Issue date: 15 December 2025
Tonga Offshore Mining Ltd. (TOML), in accordance with its contract for the exploration for polymetallic nodules signed with ISA on 11 January 2012, is offering one (1) at-sea training opportunity to candidates from developing States within its 2026 training programme.
PROGRAMME OUTLINE
The selected candidate will join an exploration cruise onboard a research vessel to the Eastern Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean.
The 2026 campaign will focus on integrated resource-assessment geology, alongside supporting environmental and operational tasks. The primary focus of work and training will be box-core-based resource assessment for polymetallic nodule abundance, including the collection, processing, and geological interpretation of box core samples.
In addition to this main geology focus, the campaign will also include:
- Recovery and redeployment of oceanographic moorings, including instrument servicing and operational checks.
- Hull-based multibeam echosounder (MBES) survey to support seafloor mapping and resource-assessment interpretation.
- Macrofauna sampling to contribute to baseline ecological characterization.
The trainee’s work programme will be weighted toward the box-core geology training, with limited introductory exposure to the other scopes depending on operational schedules.
TRAINING ACTIVITIES
During the cruise, trainee will be integrated with the specialised science, technical and operational team onboard. Training will include:
- Primary (geology / resource assessment focus):
- Preparation, on-board handling, deployment, and recovery of box cores for polymetallic nodule resource
- Box core sectioning, description, and sedimentological / geological
- Nodule recovery, cleaning, weighing, counting, and abundance/grade estimation
- Onboard sample management, chain-of-custody, and documentation to support resource-assessment QA/QC.
- Data handling, storage, and basic quality control for box-core geological
- Secondary (introductory exposure, as schedules allow):
- Recovery and redeployment of moorings, deck operations, and instrument servicing.
- Familiarisation with hull-based multibeam survey operations,
- Participation in macrofauna sampling and sample preservation protocols (where operations overlap with the trainee’s schedule).
- General aspects of work and environmental and operational safety at
Training in equipment operation and sample / data acquisition techniques will depend on which equipment is being deployed during the cruise and those which are best suited to the trainee’s educational and professional backgrounds.
TRAINING DURATION
The cruise is anticipated to depart from San Diego, USA approximately mid-October 2026 (exact dates TBC and communicated to selected candidate with advance notice) and will last approximately six weeks total including transit from port to site and return. Port of mobilisation and demobilisation is San Diego, USA.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be considered for this programme, candidates must meet the following requirements:
Education: A bachelor’s/master’s degree in marine geology, marine geoscience, sedimentology or closely related marine science discipline. Candidates with demonstrated focus or coursework in seabed mineral resource assessment and / or polymetallic nodule studies will be given preference owing to the primarily geological focus of the campaign.
Experience: A minimum of 2 years in marine research, seabed sampling, environmental monitoring, oceanographic monitoring or related fields, preferably including experience in sediment coring/box coring, seabed geology, marine mineral resource assessment or benthic geology/geochemistry. At least one-year practical experience in the candidate’s field of specialization.
Language: A sound knowledge of English (spoken and written), attested by a certificate where applicable.
Health: Good state of health, suitable to work at sea. The selected candidate must pass an offshore medical to join the vessel. TOML will advise on which certificate is required.
Offshore Safety Training: The selected candidate must pass an offshore safety training course prior to joining the vessel. TOML shall arrange this training and all associated travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs.
Visa Eligibility: Candidates must be able to obtain a valid visa to enter the United States in order to participate in the training and join the vessel in San Diego. TOML will provide support documentation and reasonable assistance with the process; however, visa issuance is subject to the relevant U.S. authorities and is ultimately dependent on the candidate’s ability to secure a visa successfully.
Vaccination: Candidates must meet and document any vaccinations required under current U.S. immigration/CDC entry and medical-exam rules.
Other: seagoing experience is recommended.
Disclaimer: Employees of ISA’s exploration contractors are not eligible to apply to the Contractors’ Training Programme.
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT
TOML undertakes to cover all relevant costs directly associated with the training programme. This includes visa fee(s), round-trip airfare (economy), travel insurance with medical coverage, accommodation, and subsistence costs.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
The selected candidate will be required to sign the ISA Contractors’ Training Programme Code of Conduct for Trainees prior to the start of the programme. The candidate may also be required to sign a confidentiality agreement with TOML.
No later than four (4) weeks after the training has ended, the trainee shall submit an end-of-training report to TOML 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.
Upon successful completion of the programme, the trainee shall receive a certificate from ISA. The trainee 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 recent coloured passport sized photo.
- A copy of their valid passport biographical page.
- Duly completed and signed Nomination Form [doc/pdf]
- Copy of degree(s) and/or relevant certificate(s)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé
- Proof of English competence, as required.
Applicants must select the following options when applying for this training opportunity on the Application Portal:
Contractor Name: Tonga Offshore Mining Limited (TOML)/PMN
Year: 2026
Programme Name: At-sea Training
Specialization: Not Applicable
Application Deadline: 28 February 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 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), TOML has pledged to allocate 50% of its training opportunities to qualified women applicants.
QUERIES: All queries concerning this training opportunity should be directed to the ISA Secretariat at training@isa.org.jm.