Contractors' training programme

ISA Contractors have a legal obligation to provide and fund training opportunities for personnel from developing States and those of ISA.

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 contracts. Its purpose is to ensure that personnel from developing States are provided with appropriate operational expertise to enable them to participate in deep seabed mining.

The training programme is generally formulated following negotiations between ISA and the contractor and included as schedule 3 of the contract for exploration.

All short-term training opportunities for suitable candidates from developing States provided by ISA Contractors will be listed on this site.

Active Training Opportunities

Training Opportunity Application Deadline
9 April 2025
9 April 2025
9 April 2025
28 April 2025
4 May 2025
31 May 2025

Training Opportunities Under Implementation

  1. Blue Minerals Jamaica (BMJ)
  2. Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC)
  3. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)
  4. French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER)
  5. Global Sea Mineral Resources NV (GSR)
  6. Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC)
  7. JSC Yuzhmorgeologiya (Yuzh)
  8. Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) of the Government of India
  9. Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea
  10. Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI)
  11. Tonga Offshore Mining Ltd. (TOML)

Completed Training Opportunities

  • China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association (COMRA)
    • COMRA – CFC – At-sea training (2024, 4 trainees)
    • COMRA – PMS – Engineering Training (2024, 4 trainees)
    • COMRA – PMN -Engineering trainings (2024, 5 trainees)
    • COMRA – CFC – Engineering trainings (2024, 2 trainees)
    • COMRA – PMS – At-sea trainings (2024, 6 trainees)
    • COMRA At-sea Training (6 trainees)
    • COMRA Engineering Training (2018, 2 trainees)
    • COMRA Fellowship Training (2017, 3 trainees)
    • COMRA At-Sea Training (2016, 5 trainees)
    • COMRA Fellowship Training (2015, 2 trainees)
    • COMRA Engineering Training (2015, 2 trainees)
    • COMRA At-Sea Training (2014, 4 trainees)
  • Companhia de Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais (CPRM)
    • CPRM At-Sea Training (2019, 4 trainees)
    • CPRM At-Sea Training (2019, 4 trainees)
  • Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC)
    • CIIC – PMN – Chemical Oceanography (2024, 1 expert)
    • CIIC – PMN – Physical Oceanography (2024, 1 expert)
    • CIIC – PMN – (2024, 1 internship)
    • CIIC – PMN – 2x Seminar (2024)
  • Global Sea Mineral Resources NV (GSR)
    • GSR Masters Programme (2018-2020, 1 trainee)
    • GSR At-sea Training (2019, 2 trainees)
    • GSR, Seminar (2018, 2 trainees)
    • GSR, Fellowship (Rhodes Aca.) (2018, 2 trainees)
    • GSR, Seminar (2017, 1 trainee)
    • GSR, Fellowship (Rhodes Aca.) (2017, 1 trainee)
  • Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC)
    • JOGMEC At-Sea Training (2018, 4 trainees)
    • JOGMEC At-Sea Training (2016, 5 trainees)
    • JOGMEC At-Sea Training (2015, 3 trainees)
  • Tonga Offshore Mining Ltd. (TOML)
    • TOML At-Sea Training (2 trainees)
    • TOML At-Sea Training (2013, 2 trainees)
Active = the opportunities are still open for submission of applications.
Under implementation = closed for application but selection in progress.

How to Apply

  • The manual application forms for training have been phased out. All applications should be completed using the web form. Applicants are required to use the online portal to submit applications together with a copy of their passport photo and the signed nomination form indicating a preference for either the geological or environmental programme, degree/certificate and résumé.

Required Qualification

  • The required qualifications are provided for each training opportunity.