The Government has announced an additional year of financial backing for seafarer training within the United Kingdom.
The extended Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) funding has been unlocked through the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), and will be available until 31 March 2027.
To date; SMarT has deployed a multi-million GBP budget to support cadets, junior officers and ratings gain skills for careers in the maritime industry.
Sponsoring companies are invited to apply to SMarT and claim up to half of the total training costs for any and all eligible trainees.
The budget has ben provided by the Department for Transport, with the latest extension to the scheme following a 12-month continuation agreed for the same period last year.
Ajit Jacob, MCA Chief Examiner and Head of Seafarer Technical Delivery, said:Training is vital to sustaining our skilled, safe and professional workforce as the foundation of the UK’s successful maritime industry.
This funding reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting high quality training, ensuring cadets and junior officers have every opportunity to develop and progress.
I’m delighted SMarT will continue to unlock training opportunities for men and women who might not have considered it otherwise. We hope their careers flourish wherever their new skills take them.
