Organisation and functioning of the training centre serving lifelong seafarers´ education

Developed world societies are based on knowledge. They are based on the concept of lifelong education which differs completely from traditional education, not only in quality but also in quantity. Formal education in childhood and youth now becomes a synergy of initial and continuous education, as formal and informal competence education, in terms of various opportunities of society which is based on lifelong learning. In this context, the European Union also proclaimed lifelong learning based on Europe of knowledge as the key development guideline in the first decade of the 21st century. The goal of this paper is to present and analyse the phenomenon of lifelong education of maritime officials in `Split Ship Management´, Split, to be precise, in its Nautical training centre, known as `Training Centre´. The mariner education project arose from cooperation with world education centres which use the most recent aspects of maritime theory and practice, both in the domestic and wider world expertise context adjusted to the latest European Union criteria. It is worth emphasising the growing popularity of additional maritime trainings in the world as a necessity of the development of new knowledges and skills in various areas in maritime economy, which are becoming a basis for further development both with individuals and companies. Trainings are conducted in computerised laboratories and on a simulator. This formal framework used for shaping and performing trainings at the Nautical training centre is based on the current knowledge and experience of trainers and their constant strive for modernisation and professional knowledge quality improvement, as well as for knowledge in general as a basic principle of development.