Hurricane Katrina significantly impacted New Orleans’ various industries, leaving many businesses and organizations unable to re-establish themselves in a noticeably smaller community and economy.  The Maritime Industry’s need for qualified employees is approaching a crisis, forcing industry personnel to consider alternative ways of attracting and grooming potential employees. 

Given the current state of post-Katrina education, Maritime Industry personnel, educators, and government officials gathered under the leadership of United Way’s School to Career program to explore the possibility of forming a Maritime Charter High School in New Orleans.

With a New Orleans Maritime Charter High School, the Maritime Industry would be provided with a regular pool of qualified candidates who are likely to become dedicated professionals, making a career of the Maritime Industry. The students will benefit by being trained while in high school for a great, well paying career, which they may not have been exposed to otherwise. These types of programs have been successful in other parts of the nation, with maritime consortiums made up of seafarers’ unions, industry, training providers, government, and local school boards.

On February 1st at Kingsley House, an initial meeting was held to discuss and explore ideas on a possible Maritime Charter School.  The overwhelming consensus of the attendees - which included school principals, school district officials, university personnel, marine vessel owners and operators, maritime attorneys, maritime union officials, mariner association representatives, and representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Maritime Administration - was enthusiastic and dedicated to further support the project.  The meeting was hosted by Sue Burge of School To Career and local maritime industry consultant Kevin Gilheany.  Burge and Gilheany joined forces after recognizing the possible symbiotic relationship of a maritime charter school, which would benefit both the struggling Maritime Industry and the lacking New Orleans education system.

Although the process leading to the establishment of a Maritime High School is strenuous, steps are already being made, such as the creation of a steering committee and a second collaborative meeting open to the public.  Currently, some marine vessel owners have already volunteered their commercial vessels as training platforms for the school, and some schools have already committed to forming maritime academies which will serve as a stepping stone to a full maritime charter high school.

For more information contact: Sue Burge, United Way School to Career Program at (504) 827- 6829, sueb@unitedwaynola.org; or Kevin Gilheany, Maritime Compliance International, LLC at (504) 319-3229, info@marcomint.com