The article is dedicated to the research of the problem of the formation of psychological readiness to future specialists of maritime transport for professional activity in extreme situations. The results of the theoretical phase of the study allowed the authors to conclude that extreme situations in the professional activities of maritime transport may be as follows – the threat of pirate seizure of the ship, and the captivity of the ship's crew, threats of terrorist acts, the effects of dangerous natural phenomena, disasters, natural disasters, emergencies and other abnormal situations on the ship. According to the results of the study, the feasibility and possibility of applying the self approach to the effectiveness of psychological readiness to future specialists of maritime transport for professional activity in extreme situations was determined.