The Maldon-based Thames Sailing Barge Trust has been awarded the grant by Trinity House, an ancient organisation founded in 1514 to safeguard shipping and seafarers.
This is the third time the scheme has been supported by Trinity House.
The trust aims to educate people about the historic and cultural role of Thames sailing barges in Britain's seagoing heritage.
It also provides training in traditional seafaring skills needed to sail and maintain the unique barges in their Essex home.
However, the Thames sailing barge community is facing a shortage of skilled crew.
Trust spokesman John Rayment said: "It is vital that new blood is swiftly brought in so precious skills are not lost.
"The pool of talent we can draw upon is shrinking as time goes by, due to an increasingly ageing demographic."
Currently, it can take up to five years to gain sufficient experience to become a mate and ten years to become a skipper.
There are currently only eight skippers under the age of 50 and about 25 mates.
Over the last seven years, the trust has taken on several trainees each year to develop their skills as future third hands, mates, and skippers.
It aims to create a pool of people available to sail the barges in the future.
So far, Trinity House has funded 11 mates and four skippers for the trust.
The latest grant will cover the costs of Royal Yachting Association training courses, books, and hire of barges.
Mr Rayment added: "The trustees are grateful to Trinity House for making this award which will ensure there is sufficient trained crew to sail these iconic vessels, including our sailing barges Centaur and Pudge, well into the future."
The Thames Sailing Barge Trust is a registered charity that exists to preserve two Thames barges in sailing condition and is in its 77th year of operation.
The trust aims to improve the public's understanding of the historic and cultural role of Thames sailing barges in the heritage of Great Britain.
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