Tamekia Flack Joins World Shipping Council as Director of US Government Relations
lead WSC’s efforts to advance key safety, security and environmental priorities in the U.S.Flack brings a wealth of experience from her career in maritime transportation law and policy, having most recently served as the Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) following a period as MARAD’s Chief Counsel. Prior to MARAD, Flack was a civilian attorney for the U.S. Coast Guard. Flack is a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps. She holds a Juris Doctorate from Tulane University School of Law and
MARAD’s Centers of Excellence: Addressing Maritime Workforce Needs and Preparing the Next Generation
professional development, all while competing with other industries of similar nature. In today’s global and domestic market, such a task is not easy.In an effort to assist the industry and meaningfully address this pressing and complex issue, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) created a designation program with the goal to help recruit, train and sustain the future workforce of America’s maritime industry. This program designates qualified training facilities as Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE).Marine
Help Wanted: US Maritime Industry Struggles to Fill Key Gaps
A shortage of U.S. mariners presents a major threat to the United States’ national and economic security, and the problem is growing day by day.According to a 2017 study prepared by the Maritime Workforce Working Group and released by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), the estimated pool of U.S. mariners actively sailing with unlimited tonnage credentials was comprised of 11,768 mariners. Assuming that all these mariners would be both willing and available to sail as needed, this number falls 1,839 qualified mariners short of the 13,607 needed to sustain a full activation of the Ready
No Shortage of Good Ideas to Address the Mariner Shortage
The U.S. mariner shortage continues to be a strategic national security concern for all maritime industry stakeholders. So what can the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) do to address the problem?Subcommittees on Readiness, and Seapower and Projection Forces on the “Posture and Readiness of the Mobility Enterprise.” Both Administrator Phillips and Gen. Van Ovost focused on the mariner shortage as a key readiness concern. Gen Van Ovost stated, “The U.S. maritime industry is confronting manpower shortages that create a national security risk. Merchant Mariner
Texas A&M to Reduce Tuition For Merchant Mariner License Students
states on the Gulf Coast, soon helping to ease the pressure of the labor shortage in the industry.”The merchant mariner workforce is declining as workers age and retire, and the industry continues to suffer from a lack of awareness and exposure. The Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), responsible for America’s waterborne transportation systems, and the U.S. Coast Guard testified before Congress last year that the country is facing a national security crisis due to the workforce shortage that has only worsened post-COVID.“The new fee structure demonstrates
SUNY Maritime President to Retire in 2024
from Philly Shipyard. This long-awaited project involved years of conceptualizing, discussing, planning, letter writing, advocacy and testifying before U.S. Congress on the part of RADM Alfultis and many partners: alumni, students, parents, maritime industry partners, state maritime academies, Maritime Administration, elected officials, and other stakeholders. A unique shared effort contributed to the construction of the first U.S. training ship that will be utilized for generations of students to come. “I am deeply grateful for their dedication in seeing this lengthy project through to its fulfillment
Labor Shortages, Climate Change & Technology: They’re All Related
wind industry. More importantly, the federal government just invested nearly $2 billion in the construction of five NSMV training ships in Philadelphia. The program to replace aging academy training vessels has been a discussion for as many years as we have discussed global warming. The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) needs to develop a more inclusive program using these assets outside of the sea time for academy license requirements. The platforms should be made available to train returning veterans, high school marine science programs and union school applicants to help solve the labor shortage
Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Expands Partnership with Local Technical College
frigates for the U.S. Navy. FBS is seeking more candidates for its skilled trades, supporting labor, engineering and management positions.NWTC is designated a Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education, by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD)—the only designated Center of Excellence on the Great Lakes. The college also operates the North Coast Marine Manufacturing Training Center, offers maritime safety training and contracts training for Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette.“NWTC has the flexibility
Cultivating Tomorrow’s Waterways Workforce
creating safe and inclusive workplaces that prioritize prevention of any kind of bullying or harassment, including sexual harassment and assault. To help foster such an environment, AWO is working closely with legal and human resources professionals from member companies, the Coast Guard, the Maritime Administration, and other stakeholders to craft policies and practices that cultivate an inviting workforce culture while also being practicable and effective to implement.While fostering and promoting an appealing culture for a younger, more diverse workforce is critical to recruitment and retention,
MGBW Workers Complete In-house Welding Program
repair and construction facility, is pleased to announce that 30 of its boatbuilders recently graduated from MGBW’s in-house Welding Certification Program. The Welding Program was launched in 2021 with support from a Small Shipyards Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD). In total, $859,250 was spent to develop the curriculum, secure an instructor, equip the welding classroom and sustain the vital program with a cost share of 67% covered by the grant with the remaining expenses covered by MGBW.Welding Department Supervisor Kenny Swanson took pride
Rear Adm Nunan First Woman Appointed USMMA Superintendent
The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration announced the appointment of Rear Admiral Joanna M. Nunan (U.S. Coast Guard, Ret.) as the next superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). Nunan, who spent more than three decades in the U.S. Coast Guard, has commanded units at every level both afloat and ashore. She will begin work at the Academy in a few weeks.Rear Admiral Nunan retired earlier this year as the Coast Guard’s Deputy for Personnel Readiness. In that role, she oversaw the Coast Guard’s entire personnel enterprise, including the recruitment
Maritime Training: MARAD Accepting Applications for Centers of Excellence
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced Tuesday that it is accepting applications for Centers of Excellence (CoE) designations to recognize and support community or technical colleges and maritime training centers that prepare Americans for careers in the maritime industry.The effort, which comes amid challenges presented by supply chain disruptions and climate change, aims to expand equitable opportunities for good paying jobs and prepares workers for successful future careers in the maritime industry, MARAD said.“These Centers of Excellence are
Ann Phillips Confirmed as Next MARAD Administrator
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Ann C. Phillips as Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), filling a position that has been left vacant at the Department of Transportation (DOT) since January 2021. Phillips was confirmed by a vote of 75-22.Phillips, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, takes over as head of the DOT's maritime agency amid continued shipping and supply chain disruption as well as historic levels of government funding for maritime and port infrastructure projects. She succeeds Mark Buzby, who resigned from the role in the wake of the insurrection at the U.S.
Rodriguez Appointed Interim Director of MITAGS
in several billets supporting military sealift and maritime security, including a deployment in 2006 to support special operations at sea, and service as a commercial maritime subject matter expert at Military Sealift Command.In 2014, Rodriguez was appointed as the deputy administrator at the Maritime Administration (MARAD). In 2017, he became the 15th superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy (TAMMA).Rodriguez retired from the Navy reserve in 2019 at the rank of Captain and returned to his home in Maryland early in 2020. Following the 2020 election, Rodriguez served as the maritime subject
New Bill Aims to Address Sexual Misconduct in the Merchant Marine
license if the individual is found to have committed sexual harassment or sexual assault;Include commission of sexual assault as an independent and explicit ground for suspension or revocation, and add sexual harassment as a new form of misconduct on which a license could be lost; andRequire the Maritime Administration and the Coast Guard to assess the applicability of the DoD’s Catch a Serial Offender program to the merchant marine, and, if so, how such a program would be implemented. -Track incidents of SASH and collecting student feedback:Establish a sexual assault and sexual harassment
CCRI Designated as Maritime Training Center of Excellence
Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration announced the designation of 27 Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE), recognizing community colleges and training institutions that prepare students for careers in the U.S. maritime industry.One of the 27 schools and institutions recognized is the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI).The designation allows CCRI to work with MARAD to enter into cooperative agreements to help advance recruitment of students and faculty, enhance facilities, award student credit for military
MARAD Announces Maritime Training Centers of Excellence
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) on Wednesday announced the designation of 27 Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE), recognizing community colleges and training institutions that prepare students for careers in the U.S. maritime industry.“Our collaboration with these institutions represents an important expansion of MARAD’s role in supporting maritime education and will help form pathways to good-paying American jobs in our nation’s maritime industry,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary
