New Program Helps Ontario Job Seekers Launch
Marine Careers
Marine Careers
Life raft training in MED courses
With over 243,000 kilometres of coastline (the longest in the world) along with thousands of lakes and rivers, the marine sector is essential to our economy, communities, and supply chains.
Domestic commercial and public-sector vessels—cargo ships, ferries, tugs and barges, tour boats, Canadian Coast Guard ships, and science and enforcement vessels—carry goods and people, connect communities, and support industries including manufacturing, agriculture, mining, energy, and tourism.
Yet, with many workers set to retire over the next 5 years, the marine sector is facing an urgent labour shortage. Vessel operators will need to hire 8,300 new workers to meet industry demand -- the equivalent of more than 30% of its current workforce. This new reality presents both a challenge for the sector, and a major opportunity for job seekers.
Now, thanks to this new Entry-level Seafarer Training Program, unemployed adults in Ontario may qualify for fully funded training to kickstart a rewarding career working along the beautiful Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, and across the rest of Canada.
Domestic commercial and public-sector vessels—cargo ships, ferries, tugs and barges, tour boats, Canadian Coast Guard ships, and science and enforcement vessels—carry goods and people, connect communities, and support industries including manufacturing, agriculture, mining, energy, and tourism.
Yet, with many workers set to retire over the next 5 years, the marine sector is facing an urgent labour shortage. Vessel operators will need to hire 8,300 new workers to meet industry demand -- the equivalent of more than 30% of its current workforce. This new reality presents both a challenge for the sector, and a major opportunity for job seekers.
Now, thanks to this new Entry-level Seafarer Training Program, unemployed adults in Ontario may qualify for fully funded training to kickstart a rewarding career working along the beautiful Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, and across the rest of Canada.
A Possible No-Cost Path Into the Marine Industry
Managed by the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation (CMCF) in partnership with Georgian College, this new training program is completely free for eligible participants - including tuition and additional supports such as safety gear, training materials, and accommodations during the hands-on training period in Owen Sound. The program is hybrid, with a portion taken online and a portion on campus using Georgian's state-of-the-art marine training facility.
“This program reduces barriers considerably because there's no cost upfront as relates to tuition, and there are other wraparound supports for eligible participants like transportation and food during in-person training," says Dave Shorey, Executive Director at Georgian College’s Centre for Marine Training and Research (CMTR). "The program is short, and the return on investment is high — it creates a pathway to marine employment with strong earning potential.”
“This program reduces barriers considerably because there's no cost upfront as relates to tuition, and there are other wraparound supports for eligible participants like transportation and food during in-person training," says Dave Shorey, Executive Director at Georgian College’s Centre for Marine Training and Research (CMTR). "The program is short, and the return on investment is high — it creates a pathway to marine employment with strong earning potential.”
What You’ll Learn
Students completing MED training at Georgian College.
The 17-day micro-certificate delivers Transport Canada-approved certifications required for entry-level marine employment. The format includes a combination of synchronous online learning and in-person hands-on training at Georgian’s world-class marine campus in Owen Sound, making it accessible to learners across Ontario. Graduates will receive an Entry-level Seafarer micro-certificate from Georgian College and Transport Canada training certificates.
In addition to technical skills, the program emphasizes the importance of teamwork - a vital part of working onboard any vessel. “The key thing is being able to work as a team, so they get that team dynamic of knowing, ‘I’m not doing this on my own,’” says Andrea Lucano, a Marine Engineering professor at Georgian and a graduate of the college’s marine program. “How do I work with others? How do we get along? How do we work together and enhance each other’s safety?”
Marine Emergency Duties: From Uncertainty to Opportunity
Sara Judson, who is currently studying Marine Navigation at Georgian, began her journey with tall ship sailing and is currently completing the same MED training offered through the Entry Level Seafarer program. She credits the true-to-life nature of the training with giving her the confidence to handle real-world emergencies on the water.
“The marine emergency duties (MEDs) are very nicely laid out in the way that you have a good chunk of theory, and then you always have practical to back that theory. Georgian has their firefighting facility, which is very good and solidifies everything that you learn in class.
We also go to a pool to launch life rafts. And it’s not fake - it all very much feels real, and the instructors try their best to make sure that they're not sugar-coating anything when it comes to the practical stuff. If you're doing it, you should be ready to do it in a real-life event. I think the MEDs have done a very good job at putting that into perspective, while also making sure that we're super prepared. I feel a lot more confident than I did before taking the MEDs.”
“The marine emergency duties (MEDs) are very nicely laid out in the way that you have a good chunk of theory, and then you always have practical to back that theory. Georgian has their firefighting facility, which is very good and solidifies everything that you learn in class.
We also go to a pool to launch life rafts. And it’s not fake - it all very much feels real, and the instructors try their best to make sure that they're not sugar-coating anything when it comes to the practical stuff. If you're doing it, you should be ready to do it in a real-life event. I think the MEDs have done a very good job at putting that into perspective, while also making sure that we're super prepared. I feel a lot more confident than I did before taking the MEDs.”
A Career That Will Take You Places
Working on a Canadian vessel offers much more than just a job. Seafaring is a lifestyle unlike any other. Onboard workers often enjoy:
- Above-average starting wages
- Travel opportunities across the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, Canada, and the United States
- Room and board provided on most vessels, reducing living expenses
- One-of-a-kind experiences, like traveling Canada's breathtaking coasts, rivers, Arctic regions, and majestic Great Lakes.
- In-demand skills that can lead to long-term, fulfilling careers
Built With Industry and Community in Mind
At its core, the Entry-Level Seafarer Program is about connecting participants to real jobs. The Canadian Marine Careers Foundation has longstanding partnerships with major shipping companies, government fleets, and marine operators, all of whom are actively hiring. As part of the program, participants will have the opportunity to take part in an Interview Day, where they can meet directly with employers and labour organizations looking to recruit new talent.
In collaboration with employment service providers across the province, the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation is helping to ensure the program reaches the people who stand to benefit most, whether they’re young people new to the job market, or job seekers facing barriers to employment.
In collaboration with employment service providers across the province, the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation is helping to ensure the program reaches the people who stand to benefit most, whether they’re young people new to the job market, or job seekers facing barriers to employment.
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Imagine Marine, a CMCF Initiative. © 2025, Canadian Marine Careers Foundation, all rights reserved.
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