Page 20: of Marine News Magazine (August 2023)

19 21

Column

Workforce technological changes we are facing with energy, emissions ways can solve the problem. Shipping and shipbuilding and climate change will demand a new level of training, cer- have history in New England. History needs to repeat itself.

ti? cations and maintenance demands for all of these skill sets. The Marine Science Pathway at Brien McMahon High

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) claims we are School is a ? eld-based, four-year program offering students short 90,000 seafarers worldwide. Our current Administra- a hands-on experience in all aspects of marine science. The tion claims it will create tens of thousands of new jobs tied initial program is locally centric in Norwalk, Conn., where to U.S. offshore wind alone. How do we ? ll those positions? there is a large recreational boating community and a ma-

Within our domestic shipping, coastal and offshore in- rine biology in? uence from The Maritime Aquarium and dustries, the issue now extends beyond the repeated claim local oyster farming. Areas of science, aquaculture and me- of national security. We now seek industrial security. chanics can present career opportunities within the stu-

Education in the United States is also changing, and if dents’ hometown. We need to pique an interest beyond you take an interest as a business owner you will hear the that local opportunity.

word “pathways” in many of the discussions. New England Various technologies, college, career opportunities and high schools have long recognized the value of developing experiences through internships and apprenticeships are pathways that meet the needs and interests of their stu- included in the program. Amtech has worked with two dents and surrounding industries. My company Alternative interns to date, one who continued his path through the

Marine Technologies (Amtech) has taken an interest in as- Navy nuclear program, and another as she entered Annap- sisting the Brian McMahon High School Marine Science olis. We believe the pathway needs to expand into com-

Academy in Norwalk, Conn. to learn how marine path- mercial shipping careers at sea, supporting not only the surrounding maritime academies, but also careers that do not require higher education to go directly to work. As a result, we are reaching out to industry to help us support the high school programs, grow the programs and provide sponsorship support.

We met with Eva Bartush, Marine Science Academy Co- ordinator and Stephanie Tom, IBCP, or International Bac- calaureate Career Pathway Coordinator, to discuss their “miniboats” program. On May 31, 2022, the students built and launched a solar powered “drifter” hull to track a voy- age across the Atlantic Ocean. Students in the program de- signed and built the boat, and then tracked it by satellite.

The project allowed them to learn about ocean currents, weather, hull integrity and GPS technology. The ? rst drifter launched off the U.S. East Coast completed an autonomous voyage and was eventually safely collected by a second group of students in Norway. The Norwegian students continued the voyage into the Norwegian Fiords and farther North.

What was our initial take on the project? This group of students not only completed a successful autonomous voyage but also met the IMO MEPC zero emissions goals during that voyage. They get it, and they are not waiting 30 years to make changes to their world.

Brien McMahon High School students recently sent

We have no less than four maritime academies located in a “drifter” on a voyage from the U.S. to Norway.

the Tri-State/New England area stretching from New York

Robert Kunkel 20 | MN August 2023