The 2010 BIMCO/ISF study highlights that shipping faces a challenging future regarding crewing with an increasing imbalance in the maritime workforce. A surplus of Ratings especially in today’s EU Member States is facing increasingly unsecure employment prospect caused by cheaper manpower from the Pacific Rim Countries. This however is countered by a lack of ships’ officers, with a dramatic shortfall in the EU countries as per last study. The maritime section of the EU addressed this problem repeatedly.A solution to solve the problem nationally and internationally is to convert eligible AB Ratings into certified ‘Watch Keeping Officers’, (that is from Support Level to Operating Level) through a process of appropriate further training. The prevailing personal circumstances and informal professional competences of trainees would not be awarded adequately at existing higher education plus the full time attendance of studies without income would be inconsistent with family obligations. The project RANK-UP is an innovative approach carrying forward achievements of the SEACHEFS and UniNET projects, attractive for ratings but still ensuring the high standards of MET. Existing professional competences will be assessed by utilizing recognised ECVET elements and principles. A customised scheme of a sequence of upgrading courses, complementd by onboard shipboard placements and distant learning objectives will achieve the necessary upgrading in skills, experience and qualifications to the "Operational Level". RANK-Up forms a VET upgrading scheme which offers alternatives to - in this case - inappropriate existing standard higher education programs. Ratings so converted will have a secure future with better remuneration, increased social status and future career prospects.In Latvia alone some 1,950 eligble ratings could be converted by results of this project. Assuming that only 20% of these ranks would participate in a respective initiative would result in additional 390 officers, equivalent to some 7% increase (figures provided by the project Promoter. Applied across EU countries similar effects could be accomplished.An experienced partner consortium has been selected for the project which demonstrated their ability to manage related projects several times in the past and even winning the Latvian national LdV award. Project partners originate from maritime educational institutes, governments, SMEs, union and research centres providing sustainable impact to the project.