Virginia Ship Repair Foundation

The Virginia Ship Repair Foundation is dedicated to promoting workforce development and other initiatives that enhance the viability of the ship repair industry within Virginia. Their primary objective is to recruit, nurture, and educate the existing and future workforce of the ship repair sector. In pursuit of this mission, the foundation executed various strategies in 2022.

One of the key initiatives was to reach out to local schools through virtual career and industry days. This outreach aimed to introduce students to the various opportunities available within the ship repair industry. Additionally, the foundation organized a Ship Repair Digital Innovation Design Competition, inviting nine middle school teams to participate. This event provided a unique opportunity for approximately 90 students to showcase their creative problem-solving skills in a ship repair-related context.

Furthermore, the Virginia Ship Repair Foundation continued to offer marine trade training courses in collaboration with regional community colleges. These courses covered essential skills such as coating, electrical work, outside machinist, pipefitting, sheet metal, and welding, specifically targeting entry-level workers in the ship repair industry. The foundation also facilitated tours of ship repair facilities, allowing various groups to experience the shipyard environment and engage with incumbent workers.

By partnering with regional school systems in Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth, the Virginia Ship Repair Foundation provided valuable career pathway information to interested students. This proactive approach to workforce development and education is instrumental in ensuring the long-term viability of the ship repair industry in Virginia.