No crew for tomorrow? TMLG is building the crews of the future

Finding qualified crew for inland vessels is getting harder for many shipping companies. It is no longer just a matter of filling the next vacancy. Operators need reliable crew members, continuity on board and a partner who plans for the long term.

That is where TMLG comes in. We combine training, practical experience on board and crew services, so the people we train are the people who later crew your vessels.

Three-year training course: from newcomer to boatmaster

At TMLG Academy we train new crew members and help experienced ones gain further qualifications. The core of it is our three-year inland navigation training course. Step by step, participants progress from apprentice to boatmaster. The theory they learn in class goes straight into practice on board, because they work on a vessel while they train.

Which courses are taught in German and which in Slovak

For German-speaking participants we teach the following in German, in Hlohovec:

• the three-year training course,
• preparation for the UNION patent (Union certificate of qualification as boatmaster), including the practical exam,
• the Radar patent and the M patent,
• the passenger navigation expert qualification.

There are no fixed dates for these courses. The start is agreed individually with the lecturer.

In Slovak, TMLG Academy also runs basic safety training, the ADN course and the radiotelephony course, alongside the UNION patent, Radar and M patent and passenger navigation expert courses.

Ship-handling simulator and partner schools

The academy has a certified ship-handling simulator in Hlohovec. We also work with the secondary school of navigation in Děčín (Czech Republic) and the University of Žilina (Slovakia). Theory, simulator sessions and real sailing time form one connected training path.

Crew for inland vessels: what TMLG offers your company

For Dutch and German shipping companies, this means TMLG does more than supply qualified boatmen, helmsmen and boatmasters. We can also train new crew members for you, help them gain further qualifications and support their career development within your fleet.

That gives you options at every stage: from short-term cover when someone is missing to complete, stable crews for long-term deployment. Why this matters right now is explained in our article on the crew shortage in inland shipping.

Crew transport, administration and Swiss employment contracts

TMLG can organise transport for crew members to and from the vessel and take over the personnel administration that goes with it.

As an additional option, we offer a staffing model based on Swiss employment contracts. It can give you more flexibility and a good balance between personnel costs and working conditions. TMLG handles the HR and administrative processes involved.

TMLG also holds a valid permit for temporary agency work under the German Temporary Agency Work Act (Arbeitnehmerüberlassungsgesetz, AÜG).

One contact instead of several service providers

For you as a client, this means fewer service providers, less coordination and one contact for training, crew, transport and administration. Whether you need someone on board next week or want to build the crew you will need in a few years, the work stays with one partner.

See what we offer shipping companies on our partners page, or get in touch and tell us what your fleet needs.

Frequently asked questions

Can TMLG provide complete crews or only individual crew members?

Both. We cover short-term gaps and also build complete, stable crews for long-term deployment.

Can you train crew members who already work in our fleet?

Yes. TMLG Academy trains newcomers and also helps experienced crew members gain further qualifications, for example the UNION patent, the Radar patent or the M patent.

Does TMLG have a permit for temporary agency work in Germany?

Yes. TMLG holds a valid permit under the German Temporary Agency Work Act (AÜG).

Where and in which language do German-speaking crew members train?

In German, in Hlohovec. The start date is agreed individually with the lecturer.