The Australian Government has named five successful applicants under a $13.8 million maritime training initiative aimed at strengthening Australia’s seafaring workforce and supporting the future Maritime Strategic Fleet.
The Maritime Skills and Training Initiative will help trainee and cadet seafarers gain the sea time required to qualify for international certification. Funding will support more than 20 trainee and cadet seafarers each year over the next four years, helping cover wages, accommodation, food and transport.
The successful applicants are Teekay Shipping Australia, Maritime Employees Training, Boluda Towage Australia, Siera Marine Management and Sea Swift.
The initiative responds to recommendations from the Strategic Fleet Taskforce, which identified maritime workforce shortages as a key challenge for Australia’s shipping capability. The taskforce found demand for Australian seafarers was already outstripping supply, with shortages across roles including deck officers, engineers and ratings. It also noted that without action, Australia’s maritime workforce would be unlikely to meet the needs of current industry or a future strategic fleet.
The Maritime Strategic Fleet is expected to comprise up to 12 privately owned, commercially operated Australian-flagged and crewed vessels. The vessels would be available for requisition by the government during times of national need, including natural disasters, supply chain disruptions or conflict.
According to the taskforce report, shipping moves 99 per cent of Australia’s goods traded by volume and around 79 per cent by value, highlighting the sector’s role in national supply chain resilience.
An additional $2.5 million in funding for Industry Skills Australia will complement the program by helping address training barriers and strengthen maritime career pathways.
The government says the initiative will help build the workforce needed to support Australia’s maritime capability, improve supply chain resilience and create more training opportunities across the sector.
.jpg)
