The United States Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has named the Guam Shipyard in Tamuning as one of 27 Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE). The CoE designation recognizes community colleges and training institutions that prepare students for careers in our nation’s maritime industry. In addition to Guam, these academic institutions are located in 16 states.

“Our collaboration with these institutions represents an important expansion of MARAD’s role in supporting maritime education and will help form pathways to good-paying American jobs in our nation’s maritime industry,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

MARAD may now start working with the designated institutions to enter into cooperative agreements to help advance recruitment of students and faculty, enhance facilities, award student credit for military service, and potentially receive assistance in the form of surplus equipment or temporary use of MARAD vessels.

Guam Shipyard, which has been operating on Guam, a U.S. territory in the western Pacific Ocean, since 1997, is the only MARAD-designated training centre in the Pacific. The shipyard, a private ship repair and maintenance contractor, serves the U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command (MSC), the U.S. Coast Guard’s ships and submarines, as well as commercial customers in the western Pacific region. Its maritime training centre has a multi-faceted workforce development program, which includes a U.S. Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship programme (leading to a journeyman certification in the respective trade), a pre-apprentice programme (providing participants additional resources and classes to better position them for success), and participation in the Passport-to-Careers (Youth) programme conducted with the Guam Department of Labor and the Academy of Human Resource Development. Guam Shipyard also follows a lifelong learning continuum framework for career development and retention. 

Authorized under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2018, the CoE program is designed to assist the maritime industry in gaining and sustaining a well-trained labour force while enhancing diversity and inclusion in the industry. 

“The CoE designations recognize the high standard of maritime education and training provided by the designated community and technical colleges and maritime training centres. These institutions play vital roles in our nation’s maritime industry by providing the training and skills students need to begin and advance careers afloat and ashore,” said Acting Maritime Administrator Lucinda Lessley.

Information regarding the CoE program and the application process was disseminated through Federal Register notices. Successful applicants include accredited community colleges, technical colleges, and maritime training centres under state supervision. A searchable, interactive map is available to provide information on each CoE designee. For additional information, please visit Centers of Excellence on the MARAD website.