Issue date: 11 October 2024

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) of the Government of India, in accordance with its contract for the exploration for polymetallic sulphides signed with ISA on 26 September 2016, is offering five (5) at-sea training opportunities to candidates from developing States, in the field of deep-sea mineral exploration during the year 2025.

 

OUTLINE

The training will be organised by India’s premier R&D institution responsible for the country’s research activities in the polar and Southern Ocean realms, the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa.

The training programme aims to offer hands-on experience to trainees and seeks to introduce trainees to activities relating to the exploration of deep-sea minerals and conducting environmental baseline studies. The training will focus on:

  • Marine survey and exploration techniques
  • On-board acquisition and processing of marine geoscientific and oceanographic data
  • Preliminary processing, sub-sampling and preservation of geological and biological samples for various studies,
  • Post-cruise training in preparation of scientific logs, documentation and cruise report writing.

 

DURATION

It is anticipated that the training will commence in March or April 2025 and will span approximately 40 days (inclusive of pre- and post- cruise training sessions). The exact schedule of the training shall be determined based on the final cruise planning and will be communicated to the trainees. The training will be conducted at-sea, in Indian contract areas in the Indian Ocean.

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

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

  • Education: Applicants must hold a master’s degree in science (marine geology, marine geophysics, marine biology, marine geochemistry or oceanography) or a graduate degree in engineering (marine, mechanical, mechatronics, mining, electrical) or an equivalent educational qualification in deep-sea research and development
  • Work Experience: Candidate should have at least two (2) years’ work experience in the relevant field
  • Language: Sound knowledge of English (spoken and written), attested by a certificate
  • Health: Be in good mental and physical health
  • Age: preferably in the range of 30 years old
  • Nationality: Applicant must be a national of a developing country that is a Member State of the International Seabed Authority
  • Other: Hold a passport with sufficient validity

 

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT

MoES, India will cover all relevant costs for the training, including visa fees, international travel (round trip economy class tickets), local travel (within the scope of the official programme according to the current official travel cost regulations in India); accommodation and medical insurance during the trainees’ stay in India. MoES, India shall also pay an allowance to the trainees in accordance with prevailing regulations.

 

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 MoES, India.

No later than four (4) weeks after the training has ended, each trainee shall submit an end-of-training report to MoES, India 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:            Government of India (MOES, India)/PMS

Year:                                    2025

Programme Name:          At-sea

Application Deadline: 13 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), MOES, India has pledged to allocate 50% of its training opportunities to qualified women applicants.

*Commitment under first five-year period of exploration contract.