Since ancient times Latvians have been skilful seafarers and ship-builders. This interest in seafaring has undeniably been determined by Latvia?s favourable geographical location ? its long sea border and numerous river waterways, as well as the yearning of every boy from a coastal village to reach a point where the land meets the sky. However, this in itself is not enough to become a good sailor? one has to learn a lot and do so relentlessly! This is the reason why, in the immediate aftermath of the repeal of serfdom in Latvia during the mid 19th century, naval schools were established concurrent to the founding of countless shipping associations so that Latvian sailors could acquire a professional education and not only set sail for ports in Europe, but also sail to any port in the world. A nation that had only acquired its national independence in 1918 was well aware that the only possible way to survive and develop in the contemporary world through education. The desire to learn, to master one?s trade and carry Latvia?s name into the wider world through honest work has become a tradition of Latvian seafaring, which is nowadays carried on by the inheritor of this custom - joint stock company Latvijas kuģniecība (JSC Latvian Shipping Company).