Matrosin/Matrose – Career Changer: Module 1 (2026–2027)

Aim

Participants receive the entry “Boatman (Matrosin/Matrose)” in their Service Record Book (Schifferdienstbuch) from the Waterways and Shipping Administration after completing 90 days of navigation time within the nine-month advanced training programme and successfully passing the IHK administrative examination.

Description

Career prospects for career changers entering inland navigation as crew members are very good due to the demand for skilled workers. It does not matter whether you choose cargo shipping, passenger shipping, or ferry operations as your new professional field.

Once you have decided to change careers, a goal-oriented adaptation training programme is ideal to connect your existing professional experience with your new tasks as a crew member as quickly as possible.

This nine-month advanced training programme helps reduce the current shortage of skilled workers while offering participants attractive long-term career perspectives in inland navigation. For inland shipping companies, the programme provides the advantage of qualifying motivated career changers as crew members within a manageable timeframe, thereby helping to keep fleets operational. The right mix of experienced professionals and motivated newcomers who are eager to contribute creates positive momentum within the team.

This 2026/2027 cohort consists of several modules. The first five dates are already confirmed:

Module 1: 17–20 August 2026
Module 2: 14–18 September 2026
Module 3: 7–11 October 2026
Module 4: 16–19 November 2026
Module 5: 7–11 December 2026

Further dates for the remaining modules will be announced shortly.

Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for cancellation policies.

Content

Module content

• Key legal foundations in inland navigation
• Vessel maintenance with a focus on environmental protection
• Maintaining and servicing shipboard equipment
• Maintaining technical equipment
• Loading and unloading an inland vessel
• Manoeuvring and steering a vessel
• Quality-oriented working (quality management system)
• Organising workflows / teamwork
• Communication within the working community
• VHF radio communications in inland navigation (UBI)
• Occupational safety and health protection
• Fire prevention and firefighting
• First aid fundamentals

Entry requirements

• A valid Service Record Book (Schifferdienstbuch) for recording the required navigation time
• At least five years of professional experience before the start of the training programme, or
• 500 days of navigation time as a member of a deck crew at sea, or
• Successfully completed three-year vocational training programme

Further information

The IHK examination and certificate issuance fees are not included in the above prices.

By registering for the course, you are not automatically registered for the administrative examination. Please follow the IHK requirements to ensure you register for the examination in good time.