Canada’s marine sector offers diverse and rewarding career opportunities—from shipbuilding and marine engineering to navigation, logistics, port operations, and offshore energy. With the longest coastline in the world, stretching over 240,000 kilometres across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans, Canada depends on skilled marine professionals to keep goods, resources, and communities connected. Marine jobs play a vital role in powering our economy and maintaining resilient supply chains, moving everything from food and fuel to manufactured products and essential materials. Whether working at sea or ashore, marine careers help keep Canada moving.
Canadian Marine Careers Foundation (CMCF)
The Canadian Marine Careers Foundation (CMCF) is a national non-profit working with over 60 industry, labour, education, and government partners to build a diverse and future ready workforce for Canada’s marine sector.
The CMCF provides:
A unified voice and approaches to address the challenges facing the marine sector’s workforce
Imagine-Marine one-stop resource centre for information on careers at sea and ashore, training and educational pathways, and financial assistance.
Imagine Marine National Job Board and Talent Network
Sector-coordinated careers awareness campaigns
National Educational Outreach Programs and Resources aimed at teachers, students and parents
Workforce development tools, resources and programs to strengthen recruitment, retention and training efforts
Forums to explore and share industry best practices on HR and training
Decision-making labour market data and information
The marine job board below offer a centralized place for maritime professionals to find current opportunities across the industry. Check it out to explore roles that match your experience and career goals.
Canada offers excellent marine education opportunities for careers in the maritime transportation industry. With access to three oceans and major inland waterways, students can study nautical science, marine engineering, navigation, and port management at leading marine institutes across the country. Programs combine classroom learning with hands-on training and industry placements, preparing graduates for careers at sea and in global shipping and logistics.
Education Opportunities
Academies:
Georgian College
Owen Sound, ON
(519) 376-0840, option 6
Explore a career on the water! The Centre for Marine Training and Research (CMTR) is recognized as Central Canada’s marine centre of excellence. As a leader in marine innovation, customized training, research and development, Georgian College prides itself on delivering industry-driven marine training and certifications. Focused on providing the highest standard of relevant training, delivered by expert instructors with extensive industry experience.
Marine Institute of Memorial University
St. John’s, NL
(709) 778-0200
The Marine Institute is one of the world’s most respected centres for marine education and applied research. The Institute has three Schools – the School of Fisheries, the School of Maritime Studies and the School of Ocean Technology. The School of Maritime Studies provides education and training in the design of ships and associated systems. Programs that prepare individuals for entry level operational positions as Deck Officers, Engineering Officers and Ratings are also available. The Bachelor of Maritime Studies and Master of Maritime Management Degrees are designed for those who wish to enhance their knowledge and skills to prepare themselves for other positions in the marine industry.
Maritime Institute of Quebec
Rimouski, QC / Lévis, QC
(418) 724-2822
The Institut maritime du Québec provides training and development of the workforce working in all areas related to the sea, offering programs in navigation, engineering, naval architecture, transportation logistics and professional diving leading to a college diploma. It is a Transport Canada-recognized school with programs leading to Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) officer certifications. This maritime institute offers courses exclusively in French. Its continuous training center located in Lévis, Québec, offers specialized courses including all marine emergency duties. It can also offer custom made training for specific maritime-oriented needs. This center offers French and English training.
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Burnaby, BC / Vancouver, BC
(604) 434-5734
British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is the primary provider of accredited professional training for the maritime industry in Western Canada, offering a wide range of courses and programs in navigation, marine engineering, seamanship, maritime safety and security, naval architecture and supply chain management.
NSCC Nautical Institute
Port Hawkesbury, NS
(902) 625-4334
NSCC’s Nautical Institute offers Transport Canada-approved marine training for students who want to start or advance their career at sea. Students learn in specially designed marine facilities, including a wave tank, free-fall lifeboat and fire training centre, and state-of-the-art simulation equipment for navigation and engine room training. The Nautical Institute also offers training to industry.
training facilities:
Western Maritime Institute (WMI)
Surrey, BC | Ladysmith, BC
(866) 632-6888
Western Maritime Institute (WMI) was established to provide marine training in urban and rural locations throughout British Columbia and Canada to meet the national accreditation training standards established by Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard and Industry Canada. We are also accredited by The Private Training Institutions Branch of BC and internationally by Det Norske Veritas – Germanischer Lloyd, the international classification society. We have also been granted Education Quality Assurance of B.C. designation that allows us to enrol international students holding study permits.
Camosun College
Victoria, BC
(877) 554-7555
Camosun College offers a wide range of industrial marine courses and marine navigation training to seafarers to deliver the practical skills, support and education to get the industry certification needed. The Nautical Training program is designed to prepare eligible students for a career at sea. Courses range from Basic Safety Training to long duration courses leading to a Certificate of Competency as Master or Mate, issued by Transport Canada, Marine Safety Branch.
Holland College
Summerside, PEI
(902) 888-6485
Holland College has been providing Transport Canada-approved training for more than four decades with an international reputation for exceptional quality of instruction, excellent facilities and convenient location. Holland College offers a full range of certifications from Bridge Watch Rating to Master Mariner, and Engine Rating to Chief Engineer, as well as many specialized courses.
Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB)
Bathurst, NB
(506) 547-2145
The Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) is a first-rate francophone post-secondary learning institution. It brings together five campuses located in Bathurst, Campbellton, Dieppe, Edmundston and the Acadian Peninsula. Each campus provides high quality educational services and training, and values the importance of a skilled, well-trained workforce that responds to changing job demands.
