Seafarers creating local jobs and endless opportunities

With a world-wide shortage of seafarers’, a Northern Australia business is training up its own workforce in collaboration with Charles Darwin University (CDU) TAFE to ensure essential services to remote communities are maintained without relying on a fly in, fly out workforce.

Sea Swift is a local Australian company based in the Northern Territory and Queensland. After struggling for years with fly in fly out employees the company has been working with CDU TAFE to ensure there is a skilled local workforce.

Sea Swift General Manager Corporate Services Leanne Hulm said the company launched its Local Jobs, Local People campaign to combat a worldwide skills shortage, ensuring communities maintain access to basic goods and services and hopefully build up the industry with local qualified workers. 

“Our barges are one of the only ways completely remote islands and communities have access to fresh food and essential supplies especially when roads can be cut off for long periods of time, we need a local workforce to ensure these services are not cut off,” she said. 

 “Since the launch of the campaign we have had a lot more locals across Northern Australia employed, the training provided through CDU TAFE ensures all our staff are trained properly specifically in regulations and safety.” 

Brodie Johnston works on a Sea Swift barge and just completed a Certificate II in Marine Operations with CDU TAFE.

Mr Johnston, who moved to Darwin in 2024, said his always wanted to live and work close to the ocean so when he heard about the Maritime Operations course at CDU TAFE he jumped at the opportunity. 

“I have always had a passion for being near the water. It has always played an important role in my life and to find a career pathway where I know I will always be near the ocean. It’s perfect for me,” he said.

He said the career opportunities in the maritime industry seem endless with upward progression, starting off as a deck hand and crew, you can move your way up into first mate, and maybe even a captain one day.

“A career in this industry can take you anywhere around Australia or the world.”

Mitch Hardy was born and raised in Darwin and his life has constantly involved being on the ocean, some of his first memories are sailing with his grandfather, and since then has even sailed across to Indonesia. 

Mr Hardy heard about Fee-Free TAFE courses through a former employer and jumped at the opportunity to start a career in an area he is truly passionate about.

“I have always had a strong connection to the sea, my grandfather was a sailor, it’s something that has always been a part of my life and now I’ve learned it is a viable career option,” Mr Hardy said.

“I have worked a lot of jobs, however getting to work on a boat is more than just a job to me,” he said.

“I wasn’t aware of how broad the commercial Maritime industry is and since enrolling I have learned about all the different career opportunities that are available, I am excited to be a part of it and see where it takes me.” 

Applications for the Certificate II in Maritime Operations are now open for 2025 classes.