Maritime professional training

Find all the information on vocational training on the website of the State Ministry for the Sea

To occupy certain functions on board ships flying the French flag, one or more training courses are required. The training course may be of varying length, from a few days for basic safety training (CFBS) to several weeks for training as an engineer.

The professional qualification is established automatically when the applicant holds a basic safety training certificate (CFBS) or can provide proof of a shipboard safety or security familiarisation certificate (Order of 22 February 2016 on the issue of shipboard safety and security familiarisation certificates).

What are the different training courses?

Deck courses

Engineering courses

Electro technical courses

Where to train?

The training must be followed at the French Maritime Academy (ENSM) or in a maritime vocational school or with an approved service provider.

How to look for a course?

You can look for a course on the website PROMETE.

How to finance your training?

For job seekers, France Travail offers dedicated training.

For employers l’« opérateur de compétences (OPCO) mobilité » propose une information dédiée.

Focus on the training courses supported by the Région Sud with the "FORMED" campus for seafaring professions.

At the end of the course

At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate of attendance, which you will need to submit to your funder if applicable. If you successfully complete the course, you will also receive one or more certificates of achievement, which will enable you to obtain a certificate or diploma, as appropriate.

Captain’s/owner’s liability and penalties

The captain or shipowner is responsible for checking that all crew members embarking on his or her vessel have the professional qualifications required for the position they hold.

Allowing a seafarer on board who does not have the training qualifications required for the position he or she is to perform is punishable by 6 months’ imprisonment and a fine of €3,750 (art. L. 5523-6, Transport Code).