The article substantiates that leadership competence plays an important role in creating an effective team, achieving organisational, personal and professional goals and needs on the scale of the professional environment. It is substantiated that the fulfilment of organisational and team tasks is ensured by a high level of communication skills of the leader, deep knowledge of the laws of interpersonal communication, and the achievement of common goals are indicators of leadership competence. On the basis of the study, it is determined that it is important to integrate extracurricular activities into the formation of leadership competence of future specialists in navigation and ship handling. It has been concluded that the organisation of extracurricular activities should be included in the system of work of teachers of different disciplines. An interdisciplinary approach to this form of work will have an effective impact on the development of students' motivational sphere, broadening their outlook and improving their knowledge. The article presents the peculiarities of integrating extracurricular activities into the system of forming the leadership competence of future specialists in navigation and ship handling: organisation of extracurricular activities is aimed at professional orientation of future specialists; stimulating the establishment of a psychological climate in the group and facilitating the overcoming of psychological barriers; ensuring the development of motivation for the formation of communicative competence of future specialists in navigation and ship handling, taking into account the interests and characteristics of the future profession. The article substantiates that effective forms of work that ensure the formation of leadership competence of future specialists in navigation and ship handling are training technologies, quest technologies, additional special courses on leadership development, organisation of scientific communities, leadership research, seminars, leadership webinars, master classes, etc. Effective methods of leadership development include: social and psychological training, situational modelling, role-playing games, and brainstorming sessions.