On 6 July 2023, the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) confirmed the selection of six (6) candidates for training opportunities provided by the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of the Federal Republic of Germany (BGR) in accordance with its obligations under its exploration contract for polymetallic sulphides with ISA.
Four (4) trainees will benefit from Geological at-sea and post cruise training opportunities:
- Chelsi Grace Mendoza from the Philippines
- Kristine Joy Motol from the Philippines
- Georges Kasay from Congo
- Alessandra Rivero Cortés from Bolivia (Purinational State of)
The training is divided into two stages:
Part 1: Candidates will participate in an exploration cruise onboard RV Sonne to the German contract area in the Indian Ocean. The cruise is planned to take place from 28 September to 18 November 2023 for a duration of 49 days at sea (including roundtrip transit from port of call to working area, plus 4 days in harbour). Port of call is Port Louis, Mauritius. Specific details for the cruise will be communicated to the trainees with sufficient lead time.
Part 2: Subsequent to the onboard training, trainees will visit BGR, Hannover in spring/summer 2024 for a four-week post-cruise training to work on the results of the cruise. The programme will also cover:
- Introduction into laboratory facilities at the BGR and other German research institutions (including biological labs and processing of bathymetric data).
- Introduction into sample preparation and different analytical methods such as ICP, XRF, electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), scanning electron microscopy, Laser-ablation ICPMS etc.
- Geochemical modelling, data interpretation and reporting.
- Exemplary work on selected data samples under supervision.
- Compilation of the cruise report and preliminary resource evaluation.
Two (2) trainees will benefit from Geophysics at-sea and post cruise training opportunities:
- Faye Anne De Leon from the Philippines
- Elisha Jane Maglalang from the Philippines
The training is divided into two stages:
Part 1: Candidates will participate in an exploration cruise onboard RV Sonne to the German contract area in the Indian Ocean. The cruise is planned to take place from 3-27 September 2023 for a duration of 24 days (including roundtrip transit from port of call to working area). Port of call: Port Louis, Mauritius. Specific details for the cruise is to be determined and will be communicated to the trainees with sufficient lead time to prepare.
Part 2: Subsequent to the onboard training, trainees will visit BGR, Hannover in spring/summer 2024 for a four-week post-cruise training to work on the results of the cruise. The training will mainly deal with 1D and 3D inversion modelling of and interpreting the geophysical data. It will also cover:
- Introduction to laboratory facilities at BGR;
• Introduction to data processing, modelling, and interpretation;
• Exemplary work on selected data samples under supervision; and
• Compilation of the cruise report and preliminary resource evaluation.
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.
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All contractors with ISA have a legal obligation to provide and fund practical training opportunities for personnel from developing States and those of ISA, including the participation of such personnel in all activities in the Area which are covered by the contract.
The legal basis for the requirement stems from the provisions of UNCLOS and the 1994 Agreement and is set out in the standard terms of exploration contracts signed with ISA.
Please visit this page to know more about the Contractor Training Programme.
For additional information, please contact:
Ms. Annekah Mason, Training Coordinator, ISA, training@isa.org.jm