The Massachusetts Maritime Academy has opened an offshore wind crew transfer training facility in the US.
The training facility will provide education, training and certification to thousands of residents, including Mass Maritime cadets, as well as skilled labour including electricians, pile drivers, divers and welders, enabling them to work in the emerging offshore wind industry.
It is a partnership between Mass Maritime, the state government and industry, including Vineyard Wind.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said: “As Massachusetts heads toward building the first large scale offshore wind project in the nation, we are pleased that Massachusetts Maritime Academy will be home to this first-in-the-nation training facility.
“With important training infrastructure like this crew transfer facility, thousands of students and trade workers will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to be a part of the growing sector of Massachusetts’ nation-leading clean energy industry and can take advantage of the highly-skilled jobs created by this emerging industry.”
A total of $1.73m came from the Baker-Polito Administration and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC).
MassCEC awarded Mass Martime an initial $50,000 grant for a feasibility study related to the construction of the facility, which was followed by a $500,000 grant in 2017 to support the construction and provide a vessel.
In May, through MassCEC’s Offshore Wind Workforce program, Mass Maritime received $184,000 to establish all five modules of the Global Wind Organization’s basic safety training.
Mass Maritime also received a $1m grant from the Seaport Economic Council in 2017 to support the construction of the facility’s pier.