The International Seabed Authority (ISA) announced on Thursday that it is accepting applications for its contractor training programmes until March 31.

Two contractors — China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (COMRA) and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea — are offering a combined five places to candidates from developing States in accordance with their respective exploration contracts for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts and polymetallic sulphides on the deep seabed.

COMRA is offering three spots for a duration of three months, scheduled to commence in September 2017. The training will take place at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou city, Guangdong province, and will be conducted by the Guangzhou Bureau of Marine Geological Survey.

Candidates will receive comprehensive training in the fields of geo-oceanography, biology and environment, the ISA said.

The two Korean Republic spots, meanwhile, will be at-sea positions in the fields of geology and geophysics. The cruise will be organised by the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology and is planned between June and August, 2017, for about 30 days.

The survey will focus on geological sampling and high-resolution topographic mapping using a deep-tow side scan sonar system, according to the ISA.

Entry requirements and other details about both opportunities can be accessed on the ISA website at bit.ly/2mx7kXK and bit.ly/2m0csQT.

The ISA is the intergovernmental body set up by a United Nations convention to monitor and regulate the mining of the resources of the seabed. It is housed in Kingston Jamaica on the same compound as the Jamaica Conference Centre.

Under its regulations, entities granted permission to explore the seabed for resources are mandated to provide training opportunities for ISA member countries that are classified as developing states.