Florida yacht service apprenticeship program becomes reality

Young people looking for a future in the yachting industry have a new path to such a career with Florida’s first registered Yacht Service Technician Apprenticeship, which will provide attendees a basic set of shipyard skills upon completion of the two-year program.

Established by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF), the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) and Atlantic Technical College (ATC) have been working on the program for three years, which begins 1 July, with four South Florida shipyards committed to enrolling employees.

“A skilled workforce is critical to the growth of the marine industry here in south Florida,” said James Brewer, Derecktor Shipyard’s business development director in a news release. “With many long-term marine industry employees retiring soon, this program allows us to begin training the next generation of skilled trade workers that we need.”

The program is already creating jobs: applications are being accepted for full-time instructors who have shipyard/mega-yacht technician experience and are proficient as forklift or crane operators, plumbing, welding and fabrication, carpentry and painting.

Bob Crawford, ATC director, said: “ATC is proud to offer another high wage, high skill, and high demand career path that fills a specific need, in this case for the marine industry. Working closely with MIASF and local employers, we have developed a robust curriculum that will help build the necessary marine-related workforce for the future.”