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.
To learn about the eligibility criteria and how to apply, click here.