Page 37: of Marine News Magazine (October 2020)

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SHIPYARD JOBS

A littoral combat ship is moved from an indoor production facility at Marinette

Marine in preparation for launch.

U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Marinette Marine by Val Ihde lows all employees to be invested in the company as share- holders, plays a positive role in attracting talent. Having 75 years of shipyard experience and history with a great HR team and vast employee database helps too, he said.

Colonna’s and other yards such as Detyens Shipyards in Charleston, S.C. and Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. have found success with apprenticeship programs that provide a mix of academic instruction and on-the-job training. Tak- ing this to the next level, The Apprentice School at Hun- tington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division in Newport News, Va. is approved by the state of

Virginia to operate as a postsecondary institution.

Bob Merchent, CEO of Halter Marine in Pascagoula,

Miss., said the need to strengthen and grow a skilled labor force for its U.S. Coast Guard Polar Security build program is “both a blessing and a challenge”. So, the shipyard created an apprenticeship program with the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Community College that provides on-the-job training, classroom training and a progressive wage increase as par- ticipants reach milestones. “We are off to a very good start,”

Merchent said, noting 10 students are enrolled in each of the ? ve craft labor disciplines (welding, ship ? tting, pipe ? tting, pipe welding and electrical) for a total of 50 apprentices.

“I’m very excited to see this ? rst class of apprentices,”

Merchent said. “Future shipyard leaders often begin their careers through apprentice programs, so we likely now have a future vice president or even a CEO in this class.” 37 www.marinelink.com MN