MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADEMY CADETS JOIN OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY

With the growth of the offshore wind industry in the Northeast Region, Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) is helping its students prepare for jobs of the future. All cadets have co-op requirements, and this summer three students are gaining experience in this new and growing industry as interns at Vineyard Wind, an offshore wind development company that will build the first commercial-scale offshore wind energy project in the United States, to be located 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard.

“Experiential learning is part of our culture. Learning by doing is an important aspect of our curriculum at MMA,” said Sara Kazamias, Assistant Director of Career and Professional Services at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and alumna of the Class of 2010. “Offshore wind is a new and growing field that touches every major at the Academy. We are so pleased that three of our students are gaining hands-on experience with Vineyard Wind.”

Vineyard Wind is looking to expand its workforce amid the growing need for qualified candidates. The company looked to MMA for interns who have strong skills that can transfer to offshore wind.

“As we begin the installation phase of the nation’s first utility-scale offshore wind project, Vineyard Wind is excited to host James, Trevor and George this summer as part of our recently expanded internship program, which offers more opportunities to work alongside our engineering, construction, and marine safety managers,” said Jennifer Cullen, Workforce Development Manager at Vineyard Wind. “Massachusetts Maritime Academy has been a fantastic partner in readying students and alumni for the new career paths offered in this industry.”

Senior James Dignan is an Emergency Management and Homeland Security major from Amesbury, MA. He’s spending the summer as a Marine Operations Intern for Vineyard Wind helping to write emergency response plans for the construction and operational phases of the wind farm under development. The practical experience he gained in his emergency management classes at Massachusetts Maritime prepared him to take on this challenge.

“Vineyard Wind is a company I have loved working for,” said Dignan. “They have given me opportunities to put what I've learned over my time at the Academy into practice by writing plans actually being used by the company.”

Senior Trevor Dunn, a Facilities Engineering major from Marshfield, MA, is an Export Cable Packing (ECP) Intern at Vineyard Wind. In this role, he’s working with the engineering team focused on export cables – the cables used to distribute power from offshore to onshore.

“I’ve been attracted to the offshore wind industry since I was a freshman at MMA and knew the Academy was a perfect pathway for me to eventually work offshore,” Dunn said. “At Vineyard Wind, I’m gaining experience in routing issues, design, project scheduling, project permitting, regulations such as the Jones Act along with other engineering needs. It’s been a great opportunity and it’s helping me reach my goal of working in the offshore wind industry as a career.”

George Morant, a sophomore from Holliston, MA, is an Offshore Operations Intern working for the Construction Manager at Vineyard Wind primarily focused on establishing internal contractor protocols. As an International Maritime Business major, he is using skills he has acquired in the classroom.

“The experience I have gained in classes focusing on vessel chartering and contract management, and international and maritime regulations has repeatedly been directly applicable in this role,” Morant said. “I have found my experience at Vineyard Wind to be extremely rewarding, and I am honored to be able to say I contributed to the first utility-scale offshore wind project in the United States. I plan to continue on the offshore wind path through the rest of my Mass Maritime experience and on into my career.”

Gaining work experience while pursuing an academic degree pays off. MMA has a job placement rate of 85 percent for its undergraduates.

“Working closely with professionals in the offshore wind industry is a privilege,” said Kazamias. “We are so fortunate to have a relationship with Vineyard Wind. The company is a great partner to the work we’re doing at MMA, and the employees are excellent mentors and role models for our students.”