CIFP Puerto de Laredo Authorized for Merchant Navy STCW Titles 2026

Key data

Shipping and shipowning companies operating in Cantabria have had a new training resource in their region since 18 March 2026: the Centro Integrado de Formación Profesional Puerto de Laredo has been formally recognised by the Dirección General de la Marina Mercante to provide courses enabling students to obtain Merchant Navy professional titles and certificates, as well as proficiency certificates in accordance with the STCW Convention.

This recognition, published in the BOE on 4 April 2026 by means of the Resolución de 18 de marzo de 2026, expands the nautical-maritime training offer available in Cantabria and has direct implications for both professionals in the sector and the companies that employ them.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution grants official recognition to CIFP Puerto de Laredo to provide two distinct types of training:

• Training leading to Merchant Navy professional titles and certificates: professional qualifications that allow individuals to work as merchant seafarers in different categories and functions on board.
• Proficiency certificates in accordance with the STCW Convention: the STCW Convention (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) is the international framework that regulates the training, certification and watchkeeping of seafarers worldwide. Certificates issued under this convention have international validity.

Prior to this recognition, students and professionals in Cantabria who required this training had to travel to other authorised centres outside the region. The resolution removes that geographical barrier.

Economic and operational impact

For companies in the maritime sector in Cantabria, this recognition has concrete operational consequences:

• Reduction in training costs: seafarers and prospective employees no longer need to travel to other regions to obtain their STCW certifications, reducing accommodation, transport and time-away-from-work costs.
• Greater availability of locally qualified professionals: the existence of an authorised centre in Cantabria expands the pool of candidates with accredited qualifications available to shipping and shipowning companies in the region.
• Guaranteed international standards: STCW certificates issued by CIFP Puerto de Laredo carry the same international validity as those from any other recognised centre, facilitating the recruitment of personnel for international routes.
• Improved regional competitiveness: the availability of accredited nautical-maritime training in Cantabria strengthens the region's maritime ecosystem and may attract investment and activity to the sector.

Who is affected?

• Shipping and shipowning companies operating in Cantabria: they can recruit and train professionals locally under STCW standards without depending on centres in other regions.
• Active merchant seafarers in Cantabria: they can renew or extend their STCW certifications without travelling outside the region.
• Nautical VET students in Cantabria: they gain access to training that qualifies them to work professionally in the Merchant Navy with international validity, from within their own region.
• HR departments in the maritime sector in northern Spain: they expand their options for attracting qualified talent with STCW certification within the regional area.

Practical example

A shipping company headquartered in Santander needs to hire three deck officers with STCW certification. Until March 2026, candidates from the region had to travel to authorised centres in other regions to complete their qualifying training, incurring travel and accommodation costs that could mean several days away from home.

Following the recognition of CIFP Puerto de Laredo, those same candidates can complete their STCW training and obtain their Merchant Navy titles in Cantabria. The company can direct its selection processes towards locally trained candidates, with the same international accreditation guarantees required by the STCW Convention for operating on international routes.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify STCW certification needs within the workforce: review which maritime employees have certifications due to expire or need to extend their qualifications, and consider CIFP Puerto de Laredo as an option for renewal or extension.
2. Contact CIFP Puerto de Laredo: request information on the training courses available, course schedules and entry requirements for the various Merchant Navy titles and STCW certificates offered by the centre.
3. Update recruitment processes: include CIFP Puerto de Laredo as a reference centre in candidate profiles sought, particularly for positions requiring STCW certification in Cantabria and northern Spain.
4. Review continuing training agreements: if the company has agreements with nautical training centres outside Cantabria, assess whether CIFP Puerto de Laredo can cover part of those needs at a lower logistical cost.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7687