AB&B Marketing, a division of AB&B Ergonomics, signed an agreement Tuesday with The Maritime Academy of Toledo Foundation to assist in marketing and organizing two job retraining programs --- Cruise Ship Professional Development and the U.S. Coast Guard approved Basic Safety Training.
The agreement was negotiated between Ms. Betty Osenbaugh, president, AB&B Ergonomics, and Ms. Renee Marazon, CEO, The Maritime Academy of Toledo Foundation. The agreement was approved by The Maritime Academy Foundation Board at its meeting Tuesday. The Cruise Ship Professional Development program is aimed at training people for a variety of high-profile positions aboard cruise ships. Meanwhile the Basic Safety Training is a requirement for those working or who wish to pursue a job in the maritime industry. The program will supplement the Cruise Ship Professional Development training. The Basic Safety Training will also be marketed to companies in the maritime industry whose workers need the required training.
The resources available include the former American Maritime Officers (AMO) Building located at 803 Water St. in Downtown Toledo. The $10 million facility was constructed in 2003 for the AMO Union to provide training for its members. Between 2003 and 2008, some 1,000 to 1,500 maritime professionals annually received training at the facility. In 2008, the AMO Union consolidated its operation in Florida, leaving the Toledo facility vacant. The Maritime Academy of Toledo, a grade 5 -12 college prep charter school with a nautical-based theme, leased the facility in 2009. In June 2011, the school purchased the building from the AMO Union for $2.5 million.
The new home of The Maritime Academy of Toledo has classrooms, large and small conference rooms, boat building lab, galley, laundry facilities, office space, swimming pool, workout area, dorm rooms, and more. “We arranged numerous tours of the facility for state and local officials as well as community leaders. All come away with the same reaction --- They were not aware that we had these types of resources available for maritime job retraining in Toledo,” said Ms. Osenbaugh. She said she intends to work with Ms. Marazon to re-develop other resources left by AMO Union in 2008.
“The AMO union also left behind state-of-the-art Navigation, Bridge, and Engine Room simulators. These are the same types of simulators used by the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard for their training. Now we can eventually market those to the companies in the maritime industry --- An industry that the Bureau of Labor Statistics says will grow by 15-percent by 2018,” Ms. Osenbaugh said. According to The Maritime Academy Foundation, the course work for the Cruise Ship Professional Development will include a stringent qualification process to ensure that an applicant will be able to meet the demands of a career in the cruise line industry. There will be a series of medical and physical tests leading to a series of certifications required for certain cruise line positions.
“Each cruise line has their own requirements when it comes to employment. It is our goal with this program that every applicant leaves their training with a portfolio of information that documents background checks, employment history, medical and physical testing, crowd control training, passenger training, other required certifications, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard approved Basic Safety training,” said Ms. Osenbaugh.
The required Basis Safety Training is part of the U.S. Coast Guard approved Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW). This course is required for all mariners. The course includes personal survival, personal and social responsibility, basic first aid, and basic firefighting. Students are assessed using written tests and demonstration of proficiency in all courses.
“We will be marketing this to three primary areas. College graduates who may be having a difficult time finding a job in their chosen field elsewhere, and who might want to gain valuable experience working in the cruise line industry. Obviously we will market to those unemployed who are simply looking for an opportunity. We will also market to early retirees --- Those workers who might not be ready to retire but lost their positions due to the economy. Most have skills that the cruise line industry would consider an asset,” said Ms. Osenbaugh.
Those interested in more information on the Cruise Ship Professional Development and / or the Basic Safety Training programs can call The Maritime Academy of Toledo at 419-244-9999. They may also visit www.themaritimefoundation.us