The thesis provides a theoretical generalization and solves an important scientific task of forming the information competence to future specialists in navigation and ship handling in the process of professional training. In the first section ‒ «Theoretical foundations for the formation of informational competence of future navigators» ‒ the theoretical foundations of the formation of information competence to future specialists in navigation and ship handling are highlighted, in particular, information competence as a subject of scientific research is characterized, foreign experience in training future specialists in navigation and ship handling is highlighted, the essence, structure and content of information competence of future specialists in navigation and ship handling are revealed. The second section ‒ «Scientific and methodical foundations for the formation of informational competence of future specialists in navigation and ship handling» ‒ presents the scientific and methodological foundations for the formation of information competence to future specialists in navigation and ship handling, defines criteria, indicators and levels of its formation, clarifies the state of formation of this professionally important property, and substantiates the pedagogical conditions for its formation. The third section ‒ «Experimental verification and results of the implementation of pedagogical conditions for the formation of information competence of future specialists in navigation and ship handling» ‒ presents the content and methodology for implementing pedagogical conditions for the formation of information competence to future specialists in navigation and ship handling, the results of the formative stage of the experiment, as well as methodological recommendations for scientific and pedagogical staff on the formation of information competence to future specialists in navigation and ship management in the process of professional training. The scientific novelty of the obtained results is that: for the first time: pedagogical conditions for the formation of information competence to future specialists in navigation and ship handling in the process of professional training have been substantiated (use of interactive methods to develop cadets’ ability to summarize, analyze and use information in professional and social interaction; use of problem tasks of various levels of complexity to acquire skills and abilities to solve typical and non-standard professional situations in the field of shipping; methodological support of cadets’ research and project activities to develop their ability to collect and analyze information; development of skills in the use of information technology, information support for navigation information systems); the essence of the concept of «information competence of future specialists in navigation and ship handling» has been defined (an integrative personal trait that encompasses motivation for information activities, conscious attitude and interest in navigation information, knowledge of the types of information activities of the navigator, the function and composition of the navigation information system, ability to search for the necessary information, navigate information flows and communications, and make optimal use of all navigation data, to carry out information and analytical processing of information related to ship handling systems, navigation information resources and information security systems); there has been improved the diagnostic apparatus for determining the state of formation of the information competence of future specialists in navigation and ship handling in the process of professional training through the use of criteria (personal, cognitive and activity), their corresponding indicators and characteristics of levels (high, sufficient, initial); scientific ideas about the content and structure of the information competence of future specialists in navigation and ship handling (as a unity of motivational and personal, information and cognitive, activity and operational components) and the peculiarities of its formation by modelling this process and developing an appropriate structural and functional model have been further developed. The practical significance of the obtained results is: introduced into the content of educational disciplines «Ocean routes of the world», «Navigation bridge resource management», «Accident response, search and rescue at sea», «Navigation information systems» taking into account the peculiarities of working with navigation information; ‒ using a system of problem tasks of different levels of complexity for acquiring skills and abilities to solve typical and non-standard situations in the field of shipping; ‒ development of methodological recommendations for scientific and pedagogical staff on the formation of information competence to future specialists in navigation and ship management in the process of professional training.
