Page 53: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q1 2016)

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At that time, the median age of Deck Of? cers was early/mid ? fties and there was a very real concern to ? ll the upcoming slots with capable, well trained mariners. The Workboat

Academy has grown over the 10 years of its existence, but more importantly has gained the respect of companies and mariners.

– Workboat Academy Director

Marja Pietersom

Workboat Academy over the years have also pledged similar

Just Over the Horizon

As 2016 kicks into high gear in a choppy business climate, support towards this effort and will each take between two further dragged under by the sagging fortunes of the offshore and six apprentices during the ? rst year – 2017, according to oil & gas industry, WBA is hardly sitting still, waiting for the Pietersom – the new program will be up and running.

2016 is and will be a dif? cult and exciting year. With the oil next rebound. To that end, Seattle Central College, Seattle

Maritime Academy, the Maritime Institute of Technology & prices at an all-time low and some vessels laid up due to the pe-

Graduate Studies-Paci? c Maritime Institute and the Workboat troleum crisis, it becomes harder for Partner Companies to jus- tify taking an apprentice. Those partners, nevertheless, remain

Academy have received a $5 million American Apprentice- ship Innovation Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to effusive in their praise. Dale Sause, with Sause Bros., a staunch supporter of WBA, said “It is our contention that graduates of the help build a new apprenticeship program.

According to Foss, through the grant, more 150 engineers PMI program entering our ? eet may be the most well-rounded and thoroughly prepared mates available to the industry today.” will be trained over the next ? ve years, both in Seattle and Bal-

Pietersom therefore remains optimistic. “We are fortunate timore. Notably, the engineering program will mirror Work- boat Academy’s deck apprenticeship. Engineering cadets will that many of our Partner Companies feel that this is the right blend time in the classroom with simulation, and apply this time to train new mariners, but not all are able to do so. The effects have been hitting our Partner Companies in the Gulf of knowledge to real work aboard vessels. The candidate’s li- cense will depend on the type of partner company vessels and Mexico the hardest and some had to close their doors.” On the other hand, if the barriers to entry in this sector weren’t enough the routes where cadets gain sea time as an apprentice. “This partnership exists to respond to the growing need to prevent the WBA from standing up more than ten years ago, then it is likely that today’s economy also won’t stop it from not for more trained marine engineers,” says Scott Merritt, Se- nior Vice President, Harbor Services. “Working together, we only surviving, but also thriving – and continuing to innovate.

aim to train hundreds, if not thousands, of new apprentices in the maritime and advanced manufacturing ? elds.”

Marja Pietersom adds, “In the ? rst year of the program, we will train approxi- mately 4 of Foss apprentices, but as men- tioned earlier, there were many companies involved in receiving this grant, who were part of the original PMTIP since 2006.

Some of those operating companies in ad- dition to Foss Maritime Company includ- ed Western Towboat Company, Crowley

Marine Services, Dunlap Towing Compa- ny, Sause Bros., Harley Marine Services and Kirby Offshore Marine.”

Partner Companies who joined the www.maritimeprofessional.com Maritime Professional 53| | 50-63 Q1 MP2016.indd 53 2/29/2016 11:43:28 AM