Issue Date: 22 October 2026
The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of the Federal Republic of Germany (BGR), in accordance with its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules signed with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on 19 July 2006, is offering four (4) at-sea training opportunities to candidates from developing States within its 2027 training programme.
TRAINING PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
Selected trainees will join a 51-day environmental exploration campaign onboard the German research vessel SONNE in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the north-eastern Pacific Ocean, from 3 October to 22 November 2027. The campaign will visit the eastern BGR contract area for polymetallic nodule exploration in the CCZ, from Manzanillo (Mexico) to Honolulu (United States of America). Dates may shift by a few days depending on ship scheduling and harbour/berth availability.
The main objectives of the cruise are:
- Comprehensive environmental monitoring of a components test of the autonomous AUV nodule collector “Eureka III” of the US/Canadian company Impossible Metals (IM) through visual inspection, in-situ measurement, deployment of stationary and autonomous sensors, and sampling of the seabed for biological community analyses;
- environmental monitoring of an area where polymetallic nodules were removed in May 2021 during a test of the Patania II collector prototype of the Belgian company Global Sea Resources (GSR), and its control site;
- assessment of pelagic communities; and
- geological sampling and faunal analyses in two other prospective areas.
Shipboard training will include:
- Instructions on vessel and deep-sea equipment navigation techniques and the planning of an environmental survey;
- Introduction into the different types of deep-sea research equipment used;
- Introduction into the functionalities and use of a “Remotely Operated Vehicle” (ROV) for benthic seafloor surveys (video/image analysis, sediment and water sampling, sampling of megafauna; deployment and recovery of monitoring equipment on the seafloor)
- Live witnessing of a mining components test and the monitoring of its environmental impact;
- Sediment and nodule sampling, description and processing for the determination of e.g. shear strengths and metal concentrations;
- Geochemical sampling of sediments, pore waters and seawater for later determination of trace metal concentrations in the home laboratories;
- Oceanographic analysis of the water column and bottom waters based on CTD data as well as current and turbidity data obtained from oceanographic sensors deployed on the seafloor;
- Sampling and processing of biological samples for benthic biodiversity studies, involving fauna of all size classes.
ELIGIBILITY
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- Education: Candidates should hold a qualified bachelor’s or master’s degree in marine biology, marine environmental sciences, marine geology, geophysics, or oceanography;
- Experience: At least one-year practical experience in the candidate’s field of specialization;
- Language: A sound knowledge of English attested by a certificate;
- Health: Good state of mental and physical health suitable for work at sea.
- Age: Under 45 years of age.
- Recommended: Seagoing experience highly recommended.
Disclaimer: Employees of ISA’s exploration contractors are not eligible to apply to the Contractors’ Training Programme.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Prior to embarking on the training, the selected candidates shall be required to obtain medical certificates from a medical institution confirming that they are in good health and fit to work at-sea.
Trainees will be required to sign the ISA Code of Conduct for Trainees of the Contractors’ Training Programme prior to the start of the programme. Trainees may also be required to sign a confidentiality agreement with BGR.
No later than four (4) weeks after the training has ended, each trainee shall submit an end-of-training report to BGR and the Authority 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.
Upon successful completion of the programme, trainees shall receive a certificate from the Authority.
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 or national identification card.
- Duly completed Nomination and Recommendation Form [PDF | Docx]
- Copy of degree(s) and/or relevant certificate(s)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé
- Proof of language proficiency
Applicants must select the following options when applying for this training opportunity on the Application Portal:
Contractor Name: Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of the Federal Republic of Germany (BGR)/PMN
Year: 2027
Programme Name: At-sea Training
Specialization: N/A
Application Deadline: 22 December 2026. 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 in 2022 was ‘Enhancing the role of Women in Marine Scientific Research through Capacity Building’ – As partner of the Women in Deep-Sea Research project (WIDSR), BGR has pledged to allocate 50% of the training opportunities to qualified women applicants.