Trainee Marine Engineer (2026)
Date: 21 Apr 2026
Location: NZ
Company: Sealord Group Ltd
Sealord is the largest seafood company in the Southern Hemisphere. And with more than 60 years of fishing experience, farming, processing, and marketing operations, our business consistently delivers quality seafood to our customers around the world.
Established in 1961, Nelson Sealord is half owned by the Māori people of New Zealand, through Moana New Zealand (Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd), and half owned by global seafood company Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd (Nissui). Sealord is one of the largest quota holders in New Zealand with partners and subsidiaries around the world through Nissui’s global links. Sealord Group has fishing operations, which include all deep-water fishing activities as well as international and joint venture deep fishing activities, in New Zealand and Australia.
Launch Your Career as a Trainee Marine Engineer with Sealord
At Sealord, we don’t just offer jobs—we build careers. We foster an innovative, safety-focused environment where our people thrive. With a strong, positive culture and a commitment to developing talent, it’s no surprise our employees consistently describe Sealord as an employer of choice.
We are proud of our people-first approach, offering structured career development, coaching, succession planning, and promotion from within. Our performance-driven culture is supported by meaningful reward and recognition programmes that celebrate excellence and achievement.
About the Opportunity
We’re growing our team of over 1,200 employees and are now seeking Trainee Marine Engineers to join our fleet.
- Location: Nelson-based (flights to non-Nelson ports covered by Sealord)
- Roster: 2–6 weeks on / 2–6 weeks off
- Package: Paid voyage + retainer + performance bonus
This is a unique opportunity to learn while you earn, building a long-term, global career in marine engineering. If you’re passionate about machinery and ready for a challenge, this role offers an exciting pathway into a highly rewarding industry.
What You’ll Gain
- Hands-on experience working with a wide variety of vessel machinery
- Ongoing mentoring from experienced Chief Engineers, 1st Engineers, and Marine Engineering Superintendent
- Structured training programme with a competency workbook
- Support to achieve your MEC qualification and become a fully certified Marine Engineer
- Long-term career progression opportunities within Sealord
About You
We’re looking for motivated, practical individuals who are eager to grow. You may:
- Hold (or be working towards) a MEC 6 ticket, or require sea time
- Have a trade background (e.g. diesel mechanic, fitter/turner)
- Have hands-on experience maintaining or repairing machinery
- Simply have a strong passion for engines, vehicles, or mechanical systems
What It Takes to Succeed
Life at sea is both challenging and rewarding. You’ll thrive if you bring:
- A positive, can-do attitude and strong teamwork
- A commitment to safety and following procedures
- Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic environment
- Respect for your crew, vessel, and the ocean
You’ll work 12-hour shifts (12 on / 12 off), with all meals prepared onboard by our experienced cooks.
Why Sealord?
A career at sea is unlike any other—adventurous, challenging, and deeply rewarding. At Sealord, you’ll enjoy:
- A stable, long-term career pathway
- Ongoing training and development
- Competitive pay and structured time off
- A supportive, tight-knit team culture
- An exceptional work-life balance through rotational rosters
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re ready to start an exciting career at sea and have the right to work in New Zealand, we’d love to hear from you.
👉 Submit your CV today and follow the application steps
👉 Visit our careers page to learn more about life at Sealord
This is more than a job—it’s your opportunity to build a career that takes you places
If you're keen to work at sea and have the right to work in New Zealand, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and follow the application steps; feel free to visit our careers page to read more about us. Current Vacancies
If you're keen to work at sea and have the right to work in New Zealand, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and follow the application steps; feel free to visit our careers page to read more about us. Current Vacancies |