Knutsen Group’s Post

⚓ Navigating Through Time: The Allure of Shipwright Craft ⚓ Embark on a captivating journey through the annals of maritime history, where shipwrights have left an indelible mark on our seafaring legacy. 🌊🔨 From humble beginnings in essential river crossings to navigating the complexities of advanced shipbuilding, shipwrights have been the unsung heroes of exploration. In an era when ships were meticulously crafted from wood, shipwrights stood as the artisans of the sea. With the industrial revolution, metal found its place in shipbuilding, reshaping the maritime landscape. Yet, the shipwright's role persisted, evolving to embrace both wood and metal craftsmanship. Today, the shipwright's narrative is a fusion of tradition and modernity, where skills seamlessly blend with innovation. 🚢✨ As we sail into the future, the shipwright remains an indispensable force, adapting to the changing tides of the industry. Embark on your own odyssey as a shipwright — a journey filled with craftsmanship, resilience, and a touch of wanderlust. 🌍⛵ Opportunities await as ships' carpenters, where completing an apprenticeship opens doors to a world of adventure on the high seas. Set sail with the shipwrights, where every knot ties together tradition and the thrill of charting new waters. ⛓️✨ #ShipwrightChronicles #CraftingLegends #MaritimeOdyssey #NavigatingHistory #SeafaringCraftsmanship

When I started at Washington State Ferries it was clear we had a major challenge with workforce development. It took years to get into this predicament and I’ll be honest, it’ll take years to fix – but we’re on the right course now. Prior to the pandemic, my predecessors warned of an upcoming “silver tsunami,” or wave of retirements among licensed deck and engine room crews. We needed more funding then, but with urgent transportation needs around the state, that money has only been provided in the last few years. So, what are we doing with this funding? We’re investing in the future of our workforce. We’ve started several programs to support our existing crewmembers in getting the training and credentials to move into licensed positions. We now have the resources to hire and recruit more employees externally, helping us be more flexible in bringing in new hires. For example, we have an engine room internship with Seattle Maritime Academy which is teaching young people the engine room trade. Then there’s our scholarship program with the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies that brings in completely fresh people and trains them to become licensed deck officers in two years. These are just a few of the many programs we’ve built that we could only dream about a few years ago. I’ve said it before though, it will take time to see results. But we’re heading in the right direction in developing a workforce that will help in significantly reducing our number of canceled sailings due to crewing.

I recently encountered a young cadet grappling with a harsh reality. His family, driven by the promise of a bright maritime career, sacrificed everything to fund his education. Yet, as he stands on the precipice of his professional journey, he's met with another financial hurdle: a monetary demand from companies to secure a job. It's a poignant reflection of a disturbing trend in the maritime industry: a shift from meritocracy to monetary gatekeeping. This is not just a personal tragedy. This is not an isolated incident. It's a systemic failure. Countless cadets find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle, their aspirations dashed against the rocks of commercial greed. Moreover, the industry must foster a culture of empathy and support for its seafarers. 👉 The physical and mental challenges of life at sea are immense. 👉There is a crisis of competent seafarers for specialized vessels. The demand for skilled seafarers is undeniable. Yet, the industry's response is paradoxical: a desperate search for qualified personnel coupled with a reluctance to invest in their development. The exorbitant fees demanded from cadets are a prime example of this shortsighted approach. It's time to recognize that the true wealth of the maritime industry lies in its human capital. Beyond the financial barriers, the industry suffers from a dearth of leadership. I have observed is that senior officers who transition to senior positions within companies often perpetuate the same practices they encountered at sea. This reciprocal behavior is detrimental to the industry... It is imperative that we address this issue to create a more inclusive and equitable industry. We need to foster an environment of integrity and empathy. I urge all maritime leaders to join me in this noble mission to transform our industry into one that operates with 100% integrity and empathy. By doing so, we can address and prevent the seafarer crisis that looms on the horizon. Remember: We don't just need seafarers; we need competent, committed seafarers who are dedicated to their roles and who are supported by a fair and equitable system.

From Classroom to Shipyard: USMMA Midshipmen Gain Hands-On Experience at Detyens  https://lnkd.in/gJkvg4Pq

Check out this 👉 (https://lnkd.in/e5sPR8_k) fantastic post from RPD Ltd (Rail Professional Development) featuring my latest cohort of trainee drivers! Here's a sneak peek of them in action, practicing hand signals.🚦 😁 #ProfessionalDevelopment #RailIndustry #HandsOnTraining

WHY should you join a cadet program? I get a lot of questions about cadet programs, and I wanted to clarify a few things. What is a cadet? Typically, a cadet is someone who is at a minimum a private pilot, working on some of their additional ratings - all the way through to someone who is time building. These programs are popular amongst regional airlines and low cost carriers; but many regional programs being affiliated with “flow to” or interview at their associated major airline. How do you join a cadet program? With some airlines, you unfortunately have to attend a specific 141 school to participate. The airline I work for is open to all 141/61 schools - so you’ll have to research the program that you’re interested in. To join, you’ll complete a series of HR and technical interviews, much like a first officer. What are the benefits? Right now, the most valuable benefit in my opinion, is the preferred access to class dates. When you show us that you’re loyal to us over the time period of several months; we want to honor that commitment and show you that we’re going to prioritize you. You also will typically be assigned a mentor (I’m one for my airline!), receive tuition assistance (cadet bonuses), and even have access to flight benefits and logbook discounts. Another perk - your commitment to us is no longer than what it would be if you’d just joined as a first officer/non cadet. I can’t think of a reason NOT to pursue these programs - they can only help you! #cadet #airlines #recruiting #mentor

⚡ The Number of Female Sailors Will Increase - Pointing out that there are a total of 140 thousand 138 active seafarers in Turkey, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that maritime training at international standards is provided in 103 educational institutions authorized by the ministry, and that 3 thousand 600 officer candidates are trained to be employed every year. He noted that they want to increase the number of female sailors.

"The most important thing of all is the date of rejoining the ship. You see, many of the seafarers are having vacation without income, they needed to have a fixed schedule with best estimated dates to join back ship so that they can have sufficient savings to have their own personal activities with families " Featuring Captain James Foong in our very first Q&A series, where he shares his insights on seafaring, the top challenges of being a seafarer, and its impact on well-being.👇 https://lnkd.in/dTTwNaxK #SeafarerChallenges #MaritimeWellBeing #CaptainInsights

🧩 The home of Puzzle Masters in Algeciras. Scheduling crew rotations is like playing a never-ending game of Tetris. Crewing team fits together shifts, vacations, and training sessions with the precision of a master puzzler. If they can make all the pieces fit, they deserve a medal—or at least a really good nap. DFDS FRS Ferry #management #crewing #teamwork