Seafarers in general have a job with extraordinary features. They usually work overseas for long periods, which puts a real pressure to their personal life and active citizenship. They work in alternating 4hour shifts and often have to face temperature changes of over 30 C every few days. Captains in particular have a multitude of managerial, technical and administrative tasks to perform and suffer from occupational stress. The effort of women to enter the profession is in most cases contradictory with maternity. For these reasons it would be beneficial for captains to know that if their life turns so, there is a possibility for them to engage to an alternative career ashore, using competencies they acquired both through formal and non-formal learning.The "Sail ahead" project aims at providing an on-line guidance tool for a second career for captains. Results will be:A report with transferable skills, result of a survey in nautical academies (using both analysis of curricula and questionnaires to students) to identify competencies acquired through formal learning and a survey in the ships to identify competencies through non-formal one. A mapping of competencies and profiles required for at least 10 alternative career paths ashore.An on line tool to be used by students or captains that will help them assess the possibilities to work on shore.Specific effort will be dedicated to dissemination. The partnership, constituted by a social partner, nautical academies, a university, maritime training providers and a consultancy firm from 6 EU countries (EL,TR,UK,FI,SI,PL) ensure both sound implementation and sustainability of the project. Although, the EC estimated a lack of around 36.000 European sea officers in 2006, there is a reluctance of young persons to join the sea. The impact of the project will be to alleviate this problem by giving them more choices beforehand and also to women and men already engaged in the profession and wishing to work ashore.