Issue date: 12 December 2023
UPDATE (06 March 2024) The following candidates have been selected:
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | Sex | Country | Country Class. |
| First-ranked Candidates | |||||
| 1 | Coffi Gerard Franck | Zinzindohoue | M | Benin | LDC |
| 2 | Md. Azahar | Hossain | M | Bangladesh | LDC |
| 3 | Enoch | Badu | M | Ghana | |
| Reserve or Alternate Candidates | |||||
| R1 | Brian | Lynch | M | Jamaica | SIDS |
| R2 | Ekemini | Williamson | M | Nigeria | |
| R3 | Kiamuke | Itiowe | M | Nigeria | |
In accordance with its contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules, signed with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on 12 May 2017, China Minmetals Corporation (CMC) is offering three (3) at-sea training opportunities for candidates from developing States as part of its 2024 training programme.
OUTLINE
CMC will provide at-sea environmental, geological, or geophysical survey training for three (3) candidates onboard the R/V Dayang Hao or another research vessel, based on their professional background and actual on-site conditions.
- The main training contents of environmental survey methods and sample processing technology onboard the research vessel will include:
- Operation of CTD, multi-corer, box corer, plankton nets
- Sediment description onboard
- Measurement of the engineering mechanical value of sediments
- Processing of biological samples (biodiversity and benthos)
- Measurement of environmental parameters onboard (nutritive salts, pH values, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll); and
- Processing of plankton samples.
- The main training contents of geological survey methods and sample processing technology onboard the research vessel will include:
- Operation of video and photography under the sea
- Description of samples of polymetallic nodules and other sediment onboard
- Analysis of the samples of polymetallic nodules onboard (ore grade, water content, wet density); and
- Processing technology of the video and photography results onboard.
- The main training contents of geophysical survey methods will include:
- Methods of multi-beam topographic survey
- Methods of sub-bottom profile survey
- Interpretation technology of multi-beam bathymetric data onboard; and
- Interpretation technology of sub-bottom profile data onboard.
DURATION
Three (3) candidates will benefit from CMC’s at-sea exploration training for approximately 40 days between June and November 2024. The specific training dates and port(s) of boarding and disembarking will be determined and later communicated, with due prior notice given to trainees.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Education: Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in geology, geophysics, marine environment (including biology and ecology) or similar educational background
- Work Experience: At least one (1) year work experience in the relevant field
- Age: Under 45 years old
- Language: Professional working proficiency in English
- Health: In good mental and physical health, adaptable to at-sea work.
- Other: Capable of performing scientific research or marine management
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT
CMC will cover all relevant costs associated with the at-sea training, including medical insurance, travel cost to and from port(s) of boarding and disembarking, meals, accommodation and living allowance.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Following selection, trainees will be required to obtain a Certificate of Health Examination for International Travel and an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, before proceeding on training.
Trainees will also be required to sign the ISA Contractors’ Training Programme General Guidance and Code of Conduct for Trainees prior to the start of the programme, as well as a confidentiality agreement with CMC.
At the end of the training, trainees must submit a report to CMC and ISA outlining the training completed; the benefits of the training opportunity; the knowledge gained; and how the training will advance their career and/or educational pursuits.
Upon successful completion of the training programme, trainees will receive a certificate from ISA.
HOW TO APPLY:
All interested applicants are invited to register through the ISA online portal through which they will submit their applications along with the requested documents including:
- A coloured passport sized photo
- A copy of their passport biographical page or national identification card.
- Signed nomination form [doc/pdf] by the nominating entity.
- Copy of degree
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé
- Proof of sufficient knowledge of English.
Application Deadline: 26 January 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 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), CMC has pledged to allocate 50% of its training opportunities to qualified women applicants.