The Alliance
The National Maritime Workforce Alliance is a multi-state collaboration involving community and technical colleges. The Alliance colleges are located in coastal areas, the Great Lakes, and inland waterways throughout the country. These institutions are seeking to make continuous improvements in their capacity to provide students with the academic and technical skills needed to be successful in maritime, port and marine technology related workforce.
The maritime industry requires technical skills training and licensing – even for entry-level positions. To earn appropriate credentials for each level of maritime industry employment, workers must complete regular training. This training is essential for jobs both “afloat” and “ashore” that promote economic development and prosperity along the nation’s coasts, ports, Great Lakes, and inland waterways. Community and technical colleges can provide this essential training for domestic maritime workers, on an affordable basis.
Congress has recognized that, unless action is taken to expand the availability of maritime workforce technical training, the aging-out of the maritime workforce, technological advancements, and the lack of trained workers are factors compounding a domestic maritime industry workforce shortage. The FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) created the Domestic Maritime Centers of Excellence program, to help community and technical colleges develop education and training programs to secure the talent pipeline for the nation’s maritime workforce. The National Maritime Workforce Alliance functions as the stakeholder organization working with the federal government in connection with this new national program.
