Page 24: of Marine News Magazine (July 2013)

Looking towards the future and with a weather eye on what could come next, Oregon-based Vigor Industrial launched a six-month training program this July in weld- ing, fabricating and ? tting with South Seattle Community College at a new center on Harbor Island. Vigor acquired the site overlooking downtown Seattle when it bought Todd Paci? c Shipyards in 2011. And, as an active bidder for the U.S. Coast Guards coveted Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program, Vigor also knows that theyll need to per- form when the time comes. A skilled workforce will be an important part of that equation. Training will be the key. As one of Seattles oldest industries, shipbuilding is holding its own against foreign competition. This spring, South Seattle Community College promoted its new Har- bor Island welding program, saying Maritime industry booming! Help wanted!? Located at one of Vigors ship- yards, the Harbor Island Training Center will serve compa- nies in the Puget Sound region. The centers initial class of 24 students is enrolled in a program that will end in mid- December, when grads will earn their welding certi? cates. WEST COAST WEIGH-INVigor Industrial, with 2,000 employees, is the top pro- vider of shipbuilding and repair services in the Paci? c Northwest and Alaska. The company produces cargo ships, work boats, barges, ferries and ? shing vessels. Work- ers maintain icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard and ren- ovate aircraft carriers for the U.S. Navy. Our new Seattle training program will give students skills they need for family-wage jobs at industries in the area,? said Sue Hal- ey, Vigors senior vice president of human resources, last month. We dont necessarily have enough people coming Vigor Industrial Opens Maritime Training Center on Seattle?s Harbor Island By Susan Buchanan Laying the Keel; Carefully Laying the Keel; Carefully Image above: welding demonstration at Harbor Island training center on June 7.July 201324 MNMN July2013 Layout 18-31.indd 246/28/2013 10:26:18 AM