PASCAGOULA, Miss. - VT Halter Marine shipbuilding is creating jobs and, through its newly-formed partnership with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), training apprentices to fill them. The apprenticeship is designed in on-the-job and classroom training, and a progressive wage increase as participants reach milestones. It offers training in the craft labor fields of welding, ship and pipe fitting, pipe welding and electrical. With the exception of pipe welding, each of the apprenticeship programs is four years. Pipe welding is three years. Ten students are enrolled in each of the five disciplines for a total of 50 apprentices. “Because of our contract with the U.S. Coast Guard to build the new Polar Security Cutter, we must double our workforce," said Bob Merchent, President/CEO of Halter Marine. The Polar Security Cutter program is "making us more sustainable for the future and that of our employees who will have job security for many years.” The students are following a maritime technology curriculum approved by the Mississippi Community College Board that comprises of 10-to-12 classes in support of craft, plus management/leadership classes. The classes are being taught as non-credit, workforce classes, but the apprentices will have the opportunity to convert their non-credit classes into credit through competency-based exams. The program is a new workforce-training model for Halter Marine to ensure consistently high-quality shipbuilders. Apprentices will be assigned to employee mentors to guide them throughout the program. Halter Marine plans to begin new registered apprentices each fall for several years, according to Gayle Brown, MGCCC grants and special projects developer. Six other crafts have been approved by the U.S. Department of Labor for Halter Marine. (Source: VT Halter Marine 10/08/20)
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