BUZZARDS BAY, MA, ISSUED MARCH 6, 2024…The Maritime Center for Responsible Energy (MCRE) at Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), a top-ranked public university and leader in offshore wind training, is presently celebrating its fifth year offering courses to cadets and those in the local community pursuing careers in the continually emerging offshore wind industry.
More than 700 participants have received training in Global Wind Organization (GWO) Basic Safety Training, Basic Safety Refresher, and/or Basic Technical Training since the Academy established the MCRE in November of 2019. The MCRE programs have consistently received high participant feedback scores, with an overall 4.8 out of 5 rating, according to training partner RelyOn Nutec.
MCRE Executive Director Captain Michael R. Burns Jr. and his team developed the comprehensive and robust offshore wind training program, considering the specific needs of the industry and the emerging workforce. The innovative approach has allowed the MCRE to offer a tailored curriculum to prepare those entering the offshore wind workforce to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and hands-on experience to succeed in an industry that offers a large range of employment opportunities.
These courses provide offshore wind training to participants in workforce development programs, trade unions, and all personnel involved in the construction, operation, and maintenance of offshore wind turbines.
At present, the MCRE is preparing to offer GWO Advanced Rescue Training and additional Basic Technical Training Modules, with registration dates available by the end of 2024.
The Academy’s simulator training capabilities are now also being expanded to include Off-Shore, Crew Transfer, and Service Operations Vessel training. Simulator training in Windfarm Operations will likewise be offered to enhance the understanding of vessel operations in a wind farm environment.
Additionally, it is with great excitement that Massachusetts Maritime Academy anticipates offering Helicopter Underwater Escape Training in 2026, an impending addition to the MCRE course program that would prepare offshore crew personnel traveling to and from offshore facilities for an emergency evacuation in the event of a crash landing on water.
The Academy’s Maritime Center for Responsible Energy has been the recipient of a number of awards since its inception in 2019, including the 2022 Oceantic Network’s Ventus Award for Health and Safety Program of the Year in partnership with RelyOn Nutec.
“Five years is an impressive milestone for us to hit, and especially exciting given how quickly offshore wind is becoming a reality in our region,” said Burns. “Given the industry’s continuing advancement, now as ever we continue to be focused on and committed to providing the most comprehensive training sessions possible, and we look forward to continuing to expand our offerings.”
“As the offshore wind industry continues to emerge with great speed, it is imperative to provide our cadets and the local workforce with the proper training to succeed in this globally impactful market,” said Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald, USMS, president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. “We are proud to be doing just that.”
About Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA): MMA is a fully accredited, co-educational, state university offering Bachelor and Master of Science degrees that are highly regarded in the worldwide maritime industry and beyond. For more than 100 years, MMA has prepared students for exciting and rewarding careers on land and sea. As the nation’s finest maritime university, MMA challenges students to succeed by balancing a unique regimented lifestyle with a typical four-year college environment. Follow MMA on FB: @massmaritime, @MassMaritime.Advancement; IG: @massmaritime, @mmacademyalumni; Twitter: @MMAadmissions, @MMAcademyAlumni; YouTube: Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
