English language is an integral part of a navigator’s life. And Maritime English language is one of the most important means of professional communication of seafarers because the vast majority of ships have multilingual international crews. In their work, the mariners have to communicate on various topics: professional, domestic or just to keep the conversation going in a multinational crew. Marine professionals need Maritime English at the user’s level and this fact is undisputable and undeniable. The level of English language proficiency depends on the success of the navigator, his career growth, ensuring the safety of navigation. Proficiency in Maritime English is stipulated in a separate line in convention documents (including the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) governing the training of seafarers. The article is devoted to one of the topical problems of the foreign language cadets’ (students’) education of the maritime institutions of higher education, in particular navigators. The concepts of «competence» is briefly characterized. The author provides the definitions of «foreign language communicative competence» given by foreign and Ukrainian scientists. Also the author’s own definition is formulated. There have been presented the main conditions for mastering international communication competence, which is important for the safe and efficient operation of maritime transport, in the process of professional training of future navigators. The main types of speech activities (listening, monologue speech, dialogic speech, writing, reading), which are used for the formation of foreign language communicative competence of future navigators, are analysed. The examples of tasks used at the practical classes by the professional English language teachers of the f Navigation and Ship Handling Chair of Azov Maritime Institute of the National University «Odessa Maritime Academy» are provided in this article. Key words: competence, foreign language communicative competence, speech activity, cadets (students) of maritime institutions of higher education.