KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Nunez Community College launches Maritime Operations Certificate for LIT workforce.
- Program offers specialized concentrations in equipment, maintenance, safety, and logistics.
- Courses include nationally recognized credentials like OSHA and NCCER certifications.
- Program supports thousands of regional jobs and prepares residents for high-demand roles.
Nunez Community College announced a new Certificate of Technical Studies in Maritime Operations aimed at preparing a skilled workforce for the upcoming Louisiana International Terminal in St. Bernard Parish. The program is designed to provide residents with the training needed for high-demand jobs in cargo handling, maintenance, safety, and logistics.
The certificate program will offer specialized concentrations, including Equipment & Transportation Operations, Maintenance & Utilities, and Safety & Logistics, among others. The curriculum is structured to provide graduates with cross-training across multiple maritime fields, creating a flexible talent pool that local employers can deploy in a variety of roles.
Beth Branch, president and CEO of the Port of New Orleans, said the program will help ensure the terminal opens with a ready workforce. “Nunez’s new Maritime Operations Certificate ensures that when the terminal opens, we’ll have local talent ready to step into critical roles from day one,” Branch said. “Together we will drive economic growth, support global trade, and secure our place as the premier gateway in the Gulf.”
The program incorporates nationally recognized credentials, including OSHA-10 and OSHA-30 Maritime, NCCER Heavy Equipment and Rigging, EPA 608, FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training, MTSA/ISPS security awareness, and TWIC preparation. Courses were developed in collaboration with port operators, tenants, and St. Bernard Parish employers to align with industry needs.
Dr. Tina Tinney, chancellor of Nunez Community College, emphasized the program’s role in preparing students for both immediate and long-term job opportunities. “By the time the terminal is operational, graduates will already be fluent in the culture of safety, efficiency, and innovation required for terminal operations,” Tinney said.
Economic projections suggest the Louisiana International Terminal will generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the region. Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc., said the certificate program ensures the terminal will launch with homegrown talent. “Every container that moves through the new terminal represents economic opportunity for residents, companies, and the entirety of St. Bernard Parish,” Hecht said.
Students interested in the program can begin taking short-term certification courses this fall, with offerings ranging from one-day forklift training to six-week heavy equipment courses.
Nunez Community College, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, serves as a hub for workforce development in southeastern Louisiana.
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