Washington Maritime Careers

More than 100 students from our region's high schools toured PME and checked out the diversity of the industry and its career opportunities!

The 2024?International WorkBoat Show?conference kicked off with a presentation by Rear Adm. Chad Cary of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), detailing the NOAA fleet and future modernization efforts. Cary shared that NOAA operates the world’s second-largest government research fleet, comprised of 15 ships, 10 aircraft, and an expanding fleet of uncrewed systems. This fleet supports diverse missions, including nautical charting, fisheries research, oceanography, and deep-sea exploration, with a presence from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico and along the U.S. East Coast.? https://lnkd.in/ged6GuA4

Each year @WorkBoat recognizes significant boat builds. This year two Washington State builds were on Significant Boats 2024 list: (1) Snow & Co. for Resilience; and (2) Brix Marine for Jackpot Bay.?It’s always great to see the great work coming from Washington recognized!?To see the full list of Significant Boats 2024, click on the following link: https://lnkd.in/gqiAJ4Mv.?

“The Trades Training Centre is crucial for closing the existing skills gap in the marine trades while also developing a diverse and inclusive workforce,” says John McCarthy, Seaspan Shipyards’ CEO. A modern and full equipped facility will provide training in specialized trades within a culturally responsive environment that fosters inclusivity and community engagement. The advanced classrooms and adaptable shop spaces are being designed to meet the evolving requirements of the marine trades. https://lnkd.in/gmsJa3sZ

The Maritime Career Immersion program (formerly known as Real World Readiness) started in 2018 to create the opportunity for young people to gain both the durable skills of leadership, confidence, responsibility, and teamwork, and the hard skills to potentially move into a maritime career. The program is open to youth ages 16-19 local to our community who are distanced from opportunities that can help them find a fulfilling career. Whether this distance comes from court involvement, family troubles, or disengagement in school, we welcome them into the maritime community and equip them with the skills they need to build the life that they want. This program includes a 90-hour internship facilitated by Northwest Maritime instructors. After completion of the program, the NWM team will support students in navigating their maritime community network in order to pursue their interests and goals. Students receive a $1,000 stipend upon the completion of the program. School credits are available. https://lnkd.in/gMAuiQ_A

A recurring theme throughout the session was the need for stronger collaboration between maritime schools, industry leaders, and local communities. Capt. Elizabeth Simmons, vice president of external affairs at?Massachusetts Maritime Academy,?summed it up well when she stated, “We're not going to do the thing that we're trying to accomplish without partners.” She emphasized that partnerships are crucial in addressing the workforce gap, particularly in maritime education and training. Simmons pointed out that the collective efforts of maritime academies, community colleges, and private companies can create a powerful network to attract, train, and retain talent. https://lnkd.in/gKpPeGKy

Wild Alaska Pollock has a story worth sharing—and now, thanks to our bold social media strategy, it’s reaching new audiences in exciting ways. The Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers have focused on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts to connect with Gen Z and Millennials, using humor, trends, and their beloved mascot, Dutch, to create content that’s as engaging as it is entertaining. The results? Over 1.7 million impressions, a 3,274% increase in engagement, and a community that’s more curious than ever about Wild Alaska Pollock—all without spending a single dollar on ads. It’s a great case study in seafood and maritime marketing. Learn more about this amazing effort via their blog.?

This year’s FERRIES 2024 conference was the largest of its kind ever held on the West Coast and focused on pressing issues facing the industry, including sustainability, technological advancements, and operational challenges. Keynote sessions and panels featured experts discussing topics such as the future of zero-emission ferry technology, green funding opportunities for ferry operators, and the latest developments in hydrogen fuel cell-powered vessels. https://lnkd.in/gqXZnPqK

People carry a lot of thoughts and feelings, which are completely valid, and it’s essential to foster an environment that allows the group to be present and address what needs to be discussed in order to advance the training topic. Our training is grounded in the development of critical thinking skills through a social justice framework. Why is this important to Sea Potential? The number of individuals fortunate enough to be less affected by social justice issues is steadily decreasing and if you find yourself newly aware of these dynamics, welcome! We will explore how to incorporate these topics into your processing skills. For those who have always felt the impact of social justice issues, we aim to build your capacity to articulate these concepts and implement ideas and solutions in your current and future professional and educational relationships. By grounding our training in a social justice framework, we center collective power to drive change. With this understanding of training and the parameters guiding our interactions, let’s get into the reflection. https://lnkd.in/gF79Ew7T

Don't miss the Washington Maritime Blue "State of the Blue."