Diploma in Kuģa vadīšana

This diploma, open to students with general secondary education, prepares ship navigators through a short-cycle professional higher-education programme leading to officer-of-the-watch qualification. Core study areas include navigation, ship structure and stability, the technical equipment used in ship handling, cargo transport technology, navigation safety, maritime law, prevention of marine pollution, the global maritime distress and safety communication system, maritime English, and ship management, alongside practical placements aboard ships at sea. Study concludes with a defended qualification project and a state final examination covering theory, practice and maritime English. Graduates receive the officer-of-the-watch qualification for vessels of 500 gross tonnes and above, entitling them to plan and independently navigate voyages, manage radio communications, and stand watch without area restrictions aboard Latvian or foreign ships, including inland, commercial recreational and fishing vessels, and with experience can also move into logistics, ship agency, management or insurance roles.