The competitiveness of port and shipping companies directly depends on a steady supply of qualified workforce. However, the number of those employed by the sector is gradually decreasing each year, affecting the entire maritime sector of Klaipeda and Kurzeme regions. Two educational institutions, Liepaja Maritime College and Lithuanian Maritime Academy, have joined forces to tackle this problem by providing life-long learning opportunities, assisting those who want to further their studies or receive professional certification according to Lithuanian and Latvian legislation.The project is also focused on up-skilling and upgrade training of teachers, while students are offered to participate in mobility programmes. Newly built modern training facilities, laboratories, a new Global Maritime Distress and Safety System simulator, up-to date teaching and learning materi?ls provide for informative and insightful classes. Achievements: New networks for business and research cooperation - 1; Organised experience exchange activities (units) - 4; Teachers involved in exchange activities (persons) - 32; Organised trainings (units) - 4; established training labatories (units) - 2• Liepaja Maritime College created program plans and contextualized them with Lithuanian Maritime Safety Administration. As a result, the following programs were developed: Qualification upgrading for management level seafarers in Deck Dep.: Ship Masters, Chief Mates, Officers of the Watch (80 hours) and Qualification upgrading for management level seafarers in Engine Dep.: Chief Engineers, Second Engineers, Watch Engineers(80 hours). • Lithuanian Maritime Academy lecturers started preparing a handbook according to approved study programs. • In order to develop high quality programs and to get recent learning materials, a group of lecturers from Lithuanian Maritime Academy and Liepaja Maritime College updated qualification in modern maritime education and training centre in Warsash Maritime Academy (United Kingdom) and attented courses Training the Trainer. • One of the Project objectives was to update the GMDSS training course program in compliance with new international and national legal requirements in Latvia and Lithuania. The following programs in both countries were negotiated with Maritime Administrations in Lithuania and Latvia and finally updated. In Lithuania: "GMDSS course for General Operator Certificate (GOC for GMDSS)" - 146 hours); GMDSS course for Restricted Operators Certificate (ROC for GMDSS)" - 51 hours; "GMDSS course requalifying retraining from Restricted Operators Certificate to General Operator Certificate (from ROC to GMDSS to GOC to GMDSS)" - 106 hours. In Latvia - "GMDSS course for General Operator Certificate (GOC for GMDSS)" 132 hours and the 72 hours refreshing GMDSS training course program for General Operator Certificate (GOC for GMDSS)" • Together with updated GMDSS course, both insitutions started to prepare a handbook. • GMDSS laboratory renovation was partly completed in Liepaja Maritime College and fully completed in Lithuanian Maritime Academy. More information about the Project: • Website of the Lithuanian Maritime Academy • Website of Liepaja Maritime College