Level 0 – Marine Trades 12 Hour Career Exploration
Program Details: “Discovering theMarine Trades: A Career Exploration”
Overview
Students will build career awareness through underway experiences, interactions with the working waterfront, and opportunities to speak with marine industry professionals at every level. Each day includes active participation as crew aboard a U. S. Coast Guard Certified vessel. Students literally plot the course to their career futures and gain confidence as members of a working team. Their engagement in ship board activities is a contextual experience that can spark a passion for a career in the marine trades.
Students’ Underway Experiences
- Under guidance of the professional crew of the Sea Princess, students will participate in all phases of vessel operations. They will see and experience first-hand the vessels machinery and systems. The diversity and complexity of a ship’s equipment, and how it works, will give students valuable insight into how the skill sets of the marine trades interrelate.
- Students will gain experience in the wheelhouse, as well. This will allow them a feel for the skills and responsibilities of merchant marine officers and crew, involved in vessel operations.
- All underway elements will take place aboard Brandaris Maritime’s vessel Sea Princess, a U. S. Coast Guard certified subchapter T passenger vessel. Official number 511585. Vessel will depart her berth at Wickford Commercial Wharf, at the foot of Main Street, Wickford, RI.
- The schedule, route, and duration of these visits will be based on logical consideration of availability, special events and schedule considerations of our industry partners.
Students’ Interactions with Working Waterfront
- Brandaris Maritime expands students’ knowledge of careers in the marine trades ranging from entry level through to advanced career positions.
- Students gain an understanding of employment challenges, job training, volunteer opportunities and career credential requirementsfor various positions.
- Students will visitsmall and large boatyards and repair facilities servicing a wide range of vessels, from recreational boats to deep water commercial vessels. Students will gain awareness of specialized tools and equipment, and skill sets involved in boating services.
- They will see jobs at shore facilities, aboard commercial vessels and at boatyards and repair facilities that build service and maintain vessels and equipment.
- Also, they will be exposed to the rarely seen world of jobs in the marine transportation industry, from crews on local vessels to merchant mariners aboard ocean going ships.
Students’Meetingswith Marine Industry Professionals
- The objective of visits to our industry partners is to introduce students to a wide range of marine professionals. These mentors and role models can help students focus on their specific area of interest. Students are encouraged to interact.
- Visits include local shore facilities; marine terminals; Coast Guard stations; marine safety offices; U.S. Naval facilities; commercial fishing operations; and regulatory agencies.
- Opportunities to board other vessels include commercial vessels, research vessels; deep water vessels, and passenger and recreational vessels.Examples include tug boats, car carriers, fire boats, US Coast Guard vessels, and pilot boats.
- Students will be able to observe operations, ask questions and experience the marine industry workplace. Students gain an unparalleled opportunity to explore these options based on the collaborative efforts of Brandaris Maritime and our motivated industry partners. Details of our visits are subject to logical calendar considerations and are available year round.
Major Industry Partners
The following is a list of Brandaris Maritime Industry partners representing potential sites:
Level 0 – Marine Trades 12 Hour Career Exploration
RI D.E.M.
SENESCO
New England Boatworks
Blount Marine
Wickford Shipyard
University of Rhode Island
Coastal Institute of RI
URI Transportation Center
URI School of Ocean Engineering
URI School of Oceanography
Community College of RI
Research VesselCap’n Bert
Research Vessel Hope Hudner
Research Vessel Eastern Explorer
Research Vessel Endeavor
Sea Tow, RI
U.S. Naval Station, Newport, RI
USCG Group SE New England
USCG Station Castle Hill
USCG Station Point Judith
International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS)
Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA
Providence Maritime Heritage Foundation
Continental Sloop Providence
Connely’s Wharf
Promet Shipyard
Herreshoff Museum
The Museum of Yachting
Smith Castle
Fort Adams Trust
Fort Getty
Watson Farm
Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation
Plum Beach Lighthouse
Beavertail Lighthouse
Dutch Island Lighthouse
Jamestown Boatyard
Port of Davisville
Gladding and Hearn Shipyard
Prov Port
Sea Freeze
Rhode Island Engine
Providence Steamship Company
Reinauer Tugboat Company
McAllister Towing
NOAA
Northeast Pilot’s Association
US Naval Sea Cadets of Rhode Island
Level 0 – Marine Trades 12 Hour Career Exploration
About Brandaris Maritime’s Instructional Resources
Primary Instructor: Doug Somers.
In 1987, Douglas Somers founded a Wickford, North Kingstown business that owns and operates several U.S. Coast Guard Certified subchapter T passenger vessels. The fleet includes the 63 ft. sailing flagship vessel Brandaris, along with 50 ft. motor vessel Sea Princess, 26 ft. Harbor Launch General, and a small fleet of 26 ft. training vessels.
For over 18 years, Capt. Somers designed and implemented marine-based, experiential educational programs for area Colleges, Universities, Elementary, Middle and High schools, municipal recreation departments and many other community and civic groups. As a former member of American Sail Training Association, Capt. Somers participated in numerous Tall Ship events with the historic yacht Brandaris. Educational trainings include curriculum links to match, science, language arts, history, and vocational aspects of marine and mechanics trades.
His credentials include:
- USCG License # 11874 U. S. Merchant Marine Officer
- US Coast Guard, 100 Ton Master, with sailing, towing and salvage endorsements
- US Naval Sea Cadets, Certified Professional Officer Leadership Instructor.
- 2008 National Recipient, “Distinguished Service Ribbon” for design and implementation of a 2-week Navy Non-Resident Training Course / summer camp for RI NCBC Battalion, Quonset, as “Seamanship Instructor” for: seamanship, shipboard safety, first aid, naval history, and team building and leadership.
- NCBC Seamanship Instructor training in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) for robotics.
- Background as Manufacturer’s Technical Field Support for the following product lines:
- Evinrude Outboard, Westerbeke Diesel Engines, Lugger Marine Diesel Engines, Detroit Diesel Engines, Northern Lights Marine Generators, Wagner Steering - Hydraulic Systems, Morse Controls and Cables, Parker-Racor Fuel Systems, Parker-Hannifin Fittings, Soundown Marine Noise/Vibration Control Systems, and Aquadrive Marine Drive Train Systems
- Historic Restoration Expert: Lead Project Consultant in the restorations of Continental Sloop Providence, Schooner Soundwaters, Dutch Yacht Brandaris, Alden Malabar Schooner Tradewinds and other U.S. Coast Guard Certified Sub-Chapter T, passenger Vessels.
Additional Instructors: n/a. Captain Doug Somers has worked with numerous training partners in the RI area with either USCG or academic teaching credentials who are available as program needs dictate. Brandaris Maritime Associate Liz Marsis, B.A. Economics, M.A. Philosophy, is an experienced instructor of students of all ages in community and college settings. In addition, she has experience as a professional resume writer, including career counseling on interview techniques, letter writing and career search techniques.
Minimum Entry-Level Requirements or Prerequisites
Recommended: Read Grade Level:6th Grade
Recommended: Math Grade Level:6th Grade
Minimum Education Required: none
Minimum Age:13
OSHA 10 – (Job Corps provided)
Recommended: Brandaris Marine Training Certificate Level 1 (not required)
List Equipment Used in this program:
- Access todock space, launching ramp, mooring facilities
- VESSELS – Current fleet includes:
- Fifty foot U.S. Coast Guard certified passenger vessel Sea Princess, capable of all personal and gear transportation needs throughout Narragansett Bay. Excellent platform for hands on operations, communications, navigation, watch keeping, vessel safety & maintenance, and all other aspects of underway training.
- Twenty-six foot U.S. Coast Guard certified passenger launch General used commercially in Wickford Harbor to service over 400 mooring customers and visiting yachtsmen and women, and supporting training opportunities for students wishing to acquire Coast Guard certification as licensed launch operators.
- Two U.S. Navy 26 foot whale boats, One U.S. Coast Guard 26 foot surf boat, One 19 foot outboard powered support vessel, One 19 foot inboard/outboard high speed support vessel.
- 18’ GMC Utility-Master Step Van fully outfitted for mobile support and instruction of our fleet, equipment and instructional program delivery.
- TOOLS – Fully equipped, heated marine vessel maintenance shed, that includes space and equipment for working on outboard motors, gasoline inboard engines, and heavy-duty diesel engines in an engine technology shop.
- Marine specific basic tools: capstans, cranes, lifts, stands, depth gauges, loading equipment, marine craft communications and signaling systems, and winches.
- Woodworking shop: multiple sets of basic carpentry hand and power tools, workbenches, and measuring equipment.
- CLASSROOM – Open classroom style with chairs with a whiteboard and pads, logbooks and pencils supplied to students.
- Teaching aids: laser cut away full size Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel engines; display module of modern marine propulsion system components; and various engines (diesel, outboard motors, and/or gasoline inboard) available for disassembly and reassembly.