National Maritime Education Council News

The National Maritime Education Council (NMEC) informs that Michael S. Torrech, CEO of American Maritime Holdings, a leader in the repair, shipbuilding, and maritime industry, has been named as its new chairman to succeed John Lotshaw of Huntington-Ingalls Shipbuilding. Mr. Torrech, a founder of the NMEC, will lead the organization's strategic development of a national standardized maritime workforce program that addresses the critical issues facing the industry. "I am passionate about helping the maritime industry develop and deploy a workforce development program and curricula that will be available throughout the United States," said Mr. Torrech. Tim Johnson, Executive Director of the NMEC, is looking forward to working with Mr. NMEC explains that Michael S.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently cited a shipyard for 61 alleged violations of workplace safety and health standards. Faced with $293,450 in proposed fines, the shipyard’s alleged violations include electrical hazards, such as failure to guard lights from damage, failure to provide effective electrical grounding for equipment, failure to provide covers on electrical box openings, and failure to ensure wiring was protected from abrasion and strain.

When it comes to training, recruitment and retention issues – serious matters facing all maritime employers today – John Lotshaw probably knows better than most; what’s best for you. And, no matter what end of the maritime business model that you hail from, the challenge of hiring good people, training them and keeping them on payroll is an ongoing problem. Lotshaw joined Ingalls Shipbuilding in August of 2002 as the Director of Trades at the Avondale Site, responsible for workforce development and training and Operations support.

Chris Bollinger sets the table for an exciting 2013 & beyond. Maritime Reporter caught up with Chris Bollinger on a recent trip to the Gulf Coast for the October 26, 2012, christening of Bollinger’s latest newbuild; the first two of four tugboats in Crowley Maritime’s ocean class series, Ocean Wave and Ocean Wind. Directly on the heels of those two hulls are the next in series; Ocean Sun and Ocean Sky. The event, attended by more than 250 guests and employees from both the Crowley and Bollinger families, underscored the upbeat mood at the diverse, Gulf Coast shipbuilding and repair group. The most visible manifestations of the recent uptick of business at Bollinger include the U.S.

With skilled craftsmen in short supply in U.S. coastal areas, many shipbuilders turn to their own, sometimes extensive, internal training. Because fewer young people are entering shipbuilding out of high school, the industry is faced with an aging workforce that will soon have to be replaced. As good jobs for shipfitters and welders go begging, industry leaders say it's way past time to spread the word about these opportunities. Pascagoula, Miss.-based John Lotshaw directs Operations Workforce Training and Development at Huntington-Ingalls Industries (HII).

The high cost of recruiting, hiring and training  the thousands of skilled shipbuilding and repair professionals needed across the country each year, coupled with the need to increase productivity has left executives in the industry searching for answers. In response to this need, industry leaders recently launched a national initiative called the Lighthouse Campaign. On December 6-7, 2011, the leadership team of the Lighthouse Campaign sent representatives to a meeting at NCCER headquarters in Alachua, Florida.