Shipyards: Always on job hunt

American shipyards form a major economic engine that supports nearly 400K jobs, $25.1B of labor income and $37.3B in gross domestic product, according to federal Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD). It’s a good thing, then, that U.S. shipyards were deemed essential businesses amid COVID-19 and have for the most part remained up and running during the pandemic. Most yards have been able to keep their workers employed and others are actively hiring. There are three busy yard on the Gulf Coast with hefty backlogs of work, Texas-based Gulf Copper & Manufacturing is looking for 20-30 more staff for project support. Edison Chouest Offshore, with yards in Louisiana and Mississippi, recently announced it will build and operate the first-ever U.S.-flagged Jones Act compliant service operations vessel (SOV), used for offshore wind farm operation. ST Engineering-Halter Marine and Offshore is expanding in Pascagoula with a $10M corporate investment to create 100 jobs and adding equipment, dock space, and water depth to handle larger ships and oil platforms. Eastern Shipbuilding Group in NW Florida hires workers in a wide range of hands-on shipbuilding roles. Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana has both professional/staff administration and production trades/crafts openings. Louisiana-Alabama based Metal Shark has job openings in Jeanerette and Franklin, La. While shipyards need steady talent, one issue has been the stream of qualified candidates available. Finding and retaining skilled workers is also a perennial challenge. (Source: Marine Link 11/02/20) https://www.marinelink.com/news/us-shipyards-always-job-hunt-482900