job on the deck of a container ship

Finish stream-specific courses

For jobs in the deck department: ECDIS, Radar/ARPA, Bridge Resource Management (BRM), GMDSS (ROC/GOC), Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boats (PSCRB), Advanced Firefighting (AFF), and Medical First Aid/Medical Care - as required.
For jobs in the engine/ETO departments: Engine Room Resource Management (ERRM), High-Voltage safety, PSCRB, AFF, automation and diagnostics modules.

Assessment & licensing (NIMASA)

After meeting your sea-service and course requirements, you will need to undergo theory, oral and possibly simulator assessments. Successful seafaring candidates will then be issued with your first officer license (e.g., OIC-NW II/1 for Deck, OICEW III/1 for Engine, ETO III/6).

With additional sea time, management-level courses, and further exams, you can then work towards becoming a Chief Officer or Master (II/2) or a Second or Chief Engineer (III/2).

Prefer to start earning first? The ratings route in Nigeria

Starting your maritime career as a rating lets you earn while you learn (bonus!) and wok towards higher seafarer ranks later. The steps are:

Undergo Pre-sea + STCW Basic Training at a NIMASA-approved center.

Add RFPNW (II/4) (Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch) for deck or RFPEW (III/4) (Ratings Forming Part of an Engineering Watch) for engine to form part of a watch.

Join a ship as an Ordinary Seaman (OS), Wiper or Motorman, or as a catering rating. Make sure you keep meticulous sea-service records that include the vessel’s name, its IMO number and GT/kW, the dates worked, your rank and duties, and the trading area.

After you’ve gathered sufficient sea time and assessments, you can apply for Able Seafarer jobs, either on deck (II/5) or in the engine department - Able Seafarer Engine (III/5). From there you can, if you meet entry criteria, your next step would be bridge to officer training and you can attempt your first Certificate of Competency (CoC.)

three people working in different seafarer jobs chatting on the bridge of a ship

As well as earning while you learn, this route will suit you if you’re more of a hands-on learner, rather than someone who is academically minded. It’s also a good choice for anyone who needs to consider their financial situation while they study.

What documents and medicals do seafarers need in Nigeria?

Before you sign a contract for your first seafarer job in Nigeria, you’ll need to round up some paperwork. (Your employer or manning agency will confirm specifics):

A valid Nigerian passport.

Seafarer’s Discharge Book / Seafarer’s Identity & Record Book (SIRB) - this will be issued by NIMASA.

Seafarer Identity Document (SID) - must be compliant with international standards where applicable.

STCW certificates - Basic Training, Security, and any role-specific CoPs such as PSCRB, AFF.

National CoC/CoP - matching your rank/role once you’ve qualified, or recognition/endorsement if you underwent seafarer training abroad.

Flag-State Endorsement - when serving on foreign-flagged ships. Your company or manning agency will normally help you with this.

Medical fitness certificate from an Administration-approved maritime doctor. These must be STCW/MLC compliant and deck jobs must meet color-vision standards.

Vaccinations – for example Covid or Yellow Fever, as well as other health records that are required by your vessel’s trading route and the ports visited.

Visas - as required by the trading area.

Employment contract – issued following an offer of employment by a reputable and licensed crewing/manning agency.

Make sure you keep certified copies of all of the above as well as backing them up in the cloud. Top tip: Martide is the ideal place to keep all of your seafarer certificates, travel documents and contracts. It’s secure, safe, and easy to access wherever in the world you are.

a seafarer in his cabin using his laptop

Also keep a close eye on document expiry dates so certificates don’t run out while you’re in the middle of the ocean! (Hint: Martide helps with this too, and we’ll let you know when expiry dates are approaching.)

Which endorsements make you more employable in Nigeria’s maritime job market?

One important thing to note is that you should choose add-on endorsements that are specific to the types of ships that you want to work on. For example:

Tanker familiarization and advanced tanker endorsements - for working on oil/chemical/LPG/LNG tankers.

Passenger ship crowd & crisis management - for working on ferries and cruise ships.

Ro-Ro operations – also for working on ferries that transport cars, as well as for car carriers.

Dynamic Positioning (DP) - for working on offshore support vessels. Note that this is highly relevant to the Gulf of Guinea and offshore sector.

High-Voltage competence – for those looking for jobs in the engine/ETO departments.

Security: Ship Security Officer (SSO) or Designated Security Duties - as applicable.

Refresher training every 5 years should also be taken for the core STCW modules (BT, AFF, PSCRB).

OPITO (Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation) certifications (such as BOSIET/FOET with HUET. These are not STCW but they are commonly requested for offshore installations and some Offshore Support Vessel roles in West Africa.

Many maritime employers in Nigeria, as well as worldwide, will sponsor your endorsements after you join their company, however being proactive and already holding relevant ones can help you find work at sea or offshore more quickly.

How do assessments and licenses work in Nigerian seafarer jobs?

Typically, when working as a seafarer in Nigeria you will need to:

Train at NIMASA-approved centers so your course certificates are recognized.
Accumulate documented sea time (TRB entries, sea-service letters stating vessel/IMO, GT/kW, dates, rank/duties, and trading area).
Sit competency exams under NIMASA (theory/oral/simulator as applicable) for your target certificate: OIC-NW/OICEW/ETO or Able Seafarer.
Secure flag endorsements when joining foreign-flagged vessels.

Top tip: Bookmark NIMASA’s website and keep an eye on updated and notices, as well as those of your seafarer training provider as requirements can (and do!) evolve.

a young woman in her apartment using her laptop while her passport is on the desk next to her

How do you find your first seafarer job in Nigeria?

Most Nigerian seafarers sign up with a licensed crewing or manning agency. These handle recruitment for international ship owners as well as local African coastal and offshore operators. Generally speaking, the steps to finding your first offshore or maritime job in Nigeria is:

Complete medicals with an administration-approved maritime clinic.
Finish mandatory STCW and pre-sea modules.
Prepare documents (passport, seafarer’s book, SID, certificates).
Pass company screening (English/SMCP tests like Marlins/CES, technical interview, plus simulator testing for officer roles.
Handle visas and flag paperwork with your agency.
Join your ship!

Tips: Verify an agency’s license and check out their reputation online (or ask other more experienced seafarers) before you commit to them. Keep your seafarer CV concise and your sea-service letters accurate, consistent, and easy to verify.

Did you know: When you create a Martide account, you’ll be able to enter all of your personal information and upload your seafarer documents so that potential employers can decide whether or not to hire you for one of their maritime job vacancies. Your seafarer profile acts as a CV or resume – you can even print it out directly from Martide to send to companies you want to apply to.

How long will it take to find a job at sea in Nigeria?

Honestly, this is going to depend on how long it takes to complete your training as well as the availability of jobs in your chosen rank or role. But roughly speaking:

Ratings: Weeks to a few months for pre-sea and Basic Training to then join a ship as an Ordinary Seaman, Wiper or Motorman. Then upgrade with sea time to an Able Seafarer job.

Officer (Deck): Often 2–3+ years including academy terms and cadet sea phases before gaining OIC-NW (II/1).

Officer (Engine): A similar timeline before gaining OICEW (III/1).

ETO: Technical degree/diploma plus approved ETO course then trainee sea time then ETO (III/6) competence.

You should factor in refresher training every five years for core STCW modules as well as additional courses as you progress to management-level licenses if you’re looking to climb the ranks to Chief Officer, Master, and Second then Chief Engineer.

a young male officer working in a seafarer job

What soft skills matter most to Nigerian maritime employers?

Your training will find you a seafarer job and get you onboard but it’s your soft skills – your people skills – that will keep you there. The following things matter to reputable employers in the Nigerian maritime industry:

Having good English and SMCP for radio/bridge/engine communications.

Respecting the safety culture and being able to work as a team - safety onboard is everything and working as a team player is crucial too.

Having digital confidence – depending on your role, you’ll need to be able to handle ECDIS updates, PMS (Planned Maintenance System) entries, email handovers, and reporting.

Exhibiting professionalism - punctuality, tolerance towards coworkers who are of a different race, gender, religion or background, and sound judgement.

Being disciplined with documentation – maintaining impeccable TRB entries and sea-service letters.

A step-by-step checklist for budding Nigerian seafarers

Pick your department: Deck, Engine, or ETO.
Choose your entry route: Officer (NIMASA-approved academy) or rating (pre-sea and Basic Training).
Complete STCW Basic Training at a NIMASA-approved center.
Secure a maritime medical from an approved doctor.
Obtain your Seafarer’s Book/SIRB (and SID if applicable); organize scans/copies.
Land a cadetship or rating berth via a licensed crewing agency.
Finish sea phases and keep your Training Record Book up-to-date.
Complete mandatory stream courses such as ECDIS, Radar/ARPA, BRM/ERRM, PSCRB, AFF, GMDSS, High-Voltage.
Sit competency exams with NIMASA for your CoC/CoP.
Add endorsements - tanker, passenger, DP; OPITO for offshore support if required, keep on top of refresher training, and build sea time toward higher licenses.

two smiling Nigerian seafarers walking down the dock towards their vessel

Nigerian jobs at sea: conclusion

Nigeria’s seafaring pathway is STCW-aligned and recognized worldwide. Whether you start as a rating or an officer cadet, your success rests on undertaking approved training, documented sea service, valid medicals, and disciplined record-keeping.

Choose whether you want to work on container ships, tankers, bulk carriers, passenger ships or offshore support vessels and pursue the endorsements that match that vessel.

Moving forward, keep certificates valid, store your digital scans safely (in Martide!), and look after your Training Record Book!

Good luck and if you’re looking for your next seafarer job, don’t forget to take a look at Martide’s maritime job vacancies!

Disclaimer: The information above is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing and is provided for informational purposes only as a starting guide. Requirements change and can vary by authority, flag, company, and vessel type. We highly recommend checking the latest guidance from *NIMASA, your chosen maritime academy/training provider, and your employer or crewing agency before making decisions.*