Issue Date: 25 September 2026
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (MOF-ROK), in accordance with its contract for the exploration of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts (CFC) signed with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on 27 March 2018, is offering five (5) at-sea on-board training opportunities for candidates from developing member States within its 2027 training programme.
PROGRAMME OUTLINE
The cruise will be organized by the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) within the MOF-ROK contract area in the western Pacific Ocean, using the R/V Isabu. It is scheduled to take place between March and April 2027 (20–25 days), focusing on geological and environmental surveys (exact dates will be finalized and share well in advance with selected candidates for preparation purposes). The port of (dis)embarkation will be Guam (candidate may require a US visa to enter and should verify this information carefully).
This three- to four-week training programme is aimed at strengthening the capacity of developing States in the fields of deep-sea mineral resource exploration and marine environmental studies. Of the five (5) training placements, three (3) will focus on geological surveying techniques and sampling, while two (2) will focus on environmental surveying techniques and sampling. Sampling activities will include, but are not limited to, core drilling, sediment sampling, seawater sampling, and benthic faunal sampling.
ELIGIBILITY
Candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Education:
- Three (3) candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in marine geology or a related field;
- Two (2) candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in marine science, marine biology, or a related field.
- Language: Sufficient proficiency in English for daily communication and training.
- Health: Good mental and physical health suitable for work on board and in laboratory environments.
- Age: Must be under 45 years of age.
- Visa: selected candidates must be able to obtain requisite U.S. visas to enter Guam, as required.
Note: If selected, trainees will be required to submit a physical examination report, signed by a licensed physician, confirming that they are fit for approximately one month of at-sea on-board training.
Disclaimer: Employees of ISA’s exploration contractors are not eligible to apply to the Contractors’ Training Programme.
COST BEARING
MOF-ROK will cover all costs relevant to the training programme, including: i) transportation costs (round-trip economy class) incurred by trainees pursuant to their participation in the programme; ii) accommodation and meals; iii) medical insurance; and iv) other incidental expenses that might arise during the training period.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Trainees shall sign a confidentiality agreement with MOF-ROK as well as the ISA Contractors’ Training Programme Code of Conduct for Trainees prior to the start of the programme.
No later than four (4) weeks after the training has ended, the trainee shall submit an end-of-training report to MOF-ROK 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, the trainee shall receive a certificate from the Authority. Trainees shall also submit a supplementary report to the Authority 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 ISA’s CTP Application Portal, along with their supporting documents, including:
- A recent coloured passport sized photo;
- A copy of valid passport biopage;
- Duly completed and signed nomination form [docx | pdf] by the nominating entity;
- Copy of degree(s) and/or relevant certificate(s);
- Copy of CV or Resume; and
- Proof of English competence, as required.
Applicants must select the following options when applying for this training opportunity on the Application Portal:
Contractor Name: Government of the Republic of Korea (MOF-ROK)/CFC
Year: 2027
Programme Name: At-sea Training
Specialization: N/A
Application Deadline: 8 November 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), MOF-ROK has pledged to allocate 50% of its training opportunities to qualified women applicants.