NEW BEDFORD, MA – On Thursday, July 8, elected officials and community leaders got to tour the future National Offshore Wind Institute (NOWI) training facility in New Bedford (pictured above). It’s a partnership between Denmark-based Maersk Training and Bristol Community College (BCC), and in the near future it will offer hands-on safety training and classroom technical training. (LEARN MORE HERE.)
Though the facility is aways from being operational, BCC isn’t wasting any time entering the offshore wind training field of study.
Indeed, beginning on August 11, 2021 it will be offering online Offshore Wind Orientation classes.
“This 2-day, 4-hour class (8am-10am) is aimed at those looking to understand more about the sector, with the intention of becoming part of the supply chain, or for satisfying general interest in this emerging industry.
“Equally, the course aims to provide students with a broad vocabulary of offshore wind and the confidence to engage with offshore wind professionals in a coherent manner,” the school states.
BCC notes that, even as NOWI is being built out, it is important to begin instruction now. The orientation classes are a prerequisite to all other Offshore Wind classes. Therefore, they have scheduled an opportunity roughly each month through December to take the two-day, four hour class. (You can register for each and learn more AT THIS LINK.)
As Vineyard Wind Manager of Workforce and Supply Chain Development Jen Cullen says, “The training that they are offering here, we will absolutely need for the workforce that we’ll be sending onshore. We’re looking really to train as many locals into the workforce as we can.”
BCC cites these statistics in the course offering: The U.S. Department of Energy forecasts the industry will employ 43,000 people along the East Coast by 2030, and as a result, will create thousands of jobs in southeastern Massachusetts, providing area residents career opportunities in the emerging 21st-century global economy. “
So, while NOWI is being built at 198 Herman Melville Boulevard along the New Bedford waterfront, you can start building your offshore wind credentials beginning this summer and fall. The classes are instructed by Dr. Alan Lowdon, Director of Strategic Development for NOWI. And once again, you can register AT THIS LINK.
- The New Bedford Ocean Cluster works collaboratively with a range of private sector, public sector and academic partners to establish New Bedford as the leading ocean economy on the East Coast. If you’re interested in aligning your marine-based business or organization with the cluster, contact us here.