Bollinger Shipyards has partnered with the Gulfport School District in Mississippi to establish a work-based learning program for high school students interested in shipbuilding careers.
The Bollinger NextGen Shipbuilders program will provide Gulfport High School students with hands-on instruction in welding, pipefitting, marine electrical work, maritime carpentry, rigging and fitting.
Students will train at Bollinger’s new training facility under the instruction of shipbuilders and skilled-trades professionals. The program will combine classroom lessons with training in an industrial setting and introduce students to potential career paths at the shipyard.
“Our industry depends on highly skilled tradespeople, and this program gives students early exposure to the tools, training and mentorship they need to succeed while strengthening the Gulf Coast workforce for years to come,” Bollinger president and CEO Ben Bordelon said in a statement.
Jennifer Hornback, the Gulfport School District’s career and technical education director, said the partnership will give students industry experience and a potential path to employment with Bollinger following graduation.
The program is intended to help students develop job-ready skills before graduating while expanding the pool of skilled workers available to the Gulf Coast shipbuilding industry.
