The report delivers on Recommendation 9 of the Australian Government’s response to the Strategic Fleet Taskforce Report and workforce priorities under the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Maritime Industry Workforce Plans and Updates to address a longstanding challenge: coordinating sea time placements on vessels to support seafarer certification.
Through extensive national stakeholder engagement, regulatory analysis, and international benchmarking, the project confirmed that the current system is fragmented disconnected and inefficient.
Key constraints include:
- Low real-time visibility of training berth availability
- Relies on trainees to source and secure placements
- High upfront costs for trainees and employers
- Limited Australian vessel opportunities
- Difficulty accessing international vessels
- Complex and unclear training pathways causing a mismatch between training and berth supply
These pressures are restricting workforce supply at a time of growing industry demand.
Four national coordination models were assessed, with two emerging as the strongest options:
- Independent Sea Time Coordinator
- Consortium of Training Service Providers
Both models offer a centralised, learner-focused approach to matching trainees with sea time opportunities. They are designed to improve access, fairness, and more effective workforce planning across the industry, while maintaining existing regulatory arrangements.
The report provides the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) with a robust foundation to progress a feasibility business case assessment and pilot design.
Completion of the project marks a key milestone in building a more coordinated, sustainable maritime workforce pipeline for Australia.