Maritime Skills and Training Initiative (MSTI) Program

Overview

The MSTI Program provides access to berths to complete sea time required to obtain International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers 1978 certification. The grant program addresses the recommendation of the Strategic Fleet Taskforce that the Australian Government should establish a scheme to provide financial assistance to organisations that provide berths for cadets and trainees to complete mandatory sea time requirements to obtain STCW certification. The Taskforce was appointed to advise the Australian Government on establishing a strategic fleet of up to 12 Australian flagged and crewed vessels that will operate commercially and are able to be requisitioned by the government in a time of need. The MSTI Program will assist approximately 20 trainee/cadet seafarers per year to access berths on board ships to complete sea time required for international certification. The objectives of the program are: increase availability of training berths on vessels to ensure more Australian trainee/cadet seafarers can access sea time to complete their qualifications address the skills shortage of Australian seafarers certified to the STCW level in the Australian maritime industry respond to Australia’s maritime skills shortage and support the implementation of the strategic fleet. The MSTI Program will run over 4 years from 2025-26 to 2028-29.