Demand is growing for international business professionals trained in the maritime industry as commerce continues to expand in the Houston area, one of the world’s largest regions for international trade. Photo: Port of Houston

By Ellie Ashford, Published March 30, 2012

Increasing opportunities for skilled workers at the Port of Houston has propelled San Jacinto College (SJC) in Texas to purchase 13 waterfront acres for a new U.S. Coast Guard-approved maritime vessel operation training program.The new facility will have classrooms, advanced navigation and engineering labs, various radar and electronic systems and interactive mission ship, towboat and tugboat simulators, according to SJC.

 When completed, the waterfront property will include a dock for lifeboats, fast rescue boats and visiting vessels that can be used for training. Students will also be able to observe container and cargo operations at the port.

 The program’s growth is being prompted by the expansion of the Panama Canal in 2014 and an aging maritime workforce. A 2011 study of compensation reported that 60 percent of maritime workers are 50 or older and less than 1 percent are under 25.

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