Issue date: 30 May 2024

Pursuant to its contract for exploration for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, signed with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on 27 January 2014, the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) is offering five (5) on-land and at-sea training opportunities to candidates from developing States in 2025.

PURPOSE & OBJECTIVES

The training has been designed to build the capacities of trainees in the exploration of marine mineral resources such as cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts.

It is expected that at the end of the training programme, trainees should have an increased knowledge on the subject matter and would have developed competency in the various phases of marine mineral resources exploration. This includes planning investigations, handling and analysing samples, and analysing and interpreting survey data.

The programme will be delivered through a combination of lectures, field trips, and work on a research vessel at-sea. This includes an orientation exercise; lectures related to exploration activities; data analysis or handling samples at a laboratory in Japanese institutes or on a research vessel; field trips to Japanese institutes or facilities relevant to metal mining or the marine environment; report writing and presentation of training results.

DURATION

The training is scheduled to be completed over the course of approximately 40 days between May and July in 2025. The exact dates will be later determined and communicated by JOGMEC with sufficient notice given to the selected candidates.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be considered for this opportunity, candidates must meet the following requirements:

  • Education: Hold a graduate degree in science or engineering in the relevant field of geology, geophysics, mineral processing, mining, environment OR have an equivalent educational background.
  • Work Experience: Have at least one year of experience in the relevant field.
  • Language: Have sufficient knowledge of English for daily conversation and training.
  • Health: Have good mental and physical health, suitable to work at-sea.
  • Age: Under 45 years old
  • Other: Seagoing experience is advantageous.

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT

JOGMEC will cover all relevant costs for the training which includes visa fee(s), round-trip airfare (economy), travel insurance with medical coverage. Within the scope of the training programme, JOGMEC shall also provide local transportation, meals, and accommodation to each trainee whilst in Japan and on-board the research vessel. No cash will be provided for airfare and accommodation.

If trainees travel to Japan in conjunction with their private schedule, trainees shall be responsible for all expenses incurred in connection with their deviation. JOGMEC shall not be held liable.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

The selected candidates will be required to sign the ISA Contractors’ Training Programme Code of Conduct for Trainees prior to the start of the programme. Candidates shall also sign a confidentiality agreement with JOGMEC.

No later than four (4) weeks after the training has ended, each trainee shall submit an end-of-training report to JOGMEC and ISA outlining, amongst other things, the training completed, the benefits of the training opportunity, the knowledge gained and how the training will advance their career/educational pursuits. The report shall also include key performance indicators to assess the effectiveness of the training activities.

Upon successful completion of the programme, trainees shall receive a certificate from ISA.

Trainees shall also be required to submit a supplementary report to ISA five (5) years after the training has been completed, to allow for an assessment of the long-term benefits of the programme.

HOW TO APPLY:

All interested applicants are invited to register and submit their applications on the ISA CTP Application Portal, along with their supporting documents, including:

  • A coloured passport sized photo
  • A copy of their passport biographical page
  • Duly completed Nomination and Recommendation Form [doc/pdf]
  • Copy of degree(s) and/or relevant certificate(s)
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé
  • Proof of sufficient knowledge of English

Applicants must select the following options when applying for this training opportunity on the Application Portal:

Contractor Name:            Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC)/CFC

Year:                                  2025

Programme Name:          On-land and At-sea

Specialization:                 N/A

 Application Deadline: 27 November 2024. Late or incomplete applications will not be processed.

 

One of the Voluntary Commitments registered by ISA at the 2017 UN Ocean Conference (#OceanAction 40768) and reiterated at the 2022 UN Ocean Conference aims at “Advancing women’s empowerment in marine scientific research”– As partner of the Women in Deep-Sea Research project (WIDSR), JOGMEC has pledged to allocate 50% of its training opportunities to qualified women applicants.