Training as an Inland Boatman / Inland Navigation Captain (m/f/d)

No more boring jobs – launch your career on the water!

Don’t feel like sitting at a desk every single day? Would you rather be outdoors, working with modern technology, taking on responsibility, and experiencing the most beautiful sides of Potsdam, Berlin, and Brandenburg?

Then come aboard with the Potsdam boat tour service!

With us, the water becomes your workplace. Whether on the Havel—passing by the famous palaces of Potsdam—or on the lakes surrounding Berlin and Brandenburg, every workday brings new experiences.

As a long-established shipping company with a diverse fleet and a dedicated team, we take numerous guests to the most beautiful spots in our region every year.

We are now looking for motivated young professionals who want to join us in shaping the future of inland navigation.

What makes us special: With us, you can not only become an inland navigator, but also pave your way to becoming a captain!

⚓What to expect during your apprenticeship

During your three-year apprenticeship, you will learn everything you need for an exciting and responsible career on the water.

• Experience ships up close: You will work on various passenger vessels within our fleet and get to know different types of ships.
• Navigation and vessel handling: You will learn how ships are steered, how navigation works on inland waterways, and what is essential for safe vessel traffic.
• Docking and undocking maneuvers: You will assist our experienced skippers and learn the most important maneuvers, step by step.
• Understanding technology: Whether it’s engines, machinery systems, or onboard equipment – ​​you will learn how our ships function and how they are maintained from a technical perspective.
• Taking responsibility: You contribute to safety measures and, together with your crew, ensure the safe operation of the ship.
• Inspiring people: You look after our passengers and help create unforgettable experiences on the water.
• Variety, even in winter: During the high season, you’ll spend most of your time out on the water. In the winter, you’ll gain insight into the maintenance, care, and servicing of our vessels.

With us, you don’t just watch—you become part of our crew from day one!

🚢 Vom Azubi zum Kapitän – deine Zukunft bei uns!

Would you like to one day be at the helm of a large passenger vessel yourself, taking responsibility for the ship, the crew, and the passengers?

Then you’ve come to the right place!

We want not only to train young people, but also to support them in the long term and offer them genuine career prospects.

If you demonstrate strong academic performance, practical skills, a sense of responsibility, and exceptional commitment during your training, and provided you are well-suited for the role, we offer you the opportunity to switch to the apprenticeship program for Inland Navigation Captain (m/f/d) while your current training is still underway.

Together with you, we will assess the requirements and plan your further training path.

This gives you the opportunity to start down the path toward a career in ship command at an early stage.

Perhaps in just a few years, you yourself will be standing on the bridge of one of our passenger ships as captain!

💙 Here’s what you can look forward to with us!

We want you to feel comfortable with us, enjoy your training, and become a long-term member of our team.

That’s why we offer you:

• An extraordinary workplace: work where others go on vacation – on the beautiful waters of Potsdam and Brandenburg.
• A varied apprenticeship: a range of passenger vessels, exciting tasks, and genuine insights into professional shipping.
• Experienced and qualified instructors: Our instructors and skippers will guide you personally and share their practical knowledge with you.
• Personalized support: With us, you’re not just another apprentice—you’re an important part of our crew.
• Coverage of boarding costs: We cover the costs of boarding accommodation during your vocational school phases.
• Real career opportunities: If you have the right aptitude, we will support your transition into training to become an inland waterway captain.
• Further training opportunities: Even after your apprenticeship, we continue to support your professional development.
• Good prospects for permanent employment: Upon successful completion of your apprenticeship, we aim to offer you a long-term professional future within our company.
• A strong team: Look forward to colleagues who stand by one another and support your professional development.
• Tradition and the future: Become part of a company that has been a fixture of Potsdam’s maritime scene for many years.

🙋 What you should bring to the table

You don’t need to have operated a boat before, nor do you need any prior nautical knowledge.

What matters much more to us is that you are motivated and eager to learn something new!

Are you curious, reliable, and looking to make a difference? If so, we look forward to having you on board!

📚 Your training at a glance

Start of apprenticeship: August 2027

Duration of training: 3 years for the position of inland navigator (m/f/d)

Career prospect: Opportunity to transition into a 3.5-year training program to become an inland navigation captain (m/f/d), subject to suitability and fulfillment of the requirements.

Place: Schifffahrt in Potsdam, Lange Brücke 6, 14467 Potsdam

Type of training: Dual vocational training, consisting of practical training on board our ships and theoretical instruction at a vocational school.

⚓ Ready to start your future with us?

Whether you have long dreamed of a career on the water or are just discovering the world of inland navigation – we look forward to meeting you!

Apply now for your 2027 apprenticeship with the shipping company in Potsdam!

You can easily submit your application via our homepage:

👉 https://www.schifffahrt-in-potsdam.de/jobs/

Alternatively, you can send us your application documents via email:

📧 personal@schifffahrt-in-potsdam.de

Please include a brief CV and your most recent school transcripts with your application. We would also appreciate a few personal words regarding your motivation.

Schifffahrt in Potsdam
Lange Brücke 6
14467 Potsdam

YOUR FUTURE BEGINS ON BOARD. BECOME PART OF OUR CREW.! ⚓