Where to Update Maritime Certificates in Europe? Maritime Training for Seafarers – Part 4: Norway, Italy, Spain
A maritime career requires continuous training and qualification updates. We're continuing our series on European maritime training centers where seafarers can complete their training and obtain the necessary certificates for working at sea.
In previous parts, we've covered:
👉 Maritime training centers in Latvia, Romania, Croatia, and Cyprus.
Today we're moving forward to explore the training opportunities available in Norway, Italy, and Spain. These countries are renowned for their high-quality seafarer preparation, modern simulators, and internationally recognized certificates.
Maritime Training Centers in Norway
Previously known as ResQ, this training center underwent rebranding after merging with A.P. Moller-Maersk Group and now operates under the Maersk Training brand. The center has facilities in five key Norwegian cities: Stavanger, Bergen, Kristiansund, Haugesund, and Grimstad. Training programs cover safety, crisis management, well simulation, as well as personnel management and performance. Over 600 seafarers renew their certificates annually by completing courses on drilling simulators, well intervention equipment, and crane operations. Online courses are available, and the center also has a presence in the Netherlands.
The company specializes in digital training and competency management for the maritime and energy sectors. It offers STCW-standard courses accredited by organizations like DNV and OPITO, covering safety, crowd and crisis management for officers and ratings. The Trainingportal e-learning platform features over 2,000 courses and incorporates virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies, integrating solutions such as SafeLearn (acquired from Safebridge). The company supports gender equality in the industry. Offices are located in Bergen, Oslo, and Stavanger (Norway), as well as Aberdeen (Scotland), Gothenburg (Sweden), Limassol (Cyprus), Amsterdam (Netherlands), and New Orleans (USA).
This training center delivers courses for officers and ratings in offshore safety. Training is also available for fishing fleet workers and shore-based personnel. The website emphasizes safety courses and basic training (STCW, HLO, BOSIET). A dedicated section covers construction and industrial courses within the maritime sector, including vessel maintenance and repair, marine equipment and technology development, plus maritime cargo operations and resource extraction. Arcos operates offices in two Norwegian cities: Tromsø and Bodø.
Another modern center with a strong focus on digital technologies. The basic course is designed for all crew members working on vessels using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel or cargo. The advanced course is mandatory for personnel with operational responsibilities aboard LNG-powered vessels. The center offers training in 4D project management and 3D modeling, anchor handling, FPSO/Semi-sub auto-mooring, Dynamic Positioning (DP) competency assessment and upgrading, vessel stability, ship officer revalidation, as well as subsea and marine robotics courses. Online courses are available, including programs in English.
The Norwegian Training Centre offers ETO, GAS, and NSA cadet training programs. It's the world's first maritime training center certified by Det Norske Veritas. The facility features multiple ship and bridge simulators, a SIMWAVE simulator, an LPG tanker cargo and ballast handling simulator, and more. Online training is available for officers and ratings in safety, design, and operational aspects of shipboard work.
Maritime Training in Italy
Italian Maritime Academy Technologies (IMAT)
Based in Castel Volturno, near Naples. The center features a unique Kongsberg-Simrad Polaris 360° simulator system—the only one in the world with a dynamic positioning system—plus an extensive fire training ground covering approximately 7,000 square meters, including a 75-meter vessel for practical exercises. Equipment also includes 12 different ECDIS types, 2 liquid cargo simulators with 21 stations, 1 LNG simulator with 12 stations, 1 high-voltage simulator with 9 stations, and more. Online courses are available.
This training center offers STCW basic training for both experienced and entry-level merchant fleet seafarers. The center also provides ISPS security courses for port workers and the online MCA Marlins English test at technical and advanced levels.
RINA (Registro Italiano Navale), one of the leading international companies in maritime, energy, industrial, and defense services, is also involved in space industry projects. The company operates in over 70 countries worldwide, including Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Germany, Poland, Romania, and Spain. In Italy, RINA operates the specialized Italy Marine Training maritime center. The center offers courses on smart ship operations, alternative fuel usage including lithium-ion battery systems, as well as ISM Code (International Safety Management Code), basic ship management, and onboard cybersecurity. Most courses are conducted in Italian, though some programs may be available in English upon request, requiring prior arrangement with the center.
European Maritime Academy (EMA)
Located in Palmi, EMA specializes in training personnel for passenger and fishing vessels, Ro-Ro, high-speed craft (HSC), and hydrofoil vessels. The center's core focus is STCW Convention courses, including programs for ship and port security officers, medical care, fire safety, and basic training.
STS Marine Group, located in Ortona, Abruzzo, Italy, is an accredited training center offering courses for merchant fleet seafarers and recreational vessel operators. The center stands out as one of the few facilities in central-southern Italy conducting Medical Assistance at Sea (MAS) courses directly at sea. The training facility features simulators, tanks for simulating large and small fires, plus replicas of two ship bridges across an area of over 2,500 square meters. Courses are primarily conducted in Italian, though English instruction is available—check with center staff for details.
An international maritime education and training center affiliated with the Italian Merchant Marine Academy. The center specializes in training maritime personnel, including inspectors and auditors through programs such as Flag State Implementation and ISPS Code. Primary emphasis is placed on maritime security and marine pollution control. The center is accredited by international organizations (IMO) and Italian authorities, ensuring STCW standards compliance. Courses are mainly conducted in Italian but are available in English upon request, making them accessible to seafarers of different nationalities. Located in Genoa and Arenzano.
Accademia Italiana della Marina Mercantile
The Academy operates modern facilities in Genoa, Lavagna, and Arenzano, equipped with advanced Kongsberg Digital simulators, including DNV-class navigation systems and dynamic positioning training equipment. The center offers both basic and specialized training programs for seafarers at all qualification levels, including courses in safety, first aid, firefighting, and navigation equipment operation.
Training is conducted in Italian and English, making programs accessible to international audiences. Training formats include in-person, distance learning, and blended options.
Maritime Training in Spain
A major training center with simulators, a fleet of 120 training vessels, and a virtual campus for simulating search and rescue operations for missing persons and drifting objects in the marine environment, as well as hydrocarbon spill response. The center runs courses for merchant and offshore fleet workers, seafarers working with petrochemical industries and liquefied gas, and shore-based personnel coordinating rescue operations and marine pollution control. Training includes helicopter underwater escape simulation, GWO offshore courses, and more. Courses are conducted in English, with online training and even free courses available. The center also hosts a Marlins examination center.
This training center specializes in preparing passenger vessel and yacht crew members in STCW maritime safety, basic marine protection, and bridge operations. They also train fishing fleet seafarers. The center has locations in Valencia and Madrid. Overall, most training centers in Spain focus on yacht and boat crews.
Another major training center for merchant fleet seafarers, tanker crews, Ro-Ro, passenger vessels, fishing vessels, lifeboats, and port and dock workers. The center also trains Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) operators, port skippers, and conducts medical training, fire safety courses, occupational risk prevention, and courses for oil, chemical, and gas vessel operations. The facility features 6 communication simulation stations with some of the most advanced and realistic simulators on the market. Online courses are available.
Stier Group trains personnel in the oil and gas, shipping, and renewable energy sectors. Located in the Canary Islands, the center offers hybrid courses for officers and ratings on passenger vessels, ferries, rescue boats, cruise liners, and vessels covered by the IGF Code for LNG transport. Training includes STCW safety courses, medical courses, as well as upgrading and refresher programs for certificate renewal. Training is conducted in English.
This is Spain's leading network of maritime training schools, specializing in courses for yacht, sailing vessel, and other maritime vessel operations. Since 2024, the institution has been accredited to deliver STCW courses (such as safety, security, passenger vessel operations, and medical training) for both merchant and passenger fleets. Courses are available not only in Madrid but also in other cities—including Alicante and Seville.
This maritime training center in Caleta de Vélez offers courses for passenger and fishing fleet professionals. Training covers courses required for STCW certificate renewal, revalidation, and reassessment in basic maritime safety training, including medical care and fire safety. Another focus area is training security specialists for the civil fleet.
We hope each of you finds a nearby training center, completes your training without unnecessary difficulties, and obtains certificates recognized worldwide.
In the next article in our series, we'll head to Greece. We'll cover which maritime training centers operate there today and what opportunities they offer for your career.
Author of the article: our own correspondent Ilona Skripnik
