Australian crew management and maritime workforce solutions provider Siera Marine Management has been awarded funding under the Australian government’s Maritime Skills and Training Initiative (MSTI) to deliver a major program to increase the number of qualified seafarers.

The Australian Maritime Workforce Development – Sea Time Support Project will provide qualifying sea-time placements for 49 trainees and cadets between 2026 and 2028.

The initiative supports the Australian government’s objective of increasing training berths for seafarers and strengthening the country’s maritime workforce capability.

The program will support participants across deck, engineering, electro-technical, and integrated rating pathways. All sea service will be aligned with Australian Maritime Safety Authority certification requirements and international standards.

“Access to sea time remains one of the most significant barriers for aspiring seafarers. This program allows us to work closely with vessel operators and industry partners to create training opportunities that support certification and long-term careers at sea,” said Samuel Coote, Siera Marine Management managing director.

This directly reflects the MSTI program’s objective of increasing berth access so more Australian trainees and cadets can complete the sea time needed for certification.